Investing in Our People: Kathryn Taylor’s HR Journey

After 16 months of hard work and dedication, Kathryn Taylor, HR Manager at Formpipe, has achieved a Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management. We recently sat down with Kathryn to discuss her fantastic accomplishment.

Kathryn has worked for Formpipe for eight years. She started as Office Manager at the Nottingham office, focusing on admin tasks and working with customers. At that point, there were only 15 to 20 people in the office, so there wasn’t an established HR department in the UK. “My background was admin and PA-type work. In previous roles for smaller companies, I got involved in HR even though it wasn’t my specialism,” she said.

In 2020, Formpipe acquired EFS Technology, and another 30 to 40 staff members joined the business. This increased the UK headcount to around 60 people. The growing headcount required dedicated HR expertise, and Kathryn saw an opportunity to expand her HR knowledge. She spoke to her line manager, who agreed that Kathryn and the wider Formpipe team would benefit from her enhancing her HR expertise.

Building on her existing skills

On top of the existing HR knowledge Kathryn had acquired in her career, she possesses many of the soft skills an HR professional requires. "I've got many years of skills and experience behind me in terms of interacting with people and making common-sense type decisions,” she said. “I also understand the company and its culture, but I felt I needed to undertake a recognised HR academic qualification to be more comfortable and feel more confident in my role.”

After researching the options available, Kathryn chose to study for a Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management. “I knew I wanted to do an industry-recognised qualification, so that’s why I chose the CIPD diploma,” she said. The diploma explored several key elements in people management, including:

• Organisational performance and culture in practice
• Evidence-based practice
• Professional behaviours and valuing people
• Employment relationship management
• Talent management and workforce planning
• Reward for performance and contribution
• Specialist employment law

Kathryn studied for the diploma alongside her full-time role, completing it in just under 16 months. “It was quite full-on because you’d finish one module and then go straight onto the next one. It was intense alongside a full-time job.” January 2023 to May 2024 was a busy time for her. “Alongside working at weekends, I was able to devote some time to my studies at work,” she said. “It is a positive thing for me that Formpipe support my development in my role.”

How HR shaped Kathryn’s professional values

Asked about her priorities as an HR professional, she said: “Fairness and consistency are important to me—they’re always in the back of my mind. It’s about making things fairer and more consistent across the board to make Formpipe an even better place to work.” 

Connecting with other like-minded individuals studying for the same qualification gave Kathryn some perspective on Formpipe’s progress. “During my studies, I met lots of other HR professionals working at other public and private sector businesses. It showed me that we at Formpipe do a lot of things really well already,” she said. “For example, we offer a lot of flexibility, a relaxed atmosphere, and we care about our people.” Studying the HR qualification and connecting with other professionals has given Kathryn a fresh perspective on Formpipe’s positive culture. It’s clear she’s proud of where she works and is even more motivated to make HR even better.

How Formpipe supported Kathryn’s development

Speaking to Kathryn, it’s clear that she is very grateful for the opportunity to complete an HR qualification. “I wanted to put the time in not only for my own development, but because Formpipe was supporting me. I wanted to do well.”

Kathryn recently received her certificate—the physical manifestation of her hard work and dedication. “When I finished and got my certificate, I felt a great sense of achievement. I’m really pleased that I’ve done it,” she said. “I had lots of support. I had support from my managers, but also my colleagues. They were really helpful and encouraging.” It’s clear that Kathryn values how much Formpipe invests in their people. “I’m nearer the end than the start of my working life, and Formpipe have still chosen to invest in me,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what age you are, Formpipe will still invest in you.”

Not only did the qualification extend Kathryn’s HR expertise, but it also helped her find her voice and make positive organisational changes. “Completing the qualification has made me realise more of the things I should be doing in my role and empowered me to instigate change.” she said.

We are Purple: Formpipe’s culture and values

At Formpipe, we are purple. Being purple means we have the calm stability of blue, spiced with the fierce energy of red. We’re proud to be purple because it’s what makes us who we are. We’re a value-driven organisation—our values define and guide us:

Passion for people: We’re proud of who we are and put people first.

Understanding our customers: We listen and create true business value.

Respect and trust: We’re open-minded and honest.

Perform with quality: We take ownership and act professionally.

Lead by example: We’re value-driven and support each other.

Engage and have fun: We have a unique team spirit and we love what we do.

As HR Manager, Kathryn plays an important role in making sure everyone at Formpipe lives and breathes these values. All of us at Formpipe want to say a huge congratulations to Kathryn for achieving her CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management. Her hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are proud to have her as a part of our team.

Interested in learning more about Formpipe’s culture and values? Head over to ourYouTube channel.