Paula Swain

BA(Hons) Economics and Social Studies University of Manchester, FCIPD, JP

“After 30 years in the services sector, I wanted to return to focusing on my passion which is  working with people, and have joined the Trust to enable this to happen. I love the education sector and the many opportunities we have to develop the talent of the future in a Trust that is a great place to work and where people can thrive.”

I was born in Burton on Trent and grew up locally before moving to university in Manchester.  I studied Economics and Social Sciences and my hobbies included playing sport. After completing my degree I joined Marks and Spencer as a Commercial Graduate Trainee in London and this was when my interest in people management began to develop. I soon moved into the technology sector specialising in human resources and outsourcing coupled with managing extensive recruitment programmes. I have managed large numbers of people to deliver results in their roles and have been responsible for complex casework and legal activity. In developing the people strategy for the Trust at the heart of this will be to foster fairness for everyone and to create and sustain a place that encourages all individuals and the Trust to reach their fullest potential in a positive and productive manner.  As my career progressed I studied and gained significant experience in many areas of people management which I am now proud  to have achieved the status of  fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. In more recent times my continued professional and personal development is something I consider to be important and have always tried to encourage others to strive to learn more and acquire new skills. I stepped outside of my comfort zone recently and trained to become a Justice of the Peace working in the family courts, this has been a truly rewarding journey.