Suzanne Hill

"My personality types are strongest for: Communicator, Coordinator and Trainer plus not quite so strong: Campaigner, Coach and DeveloperThis is no surprise as I enjoy making sure that I understand what people are asking for, then delivering it within agreed timescales. Over 50% of my working time is now dedicated to Training! So this personality is a great fit.I work with customers to understand what skills/ competencies their employees need to effectively undertake their jobs. I then develop training events to suit the gaps in their knowledge.Being a good coordinator is imperative to enable these training events to happen efficiently: agreeing and preparing training content, organizing event schedules and venues, inviting candidates, delivering the training (including all the materials), all to the right cost.During my training events, communication is the most important aspect of my role. I need to understand what the candidates want by listening, then I determine what level of skills they already have and adjust my training communications to suit their needs. I now run my own business, so all 3 key personality types help me to plan my business activity, define its direction, meet all the business accountancy and tax law requirements as well as (most importantly) making a profit! "

"I have been running my own business for over 7-years!I started this business after working for over 20-years in a global aerospace engineering company where I was a Quality Leader.Now I share my Aerospace Quality knowledge with others by being a trainer and business consultant...What does that mean?1) Trainer - this is self explanatory; I develop training events for candidates and train them in the skills they need2) Business consultant - this is more difficult to explain. I fundamentally use my experience (and on-going learning) to help guide others to be successful. There are many different methods I use for this including:a) informally reviewing businesses, finding gaps or inefficiencies in their ways of working (processes) and help them to close the gapsb) using formal auditing, where I have a clear written standard (often an airworthiness regulation) and I assess the business to see how well they meet the standard. This is very much like how schools are assessed by Ofsted, with the overall aim to raise standards. It is exactly the same for businesses.The majority of the organisations I work with manufacture components for aero-engines, so I am regularly seen on the shop floor, working with all levels of personnel, understanding how a business ticks and recommending improvements.The most exciting part of my work is making sure that aero-engine engine components are made correctly, every time. We call this 'Right First Time' or 'Zero Defects'; conforming components are exactly what you want to be built into the engines on the aircraft you fly away on holiday in!"

"At school I enjoyed STEM subjects: Maths, Physics and Chemistry. These were my A'level subjects. I then undertook (what is now equivalent to) a degree apprenticeship; I worked for one year at Rolls-Royce aero-engines immediately on leaving school at 18 and then completed a Mechanical and Materials Engineering degree at Loughborough University whilst employed and working for Rolls-Royce during the holidays.My work with Rolls-Royce during this time and immediately after graduating gave me a chance to contribute to many different departments including: > Design and Development of the engine combustion system> Marketing> Testing control systems > Developing new materials like ceramic matrix composites> Working in a laboratory testing materials> Designing how components are manufacturedI started my first substantive position as a Process Technologist which involved travelling to suppliers in the UK and Europe making sure that their manufacturing methods complied to very strict standards. I learnt all about: welding, casting, forging, heat treatment, inspection and chemical coatings (to name just a few!) This gave me a lot of authority as I was able to stop components being delivered if I found that they had not been processed correctly.I then went to work for Michelin Tyres in Europe. I was an Industrial Engineer - it was my responsibility to make sure that all manufacturing processes were well designed, written and easy to follow. This meant that all activity was efficient and made good products. After 3-years living in France and Italy I returned to the UK and re-joined Rolls-Royce where I had the following roles: > Commercial Manager - leading the purchasing of electrical wiring harnesses for engines> Supplier Development Leader - assuring the quality of components made at suppliers located in the UK Midlands region> Head of Quality - ensured the manufacturing quality of products made at from several Rolls-Royce sites across the UK > Quality Executive - full accountability for the quality of engine components and systems manufactured globally. 260 suppliers making £370m of product annually"

"My spare time is made up of the following:> Spending time with my family> Keeping fit - walking, mountain biking, yoga, pilates, aerobics and going to the gym> Keeping an allotment which produces a myriad of vegetables and fruit every year> Riding my motor bike (I am a bit of a petrol head!)> DIY and house maintenance> Volunteering for my professional institute, organizing local activities and events for groups to learn all sorts of new Quality techniques and methods"

"If I am delivering a training course:> Get up early and get to the venue> Set up the lecture room/ classroom; make sure computer 'talks' to the audio visuals & put out training manuals/ pens/ highlighters/ pens on tables> Welcome students> Start course, have breaks/ lunch> Facilitate training breakout sessions > Invigilate exam on the course materials (usually on day 3)> Mark paper, give feedback> Ask for feedback from candidates, learn from this and adjust course ready to start again! If I am working as a Consultant:> Visit business and meet seniors> Understand business requirements and current activity > Identify any gaps in the business via meeting lots and lots of different people doing all sorts of different work > Write a report and create a presentation> Articulate assessment results, discuss the results with seniors > Agree an action plan to improve the situation> Enact business improvement planIf I am seeking new work:> Use social media to market business> Undertake networking too find new clients> Read/ send emails, including completing requests to quote"

"Main qualifications to get an Engineer role within a large engineering organisation:A'levels: Mathematics, Physics, ChemistryMechanical and Materials Engineering BEng, Hons (Loughborough University)Needed to develop into a manager/ leader within a business:Diploma in Management (Open University Business School) Dip. MgmtRecognition of my experience and on-going professional learning (~100hrs per year)Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering CEng FIMechEChartered Quality Professional and Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute CQP FCQITo help me become a qualified Consultant:Certificate in Professional Consulting (Chartered Management Institute)"