Career Story 1
Ian Hosking: I moved to UIS in January after 11 years at the Department of Engineering. My team and line manager have been welcoming and have helped ease the transition. Coming from an academic background, I have the advantage of seeing both sides of the systems that we are developing, which is hugely beneficial to the role. During my time at the University I have accumulated extensive knowledge of the structure of the collegiate University which came in handy as I started my new role during lockdown. I therefore appreciate the value of redeployment and the benefit this brings to both the team and myself.
Kate Livingstone: I interviewed Ian as part of the recruitment process for the position of User Research Lead at UIS and he was the best candidate for the job. Having Ian come from another role within the University was hugely beneficial as the nature of the new role required a familiarity with the governance and working structures of the University. Ian was therefore able to hit the ground running. The network and connections that Ian had built with people both within and outside the University was crucial to the role. In fact, I was able to expand my own professional network through Ian’s. As Ian’s line manager, I can say that the experience has been a positive one for me and my team.
Career Story 2
James Clarke: I recently moved to the Cancer Research UK - Cambridge Institute (CRUK-CI) after spending nearly 11 years at the Stem Cell Institute. My group leader was proactive in finding a new role for me and supported me throughout the whole process. When I moved to CRUK-CI my new group leader was very supportive. As were all of the professional services staff, including the finance team and lab facility staff, who have been very welcoming.
I was able to transition easily despite the pandemic and able to work partly from home, as necessitated by child-care demands. I brought 11 years of institutional knowledge to my new role. Moving from one area of the University to another is also very useful in terms of career progression and building a network of colleagues.
Pau Creixell: James joined my team in January 2021 as a Senior Scientific Associate, having spent a number of years in a similar role at the University, in Professor Austin Smith’s lab at the Stem Cell Institute before the lab moved to Exeter. I have really valued his skills and in-depth knowledge not only in the lab but also of the University's ways of working. He was able to adapt to our team operations very quickly, which has been particularly useful during the pandemic. My lab integrates computational approaches (e.g. machine learning) with high-throughput biochemistry to address biological questions relevant to cancer, and as such we attract highly diverse and inter-disciplinary talent. James’ track record in managing a large and diverse lab at the University is, and will continue to be, invaluable as we expand and unfold our research program.
Career Story 3
Jeff Pearce: My 11-month maternity cover with the Finance Division came to an end in October 2019. At the advice of my HR representative, I applied for a role at UIS as Contracts and Purchasing Manager where I was successful and started the day after my contract ended. I am very happy at my current role where I have also been offered the opportunity and responsibility to set up a software asset management tool in addition to my role. Gaining the knowledge and experience of the University’s procurement and dispensation processes whilst in my fixed term contract with the finance division was a good steppingstone career wise. I am pleased that the University does not consider age to be a barrier in its recruitment or progression practices. I was offered my current role at the age of 64 and I am still being offered progression roles at 65. Jo Patrickson, my HR Advisor, was brilliant and was there for me every step of the way.
Michael Lewis: Jeff has been an asset to our team, genuinely adding to what we do here at UIS. He has become an (arguably overburdened!) source of knowledge for both myself and the team, owing to his experience having previously worked in the Finance Division. Jeff’s awareness of the procurement process is invaluable in his new role. Jeff has a progressive attitude for change and thus his move has allowed him to develop his professional career further. Jeff’s example of drive and attitude to continued development, demonstrates how the University can derive value in retaining and harnessing the skills accumulated by their existing staff, when properly supported in their role.
Career Story 4
Carole Cornwell: My previous role as an assistant to the Executive Assistant of the Head of Dept of Haematology/ Director of Cambridge Stem Cell Institute became redundant because of an organisational restructure. I applied for my current role at the Department of Psychology and kept HR informed during my consultation process. I was successful at interview and was able to start my new role the day after my previous role ended. It was a seamless move with no issues in payroll, pensions etc. My current role is completely different to my previous one, as I now work in the administration of research grant applications. I started my new role during lockdown, but my line manager has been very supportive, and I have been given access to essential training and induction videos and materials. My awareness of the University and its structure helped facilitate both the move and the job. Overall, this has been a positive experience for me.
Petra Hluzova: Carole has brought with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of the University from her previous role at the Stem Cell Institute. She has had the opportunity to learn new skills for her current role, as well as pass on her experience and knowledge to us here at the Department of Psychology; it has been a successful two-way learning experience. I’m pleased the University is introducing a new Redeployment framework to make the process of moving from one area of the University easier, as it brings a lot of value to both the individual and the team.