Finding a fulfilling balance – meet People Director Alison Hilton

“I felt I was short-changing all aspects of my life and so my big driver for joining People Puzzles was to improve my work-life balance.”

Every member of the People Puzzles team has a different story to tell and a different reason for joining our community. In the latest in our series of people stories, we are delighted to introduce Alison Hilton, who is celebrating five years as part of the East of England team. You can read the full interview below.

In what way has People Puzzles helped you to thrive?

Prior to working with People Puzzles, I felt I was short-changing all aspects of my life and so my big driver for joining People Puzzles was to improve my work-life balance, which I have very much achieved and that has helped me thrive in all aspects of my life.

Now I’m able to give more of myself to the important people and things in my personal life; and professionally, I’ve had incredible opportunities to help companies in many different sectors. I used to work mostly in the tech sector, but since joining People Puzzles, I have been involved in many different industries and organisational models, which has brought an amazing richness to my professional life.

Have you had one stand out moment when you have felt lucky to work with People Puzzles?

I can honestly say that I’ve felt lucky throughout my time with People Puzzles.

My standout client experience has been with Liquidline because I was able to help the company achieve a growth trajectory pre-pandemic; navigate the pandemic; and then assist post pandemic to set it in the direction of growth, which was amazing. The journey with Liquidline was a perfect example of supporting a client from Discovery to People Plan delivery; and then conducting 3-5 year strategy workshops in order to take them from £8 million to over £20 million and onwards towards their ambition of reaching £50 million turnover.

If I had to pick one important personal moment, it was two years ago when my husband was taken very ill, and my Regional Director immediately said, ‘don’t worry about work, just tell me what you need me to do.’ I am so grateful for having a network of fellow Portfolio People Directors who could take on my clients to enable me to focus on my husband and his full recovery, and I love the fact that the People Puzzles model facilitates the ability to be supportive in times of need.

What have you found most meaningful about your work with People Puzzles and their clients?

While all companies are unique and have unique business plans, they do have similar people challenges – whether that is acquiring great talent, or working to crack true performance management, or creating and sustaining high levels of employee engagement.

I’ve found it meaningful to realise how, as HR professional, our skills are transferable across all sectors as well as companies. As a result, this enables us, as People Directors, to have a wide variety and breadth of work that is really exciting. Every People Puzzles client I have worked with has been in a different business sector and that enriches my work, makes it interesting and keeps me passionate about what I do. The People Puzzles values (win:win; always learning; passionate; pragmatic) are lived through my experience of being a Portfolio People Director.

A great example of this, is my role with Lallemand over the last five years, helping them meet their goals by supporting them through organisational redesign, leadership changes, a plethora of change projects, hiring talent and managing succession, strategic resourcing, and helping them meet their challenges efficiently and effectively. That longevity has enabled me to support them through challenging periods which has been incredibly rewarding.

The People Puzzles model gives me an amazing network of hugely skilful professional people I can call upon for knowledge, expertise in specialist areas and practical support, both in the central team and the wider People Director network; whilst I work for myself, I never feel on my own.

What areas are you passionate about outside of your work?

Family is hugely important for me and is a massive part of my life outside of work. Holidays and travel are important for my husband and I, as we are very much making up for lost time now that he is well again. I am also enjoying spending quality time with my mum ahead of her 90th birthday writing her life story – it is such a privilege to gain such a personal insight into her amazing life! I also love to spend time with our 12 grandchildren, and being able to enjoy Christmas plays, sports days and days out rather than having to squeeze time in at just weekends, is massive.

What excites you most about the next 5 years of your career with People Puzzles?

I pinch myself all the time and ask myself ‘is this too good to be true?’. But my experience is exactly as the role was advertised, so I would simply like more of the same! I hope to maintain the work-life balance whilst being able to support amazing clients and colleagues. I love that I can have honest conversations with my Regional Director when I feel I need a new challenge. She’ll register my request and suggest a client in a sector I haven’t worked in before, which keeps me renewed and refreshed in different ways and keeps energy levels high the whole time. I particularly love facilitating the People Puzzles inductions – it is so fulfilling to be able to help other people start their journey along the same path I’ve been and to watch them grow and flourish.