Director Lucy Hayes gains her CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management

When Q3 was formed in 2018, Lucy joined the embryo business as Bid Director. However, it very quickly became apparent that a HR function was needed to ensure Q3 fulfilled its commitment to becoming a true, people employer, in line with its values.

Lucy decided to take on the challenge of leading the HR function and embark on a complete change of career direction. Few people knew this, but Lucy’s first job straight out of school had been in HR, and her passion for all things HR remained. So, deciding on this career change was very much a return to her original calling.

With Q3 at such a critical time in its development, HR was key to the company’s future growth and success. To make it work, Lucy reached out across the business and pulled on every bit of resource, advice, and guidance she could, attending seminars and networking events and riding a very steep learning curve.

To enhance her role, in 2020 Lucy enrolled at the City of Bristol College to embark on her CIPD level 3 qualification, which she passed with flying colours and went straight into her CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management. On Saturday, 19th November, she formally graduated at a ceremony held at Bristol Cathedral.

This is a great achievement. Not only was Lucy undertaking this qualification during the Covid pandemic, but she was also home schooling her 12-year-old son whilst juggling a full-time job, studying for the diploma, and being a mum.

Commenting on her graduation, Lucy said, “I could not have accomplished this without the support of Martyn, Lian, Stuart and Alex and everyone at Q3 who supported me during this time. The biggest thanks go to my partner Pete, who continued to push me even when things got tough, my sister Verity who distracted me when distractions were needed and my absolute shining star Harry (my son), who understood the sacrifice I was making when I had to work all week and study all weekend.

“It is my intention to continue to level 7 but first I’m going to give myself a year off, to concentrate on implementing all that I’ve learned into Q3 and to continue to make Q3 a great place to be.”

Another integrated FM contract added to the Q3 portfolio

Q3 has secured a three-year, integrated FM contract with the health and employability specialists Maximus, covering over 280 locations across the UK. The contract comes with an option to extend for two years.

Maximus is a specialist service organisation that works with public and private sector clients, assisting individuals into employment, providing access to support, and helping people remain healthy in their workplace and community.

This is a first-generation outsourcing programme and Q3 went to lengths to ensure that they fully appreciated the needs of this diverse organisation before proposing an innovative solution that would satisfy its expectations. This included the introduction of a dedicated, self-service help desk and cutting-edge CAFM system.

Commenting on the contract award, Richard Piggin, Facilities Management Director at Maximus, said: “Maximus operates nationally across 280 locations, and we feel with Q3 we have found a facilities provider that can support our needs. It was important to engage an FM supplier that aligned with our cultural and social values and provided a bespoke solution that supported and enhanced our daily activities.”

Martyn Freeman, CEO of Q3, said: “We are delighted that Q3 is able to work with such a like-minded organisation as Maximus, and look forward to a long and successful relationship.”