We’re delighted to welcome Helen Sales on-board as our fabulous new HR Manager. After just five days with us, we find out how Helen’s first week has been, where she’s going on holiday this year, and what she’s most looking forward to achieving at TH_NK.

So, how has your first week been?

It’s been great! It’s always a bit daunting being the new person - I’m usually on the other end, welcoming people in. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful, giving up their time to introduce me to the different departments and roles. It was also fantastic to join TH_NK the week that we had our Investor in People re-assessment as it gave me a great insight into the way the company involves and engages its employees. Finding out that we have passed with flying colours has capped off a great week and I am looking forward to helping develop initiatives to build on our success further still.

Who would you most like to meet, dead or alive, and why?

I think I’d most like to meet Marilyn Monroe as I bet she was privy to a lot of very interesting political intrigue from all of her powerful pillow talkers. I’d also ask if she’d donate some of her fabulous 1950’s dresses to me.

What are you most looking forward to about your new role?

I’m really excited about working with the team at TH_NK to help develop interesting initiatives and fresh ways of looking at areas such as recruitment and employee development.

Are you jetting off to anywhere exciting this year?

Hopefully! I’m getting married in August and we’re hoping to take our honeymoon a few months later over Christmas. We got engaged in Australia and want to return to spend a few days in the Great Barrier Reef before experiencing the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney. It’s then on to New Zealand to grab an adrenalin kick with some adventure sports.

In your opinion, what makes a great company?

As HR Manager, I have to say that great people make a great company. Great companies see the benefit of a culture that supports involvement, continuous development and recognition of its employees at every level. If you get this mix right, it often delivers results right down to the bottom line.

What book are you reading right now?

I’m a bit of a bookworm - I always have about three by my bed and get twitchy if I don’t have a good book on the go. I’m currently switching between White Tiger by Aravind Adiga and Tony Horne’s book about travelling the east coast of Australia in a camper van. Depends what mood I’m in.