When I was 17 I applied for a part-time job at Marks and Spencer and was impressed by the HR manager who went through the induction process with me. She also worked on the shopfloor and I liked the idea of recruiting and supporting people as well as being directly involved with the business.

At university I had a summer job at Bass. After graduating they offered me a place on the management trainee scheme. They agreed that if I completed it successfully I could do a secondment in the HR team.