Meet our people

Kiera McTernan

HR Advisor, Human Resources

The support and development I have received has been fantastic - which is exactly what you’d expect from a FTSE 100 company.

What does your current role involve?

It’s an employee relations based role, which means that I am responsible for advising people across the Business on everyday HR issues along with supporting managers and employees in through a variety of casework, such as Absenteeism, Grievances and Disciplinaries. In addition to this I get the opportunity to contribute to HR policy work and support Business change programmes or TUPE programmes along with training managers to equip them with the right tools and techniques to manage their teams.

Because I work with people across the entire business – rather than just one area – and deal with managers at all levels, as well as the unions, it’s important that I have a detailed knowledge of all the relevant legislation along with clear communication and influencing skills.

How did you start out at Severn Trent?

I started here as a temporary HR administrator in 2006. 18 months later I was made a permanent employee and took up my present role as HR Advisor. Prior to working for Severn Trent I had experience of working in HR at a major retail chain following a period of living abroad.

What do you like most about Severn Trent?

The people! We have a very committed workforce and good working relationships throughout the business.

Aside from that, it’s a very interesting Business to work in. My role allows me to get out and about around the business – building relationships and understanding the day-to-day roles of our employees. It also allows me to work with managers to help them achieve their business objectives by equipping them with the right tools and knowledge of HR processes to support and manage their teams. I have really enjoyed understanding all the complex processes that go on behind the scenes to ensure we deliver for our customers and also see some real success stories through the ongoing support delivered to our managers.

What has been your most enjoyable experience since joining?

Recently, I’ve been involved in a Transformation project in the Waste Water Directorate that has given me the opportunity to fully understand a specific part of the business, and deliver change from top to bottom. I’ve also enjoyed developing good working relationships with the leadership team and enhancing my HR knowledge as well as putting it into practice. In addition to this I have developed my TUPE knowledge through delivering a complex TUPE transfer.

What are you most looking forward to?

The way the business is transforming – both in terms of how it is structured and how the service is delivered – is really exciting. The next few years will see a lot of changes, and a business we will start to face more competition and I’m sure this will bring new challenges and changes to how we as HR, support the Business in the future.