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Victoria’s HCA UK Story
Championing Career Progression
Victoria brought 21 years of experience as a biomedical scientist and a passion for training and development to her role at HCA UK. She shares how she has gone on to shape our labs and the future of our colleagues.
How long have you been working here?
I’ve been at HCA UK since 2020 . I joined right around the start of the pandemic as our first training manager.
How did you get started?
Prior to joining HCA UK, I worked as an operations manager for labs in an NHS trust in northwest London. But my move here was a bit unexpected. I actually came to the interview because HCA UK had hired a few of my staff, and I wanted to find out who had taken my best people. But after the interview, I could see why others had joined. What drew me in was the opportunity to build a training programme from scratch. I’d always been involved in training throughout my career, but the chance to do that on this scale at HCA UK was something I couldn't pass up.
What’s your role and what do you do day-to-day?
I’m the Laboratory Training Manager, which is a newly created role. My primary goal is to establish professional qualifications and career progression pathways for our lab colleagues. This involves getting the right approvals from the Institute of Biomedical Science and implementing training programmes across all the labs. Day-to-day, I work with the teams to get training running smoothly, and see that colleagues are supported in their development. I’m also involved in introducing trainee and student placement programmes, which I’ve really enjoyed.
What do you enjoy the most about your role?
The best part of my role is watching trainee colleagues grow and develop. Every individual’s journey is different, and I love seeing them overcome challenges and reach their full potential. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I’m playing a part in their professional development. I love supporting the trainers as well. They’re such an enthusiastic and dedicated group, and we all work together to make the training programmes as effective as possible.
Can you tell us about the people you work with?
The people at HCA UK are fantastic. Everyone is so supportive, and there’s a real sense of camaraderie. The lab teams are particularly collaborative. I see a genuine desire to help each other grow. Even when we’re faced with challenges, there’s never any negativity. Everyone gets involved and works together to make things happen. It’s a positive environment, and it makes my job so much easier.
Have you taken advantage of your benefits?
As we are in healthcare, the healthcare benefits are a big one for me. I’m an avid long-distance hiker, and I've managed to injure myself a few times. It’s so reassuring to know that I can quickly get advice or treatment if needed. That peace of mind is important. I hear a lot of people saying that.
“The proportion of people HCA UK have put through training compared to the size of our workforce is just huge. It’s more than some of the trusts that are maybe four or five times our size. I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to build a training programme at HCA UK. It’s been great hearing how much it’s helped our colleagues and I’m so happy to have been part of it.”
Do you have any standout stories?
A highlight for me has to be the three awards we’ve won from the Institute of Biomedical Scientists. We have also been nominated for the Excellence in Training award at the Laing Buisson Awards, which is exciting. I think as a profession we aren’t great at stepping back and giving recognition, so to get these nominations and awards mean a lot. There was one for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and another for Training and Education. I get a lot of great feedback from our trainee colleagues, especially regarding the inclusivity of our team. That really validated all the hard work we’ve put in. But winning awards really drives that home. It was an amazing recognition of our efforts as a team.
What makes you stay at HCA UK?
I stay because I’m passionate about supporting the trainees and helping them progress. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see their growth and to know that I’m contributing to them taking that next step. HCA UK also invests in its people, and I’ve felt that from the start. The company is supportive of my own development too. When I asked if I could do an MBA, they were on board and even sponsored me. Having that kind of support and the opportunity to keep growing is something that really sets HCA UK apart.
What’s next for you?
I’m excited to continue building on what we’ve achieved so far and to keep expanding the training opportunities for our colleagues. My next goal is to continue developing the lab training programme, ensuring it evolves with the needs of our teams. Personally, I’m also looking forward to completing my MBA. It’s been a great opportunity and I’m grateful to HCA UK for making it happen.
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