Meet The Team

Jo Cantello - National Grid

Senior HR Business Partner, National Grid

Why did you become an Enterprise Adviser?

As you can tell from my bio, I like a challenge! I thoroughly enjoyed my studies and despite my busy job and family responsibilities, felt that I have space to add extra-curricular activities into my life again. I was deliberating whether to go back to studying when I came across an advert for an EA. When I investigated it, I realised that it was a great way to express one of my key values which is about giving something back, whilst continuing to grow and practice my HR skills. Given the current economic environment I feel it’s critical to safeguard our young people’s future. As a mum of teenagers, I know how important it is for our children to have the right information, experience and influence available to shape their aspirations and I see this role as being a gateway to that.

What do you enjoy most or are you most looking forward to in your role as an Enterprise Adviser?

Getting to know other EA’s and hearing about their experiences, being part of that community; getting to know the school I’m paired with and learning about their unique challenges and how I can help; and hopefully being able to look back in a years’ time and feel like I’ve made a difference!

Overview of your chosen career or career pathway to your current role.
My career pathway has not at all been traditional, I spent 25 years in the energy industry in a series of commercial, strategic and operational roles. A large part of the first stage of my career was as an Account Manager, responsible for managing the relationship and overall service provision between the organisation and its key clients. I also spent some time formulating strategy and plans for organisational culture change and this is where my passion for people performance influenced me to change my career. Six years ago, I took a career change into HR - my first role was working alongside the HRD managing the HR function, providing programme management and governance alongside implementing operational and financial performance measures. I then moved into a transformation role, setting up the Future of HR programme which is now in delivery. Two years ago, I qualified as CIPD level 7, upgraded to MCIPD and became a strategic HRBP. I am now responsible for setting people strategy for our largest business area and currently leading our HR COVID-19 response for the UK business.

Contact

lifeready@solihull.gov.uk