Meet Lorna Armstrong, People Partner
“I feel very lucky that my personal passions and professional duties align”
Lorna Armstrong, a people partner based in our Bournemouth office, tells us about her role at LV=.
Lorna joined LV= in 2010 and plays a key role in the business. From talent management as a people partner to her volunteering work in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) networks, Lorna’s focus is on the wellbeing of LV= employees.
What did you do before coming to work for LV=?
I grew up in Sheffield, moving to Bournemouth in 2005 for university, where I completed a Law degree and then my Legal Practice course. I’ve been here for 13 years now.
What does your day-to-day role look like?
My role is quite varied, and no day looks the same, which I love. I support four business areas. On an average day I support and coach managers across those areas with people related activities, such as talent management and employee relations cases. We’re also responsible for writing, reviewing, and updating policies, ensuring we’re meeting our People Governance standards. The People team are also responsible for integrating DEI into the business and supporting the Networks to encourage and foster an inclusive culture.
I also lead the Respect (multicultural) network, which is very important to me. I feel very lucky that my personal passions and professional duties align. This isn’t part of my job, it’s something I volunteered to do because it’s a subject close to my heart. I really enjoy working with the network and our executive team sponsor to put on events and share stories to increase education and awareness.
What advice would you give someone looking to do a job like yours?
Some days I may be in meetings all day and others I may have my head down writing contracts and policies, so its key in a role like this to be able to manage your time. Communication is really important to build relationships with stakeholders, be a trusted source, and an expert in the field. Understanding that things don’t always go to plan and having the ability to be agile when appropriate is a skill worth mastering. I have had several roles within HR over the years and I definitely think my generalist and operational background helps in my role.
What have you enjoyed most in your role so far?
It sounds cliché but it really is the people that you work with. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some great people, both in the People Team and across the areas the business. I’m very passionate about DEI so I feel very fortunate that it sits in my world, and I can help make positive changes.
What other role within LV= could you see yourself doing?
That’s a tricky one as I enjoy my job. I feel like it gives me the opportunity to develop as there’s always something new and challenging to get involved in which I like. But in a more hypothetical scenario I could perhaps delve back into my legal routes and work in our legal team. It might even be nice to go in a new direction entirely and work in the design team as I am a bit of the creative type.
For a work meeting, what’s your drink of choice?
Always an oat flat white – the lovely ladies from the coffee shop always have one ready and waiting for me when they see me.
Outside work, what do you enjoy doing?
I love to be outside, and in the summer, I take up permanent residence at the beach. I like to think I’m a bit of an amateur artist. I love to paint (usually animals) and I’m also a huge movie fan so I may often be found in the cinema, can’t beat a good horror film.
Fancy joining a team here at LV=? Take a look at our current vacancies.