Meet our People Partner: Eleanor Quick

Hi Eleanor! Let’s get started. You joined Brathay in 2021 — what drew you to the organisation, and what keeps you excited about your role?

I joined Brathay initially as part of a shared service Business Support Team which worked across HR, Finance and Compliance. I’d just started my CIPD qualification, and Brathay offered a great environment to gain hands-on experience alongside my studies.Having visited Brathay before, I remembered it had left a positive impression and I was really drawn to the charity’s mission and its commitment to young people. It was - and still is – exciting to be part of an organisation with such a meaningful cause.

As Brathay evolved, there were new opportunities to grow, transitioning into the role of People Advisor in 2022, and more recently, to People Partner. Our mission keeps me inspired, and in my role specifically, I love that I get to work with a wide range of people - it’s motivating to be surrounded by people who care so much about our work and our impact.

Could you give us a snapshot of your role as People Partner and share what you enjoy most about it?

As People Partner, a big part of my role involves collaborating with our Senior Leadership Team and line managers to shape people plans and priorities and help implement organisation-wide approaches. These areas are really varied and could be anything from recruitment and retention, to policies, payroll, benefits, employee engagement and fostering a positive culture. What I enjoy most is knowing that my work can enhance people’s experiences - it’s really rewarding to see how even small moments of connection and support can have a meaningful impact.

It's exciting that Brathay has recently achieved the Great Place To Work® certification! From your perspective, what would you say are the essentials for building and sustaining a strong, positive culture?

Achieving the Great Place To Work certification in our first year is a big milestone for us, and it provides a solid foundation to build on, based directly on our team’s feedback. To me, a positive culture is rooted in connection—fostering collaboration, open communication, and trust. It’s also about people feeling genuinely valued and recognised as individuals and for their contributions. When people feel seen, supported, and motivated, a strong, positive culture follows.

When you're not in the office what's your favourite way to relax or recharge outside of work?

Spending time outdoors, especially hiking, is my absolute favourite way to recharge. There’s something about the challenge of the summit, chatting with friends on the climb, and watching my dog live her best life on the hills (usually while waiting for me to catch up!) that really gives me a fresh perspective. Being out in nature makes me feel small in the best possible way—it’s grounding and energising at the same time.

And finally, if you were deserted on an island, what one thing would you absolutely want with you?

If I could only bring one thing, it would have to be my dog — wherever I go, she follows. Though I think a solar-powered radio for some music might come in handy too…so, she wouldn’t have to put up with my singing without a backing track!

If you want to know more about working at Brathay, visit www.brathay.org.uk/about/vacancies.