Andrew Marston
Assistant Chief Officer - Human Resources
Greater Manchester Police
What made you choose the public sector?
Initially, I chose the public sector because of the training and development opportunities which were available. In time, I developed (and still have) a sense that I was doing something more useful than simply making or selling a product or source. I felt I was contributing to society and benefitting the community. Its unlikely to make you mega rich but I think there are other compensations in that sense of purpose and the pension arrangements are still pretty good!
How did you get to your current role?
I started as a management trainee with NORWEB (now United Utilities) and moved into a trainee Personnel Officer post in local government. I was allowed day release to do my CIPD qualification and gradually obtained a number of promotions working for different local authorities before moving to GMP originally as HR Director.
What does your job involve?
I am a member of the Force's Command Team (ie Board of Directors) and play a key role in the leadership and management of the 2nd largest police force in England and Wales. In addition, I have overall responsibility for all HR & Development matters for around 13000 staff.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I still enjoy most is the individual interactions with staff, particularly when I can contribute to someone's personal growth and development. I love to see people succeed and do well for the organisation as well as themselves.
What has been your greatest achievement within your career?
I think I have been most proud of my work in developing GMP's Leadership Programme and the impact that has had on GMP's performance as well as the impact on the individuals whose leadership and management skills have improved as a result.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I am taking early retirement from GMP in the summer and will set up my own HR consultancy business. I want to spend more time coaching and working with individuals and organisations to develop leadership capacity. I also hope to spend a bit more time pursuing my other interests outside of work.
What advice would you give to those interested in a management or executive career within the public sector?
I think the most important thing is to keep an open mind, be prepared to learn something new every day, constantly seek feedback from others and act upon it. Its very important to be yourself and be true to your own values and principles. I also think that you should take every opportunity to broaden your experience, maybe outside of you own area of expertise or professional training, as this provides valuable insight and a more balanced view of the world and life in general. I think there's no substitute for hard work!
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