Lucy Clementson-Mills - HR Professional & High Performance Coach

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ - What A Year !

Taking a moment to reflect on some of the (professional) highlights that I’m truly grateful for:

🪴 Starting a new job! Feeling very fortunate to have joined a fantastic organisation Cardiff Students’​ Union with such talented people, a supportive culture and engaging vision. Being back in an office again has been a good reminder of how important human connection at work really is.

✨ Coaching some truly amazing people. It’s genuinely an honour to see the shift in their confidence, belief and performance. As cheesy as it sounds, there’s nothing more rewarading than seeing others realise their true potential and then going after what they want.

🧘🏼‍♀️ Teaching yoga to my private clients — such a joy and honour and I absolutely love bringing some calm to people’s busy lives (and to my own 😜 !!)

⚽️ Being one of the coaches for my son’s football team has been so much fun! It’s an absolute joy to see the kids confidence and ability grow week by week and now witness them starting to play together more as a team. They are amazing.

Feeling very grateful for the people I’ve met and worked with, the opportunities and super fun moments that made this year what it was.

Bring on 2026!!

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

😱 6 Months Already!

I can’t believe it’s already been 6 months since I started at

I feel extremely fortunate to have joined an organisation with:

🌻 Such a fantastic, talented, professional group of people

🫶 A high performing, nurturing and supportive company culture

💫 A clear, compelling vision

As I reflect, my realisations from the last 6 month include:

🌎 Community - Being with your team and people matters. Whilst I’m all for flexible work; nothing beats being ‘in the office’ and physically seeing your work colleagues and building connections.

🌟 Alignment - It is so important there is alignment between your values and the company values. If it’s not there; it won’t work.

🏋️‍♂️ Challenge yourself - I’ve never worked in this sector; it’s good to keep learning. Always.

🩵 Be clear on your why - Some of my main criteria when looking for a new role included the job working around my family, being within walking distance from home and for a professionally run organisation with an engaging culture. Tick, tick, tick!

🙏 Energy matters - Surround yourself with positive, uplifting energy. Yes there are busy days. But if you’re around positive, supportive and solutions focused energy; it makes all the difference.

What a fab first 6 months; bring on the next 6!

🌻🌻🌻

⭐️Progress; not perfection!⭐️

So I finally said YES to getting an ice bath.

My husband loves it and just eases into the tub like it’s a hot bath, relaxing in there for well over 5 minutes.

I, on the other hand, grimace the whole time I’m in there; counting down the seconds until I can get out and warm up again.

But 1 week in and I’m now up to 3 minutes in the tub and dare I say it; I’m starting to (slightly) enjoy it!

Takeaways:

🙌 Saying YES to things which you know will challenge you is fun!

👀 Don’t compare yourself to others. Do it your way, in your own time, at your pace.

🪴 Aim for progress; not perfection. One step forward is better than no step forward.

Happy Friday everyone 🌻

📣 No Job Is Wasted....

I was asked recently if I regret any of the jobs I’ve had.

My answer?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Every single one of them has taught me something.

I’ve learnt new skills, met fascinating people and grown in confidence.

However, what I realised is that it was actually some of my earliest jobs which had the most impact on me and in shaping who I am and how I work today:

🪙 13 years old I worked in my mums newsagent every weekend for 3 years – we had to use a very basic cash till so I had to use my head to work out the change to give a customer. My quick maths became REALLY good!

🍷 14 years old I worked as a waitress for 6 years – I learnt about the importance of customer service. How to look after every customer and make sure they had a great experience. I also learnt how to deal with difficult and not so nice members of the public too and diffuse arguments (this happens more than you think!)

📞 18 years old I worked in telesales for 3 years – I learnt the importance of having fun in work, of company culture and having great work colleagues.

🌍 22 years old I worked for multiple organisations whilst travelling in New Zealand and Australia – I got to meet with so many incredible people from different backgrounds and this enabled me to start to understand different cultures.

As I got more into “a career” I of course learnt a lot too.  But it was these earlier jobs which taught me so much and really set the foundations of what I believe is important in the workplace:

✨ Working hard
✨ Having fun
✨ Adding value
✨ Delighting the customer
✨ Inclusive cultures
✨ Supportive teams
✨ Being kind and respectful

I’ve worked in some awful places. I’ve worked in some amazing places. 

I’ve worked with inspiring people. I’ve worked with toxic people.

But they have ALL taught me so much.

No job is wasted.

It’s just up to you what you decide to take from it.

p.s the picture is NOTHING to do with my first jobs, but I came across this picture yesterday and it just made me smile. And tedious link - becoming a mum was the biggest life changing “job” in itself. But that’s for another day 🤣

⚽️ “Who won last night? Italy or Norway?” ⚽️

This is the first thing my son asked me this morning.

My other son, “I can’t wait for the England game tonight”!

They are LOVING these Euros 🙌!

And I’m loving the fact to them; it’s ‘the Euros’.

It’s not ‘the WOMEN’S Euros’.

It’s just the Euros.

They see the women’s competition just like they see the men’s competition.
Just as good and just as exciting.

There’s no differentiation.

And I am all here for this 🤘!

We’ve come such a long way in women’s football since I was my kids age; long may it continue.

Now there’s only one thing left to say for tonight…

Come on England!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Anyone For A Spot Of Rounders?

Such a fun way to round off our Staff Development Day at (and learn I’m not the only uber competitive person 😉 )

What more could you want:

☀️ Sunshine ✔️
👍 Great work colleagues ✔️
🎾 Playing sport ✔️
🥳 Having fun & celebrating everyone’s hard work; as a team ✔️

Just hope I actually get a rounder next time we play 🙈!!

🐾 Everyday Should Be Take Your Dog To Work Day 🐾

We had a lovely day with Nova & Clifford today at 😍

I certainly felt happy & relaxed after some cuddles with these cuties 🐶

Happy Friday everyone 🌻

Really disappointing to see the removal of Level 7 Apprenticeships to focus on under 21s.

I had no idea about a career path when I went to University and didn’t know I really wanted to do HR until I was 25 years old.

My husband on the other hand did know what he wanted to do and trained to be a scientist.

But at the age of 35 he realised he wanted to be a carpenter, went back to college to complete an apprenticeship and 9 years later has his own carpentry business.

And he’s not unique. I hear this a lot in my career coaching; people deciding on their career path years after leaving education or making a career change ‘later in life’.

So it’s really discouraging to see the removal of Level 7 Apprenticeships.

I’m all for creating opportunities at entry level. But not at the detriment of those who may need more time to find their career path. Because so often people do need more time.

The more choice and options we can give to everyone to enter the workforce; the better.

What do you think? Did you know what career you wanted at an early age?

🌻🌻🌻

It’s Not All About The Merch….

But I’m not going to lie; I’m loving my swag 😝

6 weeks into my new job and I’ve certainly had some realisations and reflections:

🌸 working WITH people (actually in the flesh!) is so important. Relationships are built quicker, it’s easier to make decisions and I genuinely see it has a positive impact on people’s wellbeing. Remote working certainly works for some; but it’s just not for me.

🌸 you can FEEL a company culture early on and I’ve certainly felt the positive culture in my new job. We just had the most incredible staff engagement results with 92% saying they’d recommend working at Cardiff Students’​ Union !! 92% 😱 !

🌸 it’s so important to remember what you’re looking for in a new job. Yes it may be the new opportunity, salary, job title etc. But for me; being able to walk to work was a big consideration and I have to say; I love walking to work (to be fair it hasn’t rained much since I started though 🤣🤔)

🌸 back yourself. I resigned from my previous role with no other job to go to. But I knew it would work out and I stuck to my values, I backed myself and I was clear on what I wanted next. It can sometimes happen quickly; it may sometimes take a little longer. But back yourself. Always.

It’s been a brilliant first 6 weeks.

Now I’m off for a cuppa in my merch mug 😜

I love how straight forward dogs are 🐾!

Lola; unashamedly showing me she has been the one taking my flowers pots.

100% owning her cheekiness and couldn’t give two paws if I find out 🤣

After an amazing first two weeks at my new job I am looking forward to some family time and with this litte cutie 🐶 this Easter weekend.

Have a good one too; whatever you’re up to 🤗

🌻🌻🌻

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally Charity Event.

What an inspiring evening with such incredible women sharing their stories. Thank you , Emma Sayle, Kelly Newton and Louise Hill and a massive congratulations for raising a whopping £150,000 in total. Absolutely fantastic 👏

Thanks for letting me crash your table too and
What a brilliant night 🕺

A HR Programme With Heart 💙

I had the pleasure of attending The Real HR Programme with last week. And it didn’t disappoint!

Not only did I take away some new learning and tools, but it gave me the time to reflect and consider my own HR career and aspirations - something we don’t always give ourselves the opportunity to do.

Plus I got to meet some new wonderful HR professionals too 😊

Thank you Claire Roberts and Katie Allen for a fantastic few days and to Emmy Bevan for the opportunity 🙏

If you’re a HR professional looking to explore different tools that can support both your professional and personal development I highly recommend this programme 🌟