Samantha Weston
HR Director
 Like many, Samantha Weston took time out to travel and broaden her horizons before settling down to study Human Resource Management and Marketing. A work experience placement gave her a taste for this exciting and challenging life, and after graduating she joined Grant Thornton as an HR (Human Resources) Assistant.
"I started at the bottom of the ladder, opening the post and doing basic admin tasks, but I was part of a team that were really supportive and soon found myself helping to recruit other graduates. Within twelve months I was promoted to HR Officer."
A secondment to Grant Thornton's London office helped Samantha develop her understanding of the skills and disciplines required in the client-facing, fee-earning areas of the business allowing her to get close to issues facing the business.
Samantha continued her professional studies, passing her Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) diploma in 2000, with practical help from the firm as well as support and advice on hand from experienced colleagues who’d been through the course themselves.
"As an HR Manager in 2001, I was able to build and manage my own team. Because the industry environment changes all the time, we're constantly learning and developing skills to adapt to whatever part of the firm we’re working with."
Samantha eventually took on HR responsibility for the National, London and South East offices and was promoted to Director in July 2005, a rise from graduate to Director in just 8 years. She manages HR operations for around 1200 staff positions in her team's portfolio, directing the work and managing the needs of an HR team of 20 people. She also has strategic responsibility for recruitment within the UK and works with other senior members of the HR team on issues which affect the UK firm.
"Grant Thornton is a dynamic firm with ambitious plans for future growth and I'm delighted to be working here at such an exciting time. My skills are still being challenged by the business in any one week, ranging from areas affecting employment legislation, staff recruitment and retention through to the leadership development of our partners and staff."
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