At the heart of every great organisation is a team of dedicated leaders who drive vision, foster innovation, and inspire excellence. As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re excited to introduce more members of our Senior Leadership Team.

This group brings together a diverse blend of experience, passion, and perspectives, all committed to guiding our mission and supporting the incredible work happening across our organisation. Whether you’re a long-time partner or just getting to know us, we invite you to learn more about the people steering our journey forward.

Let’s meet Rachael!

Rachael Walsh-Grant

People & Culture Team Manager  

I moved into HR around 16 years ago, after working in the newspaper and magazine advertising industry — back when physical newspapers were still popular! I began my journey with turn IT on in July 2016 when I joined as an HR Administrator to cover a 9-month maternity leave for my colleague Becky Tyler. I very quickly fell for the charms of turn IT on; it had a very different feel compared to my previous employers. I genuinely felt that everyone was cared for and had a voice. Fortunately, when Becky returned, I was offered a permanent position, and our relationship and complementary skill sets blossomed. Back then, it was just me and Becky with Sally Bannister leading the team.

Over the next few years, my role developed from HR Advisor to Senior HR Advisor, where I specialised in recruitment, training, and development across the business. Last year, I was promoted to People & Culture Team Manager within the newly formed Transforming Learning Group. In this role, I support turn IT on, School ICT Services, Salamander Soft, Vital York, ONTO Group, GDPR Sentry, and Locker Tech. I lead and manage the day-to-day HR operations, including employee engagement, performance management, recruitment, training, and compliance across the Group. I couldn’t do this on my own, and I am honoured to have the support of a fantastic team providing the very best service to everyone. I love the variety of work my role offers and the opportunity to develop relationships across various departments and companies.

One of my most memorable experiences was working through the COVID lockdown, a challenging time for everyone as we adapted to a new normal of remote working. It was scary back then, but with tremendous support, we all quickly adjusted. It was inspiring to see everyone pull together in uncharted territory to ensure our schools received uninterrupted service. Ironically, the schools needed us more than ever during that period, and within the People & Culture team, we worked hard to figure out how best to support everyone across the business.

These past eight years have been an incredible journey. I’ve been able to refine my skills, explore new areas, and, most importantly, work alongside some truly amazing people across the businesses.