Meet LOCSU’s New Training and Development Lead, Simone Mason
29 August 2024
LOCSU is very excited to announce our new Training and Development Lead, Simone Mason, who has started in the role this month.
In this new role, Simone will work full-time to expand the training and development LOCSU offers to LOCs.
Simone said: “This role will look at the ways that LOCSU can provide methods to strengthen our members’ leadership skills and foster a culture of continuous learning. I hope to provide a supportive role which thrives in an environment with like-minded individuals. This can only be achieved through collaboration with the LOCSU team, the LOCSU board, our members and their enthusiasm to learn.”
When asked why she applied for the role, Simone said: “I have a strong passion for developing others and helping them grow in their professional and personal skills. This new role aligns with my interests, and I hope to make an impact on our members and make it easier for them to be effective LOC members.”
Simone joined the LOCSU team in 2017 as the digital learning support officer. In this role, she expanded a number of training and development courses, including the popular induction course.
Simone qualified as a dispensing optician in 1992 before joining an independent optical practice in Coventry. Soon after joining, she became their practice and marketing manager, and 21 years later, she left to work part-time as a dispensing optician alongside her digital learning support officer role at LOCSU.
Simone said: “Working at LOCSU is very rewarding and, although we are a small team, we have a very positive team culture. I thoroughly enjoy working with my central team colleagues and the wider advancement lead team. I feel privileged to be able to work with LOCSU and LOCs.”
When she’s not busy reading or learning, Simone is a busy mum to two boys. She is a keen runner, taking part in her local parkrun most Saturday mornings and has now completed over 160 parkruns and recently ran the Solihull 10K.
She’s also an avid ‘Strictly’ fan, as well as ‘I’m a Celebrity…’, plus given her interest in leadership, it’s not surprising that she’s a big fan of ‘The Apprentice’, too!
In her quest for learning and growing, Simone says this role is a dream come true. In true style, she is currently reading a book by Martha Beck and says: “I might just have found my North Star.”