Listen: In this episode of the Employee Benefits’ podcast, Tracy Lowe Sheppard shares her views on how employers can create a benefits package that delivers something for everyone within a workforce. As head of people at Swim England, Lowe Sheppard recognises the importance of understanding the needs and motivations of all employees, and how the organisation is working towards a benefits proposition that suits everyone no matter their background, interests or life stage.
Lowe Sheppard is particularly passionate about employer support for the menopause; in this podcast she discusses the initiatives she has helped to implement at Swim England that reflect the workforce demographic. Listen to Lowe Sheppard talk about the need for choice and flexibility in benefits provision in order to attract and retain valuable employees.
Background information
Swim England is the national governing body for swimming in England, overseeing various aquatic sports including swimming, diving, water polo, open water swimming, and synchronised swimming. It aims to help people learn how to swim, enjoy the water safely, and compete in these sports. Swim England was formerly known as the Amateur Swimming Association and is part of Aquatics GB, which includes governing bodies from England, Scotland, and Wales.
It has around 250 employees in functions including people, marketing, finance and legal, and around 200 to 300 swim coaches and swim teachers.
Career history
Tracy Lowe Sheppard has over 20 years’ experience working in personnel, HR and payroll across private, public, and charitable organisations, including Boots Contract Manufacturing, Loomis, Vision Express, and Nottingham City Council. At Swim England, she oversees the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to wellbeing, reward, and compliance.
Lowe Sheppard began her career in HR as a personnel clerk. After a decade of developing her career in HR, she transitioned to the education sector. She returned to HR in 2017 to combine her expertise in people management with payroll oversight, and notes that managing adults can be just as challenging, if not more so, than working with children.
Throughout her career Lowe Sheppard has witnessed HR evolve from a purely administrative role to a strategic powerhouse that prioritises wellbeing and reward.
