A Lifelong Love of Learning

Ariana Ramos, our Operations & HR specialist, tells us about her journey through higher education, most recently smashing her Level 5 CIPD qualification, and what motivates her to continue.

My Learning Journey

“I’ve always believed that learning doesn’t stop once you leave education; no matter your age or where you are in your career, there’s always something new to discover. That belief has shaped a lot of my professional choices, and it’s exactly what led me to where I am today.

After completing my BSc in Forensic Psychology and my MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology, I found myself asking the same question a lot of people ask after finishing their studies: what’s next? That’s where working at Damia Group made all the difference. One of the things I love most about being part of this team is how genuinely they encourage growth and development. It’s not just something written into a handbook, it’s part of how we work every day. After a few honest conversations with my line manager about my career and where I wanted to go, it became clear that Human Resources was the natural next step, building on everything I’d already studied. With the support of my team behind me, I decided to complete my CIPD Level 5.

What the CIPD Actually Gave Me

The CIPD is a globally recognised qualification that provides high-level expertise in HR and Learning & Development. It’s not just a certificate to add to a CV, it genuinely builds your understanding of employment law and strategic management from the ground up. What I didn’t expect was how much value continues after you finish the course itself. The membership that comes with it gives ongoing access to continuously updated research on labour laws, employment studies, and best practice and so the learning really doesn’t stop at graduation. At a time when employment legislation is so fast changing, this couldn’t be more helpful.

A Personal Milestone

As an immigrant building a career in the UK, I started this journey with very little knowledge of employment law or employee rights here. Completing my CIPD Level 5 changed that completely. It gave me the knowledge and, just as importantly, the confidence to work in HR and People Practice with a real understanding of the field. I am genuinely excited to implement my learning here at Damia Group.

More than that, it’s given me a strong foundation to keep growing — and to contribute meaningfully to a profession I now genuinely feel a part of.

I’m grateful to have done this with a team that champions learning at every level. It’s a reminder that wherever you start from, there’s always room to grow,  and the right support makes all the difference. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in developing their career into an HR field to seriously consider the CIPD qualification.”