Hollie Taggart: Learning & Development Specialist

Posted by: Phil Jones on 18 July 2024

Updated on: 23 June 2025

Hollie began her professional journey with a degree in Early Childhood Studies and Post Grad in Primary teaching, which led her to fulfilling a career as a Primary school teacher. In 2021, seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth, Hollie joined the Smiley Monroe team as a Despatch Administrator. Her organisational skills and proactive approach quickly made her an invaluable member of the team.

Hollie continued to seek ways to utilise her teaching background and passion for helping others develop their potential. Recognising her unique skills and dedication, we saw an opportunity to further utilise Hollie’s talents. In 2023, she was promoted to L&D Specialist in the HR & People Development team.

In her role, Hollie combines her educational expertise and administrative experience to design and implement learning programs that enhance employee skills and career growth. Her understanding of diverse learning needs has made her instrumental in encouraging a supportive and growth-oriented workplace culture.

Hollie’s career at Smiley Monroe is a testament to her adaptability, dedication, and continuous pursuit of personal and professional development. Her journey from teaching to L&D highlights her ability to embrace change and drive positive impact within the company.

We asked Hollie what she enjoys most about her role:

“Getting to interact with every department and role within the company- the collaboration opportunities are endless and I’m a chatterbox so suits me well.”

We asked Hollie what her favourite benefit is:

“The constant training opportunities. This year alone I am completing my CIPD Level 5 with Belfast Met and an Advanced Adobe Editing course- not only have I been given the time out, financial support and fancy equipment to complete this, my current projects are aligned to need these skills- so the learning is put into action straight away. This is an amazing development opportunity personally as an L&D specialist and I would not have been able to complete without Smiley Monroe’s backing.’’

We asked Hollie what makes her proud to work for Smiley Monroe:

“No matter how much we have grown, we all know each other personally. My feedback and ideas are always welcomed, and you can see the impact of your input in projects.”

We asked Hollie what her favourite engagement event has been:

“Abseiling down Belfast Castle for Cancer Focus NI and giving Paddleboarding a go.”