Sharon Blyfield
Sharon Marcia Blyfield | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shepherd's Bush, West London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Marketing and human resources professional |
| Known for | Promoting early career development at The Coca-Cola Company |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2022) |
Sharon Marcia Blyfield is a British professional specializing in marketing and human resources, recognized for her efforts in promoting early career development within The Coca-Cola Company. In 2022, she received the distinction of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Early life and education
Originating from Shepherd's Bush in West London, Blyfield attended Burlington Danes Academy, a voluntary aided institution. Driven by a desire to contribute financially to her family, she pursued a BTEC Extended Diploma in business and finance at Hammersmith and West London College, which led to her initial employment in financial administration.
Career
Blyfield's career includes roles in advertising at both Cadbury and The Coca-Cola Company during the period when Coca-Cola was expanding its presence in the UK, where she played a role in growing their marketing campaigns. Subsequently, she shifted her focus to human resources, concentrating on developing programs for early-career employees.
During her tenure at Coca-Cola, Blyfield enhanced the existing apprenticeship program by incorporating fields such as engineering, sales, and administration. She simplified the application process by modifying GCSE entry criteria and eliminating the need for CV submissions. Additionally, she introduced mentorship and training initiatives aimed at fostering apprentices' career advancement.
As a prominent supporter of apprenticeships across the UK, Blyfield has actively promoted their wider implementation and advocated for better remuneration for apprentices. In 2023, she joined Youth Employment UK's board as a Director.
Awards and honours
In recognition of her impactful work in business and marketing, Blyfield was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire during the 2022 New Year Honours.
References
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Living people
- People from London
- Coca-Cola people
- British marketing people
- 20th-century British businesswomen
- 20th-century British businesspeople
- 21st-century British businesswomen
- 21st-century British businesspeople
- Black British businesspeople
- 21st-century Black British women
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- 1966 births