Meet the Team – Ann
“Tell us about yourself – your background and your journey with HR?”
My journey began within local government where various terms and conditions of employment exist within a unionised environment. I have worked with a variety of industries within the private sector, and after becoming a Chartered Member of the CIPD, I got my first standalone role as an HR Manager. I then went on to set up the HR function for an asset management company that managed care homes in Scotland and the North of England, where I became their Head of HR. I then decided I wanted to experience other industries and got a great opportunity to work as an HR Manager with an organisation whose business included industrial services and freight forwarding. I then went on to set up the HR Function for two other businesses – a Dentistry and a Pharmacy group.
"What inspired you to pursue a career in HR, and how did that journey lead you to The HR Practice?"
I believe that HR professionals can make a difference to organisations to help make the world of work a great place to be. We all work to earn a living, and as we spend so much of our precious time at work, I feel the key principles of the Good Work Plan, such as respect, job satisfaction, a sense of belonging, and feeling valued, are very much in line with my own values. Working in HR, you have a great opportunity to advise, coach, and mentor managers on how employment legislation and best practice apply within the workplace. You also have a role to play in supporting the organisation to create a culture that supports employees and makes them want to commit to and be a part of your organisation.
In terms of how my journey led me to The HR Practice, after working with different organisations and having started up the HR function for three of them, the idea of consultancy work and being exposed to various organisations really appealed to me. Although I have worked within HR for many years, learning the uniqueness of the business of the different clients that we support is great – no two days are the same!
"Could you describe your current role within The HR Practice and tell us about the projects you're currently involved in?"
My role is that of Senior HR Consultant, providing support to clients with any people management issues that they may have – absence, conduct, performance – whatever they feel they need a bit of advice on. Some issues can be straightforward, and others can be more complex. We also give advice on terms and conditions of employment contained in employment contracts.
I’ve been working on various projects such as policy reviews, ensuring the latest legislative changes are reflected, reviewing company handbooks, creating and revising template documents that cover the whole employee lifecycle – from recruitment and onboarding programmes, creating skills matrices for succession planning, and conducting independent exit interviews.
"In your opinion, how do businesses benefit from partnering with an outsourced HR consultancy?"
We can save business owners from having sleepless nights over people management issues. We are that someone there, at the end of the phone where they can say, “I’ve got an issue that I’m not quite sure how to deal with.” We will give clear, to-the-point advice that balances being fair and reasonable in line with employment legislation and reduces any risk to the business in terms of what can be costly employment tribunals. We are very mindful that managers are experts in their own particular field of work, and managing their people can sometimes impact on that in terms of their time and profitability for the organisation.
Small organisations cannot always afford to employ their own HR expertise, and sometimes large organisations just need some more resources for a specific period of time to undertake projects. Partnering with The HR Practice is a cost-effective solution for clients to gain expert HR advice on a retained or ad-hoc basis. We make a point of getting to know and understand their business so that we can provide practical advice on managing people to allow them to take care of their business.
"Outside of work, how do you typically spend your spare time?"
I love my holidays – anywhere sunny with a pool and a beach. I also love to sing. My ideal day / night out would be having some nice food, a few drinks, and having a go on the karaoke. I’m not very good at it, but that doesn’t stop me giving it a go! I don’t have a particular “go-to” song or a specific genre, but I will usually try some of my old country favourites!
I also enjoy sewing, cooking, gardening, spending time with friends and family and have been known to turn my hand to DIY around the house. I am also a cat lover; I have two black cats who are absolute characters and never cease to amaze me with their antics.
