Testimonials
Here’s what some of the clients we’ve partnered with have said about our work…..
BUSINESS UNDERSTANDING
Sarah worked hard to understand the business challenges and established excellent working relationships with her business clients very quickly. She is a very competent HR professional and was recognised as such by the business and her HR colleagues, all of whom valued her input.
Patricia Williamson, HR Director, Trader Media Group
Sarah got up to speed very quickly and through building good relationships, immediately grasped an understanding of the key issues and challenges.
Tim Thurston, Commercial Director, Trader Media Group
Sarah very quickly gained familiarity with the role and with the organisation and I was taken aback by how soon it felt that she had been in the role for a long time. I was also particularly impressed by her effectiveness in operating in what was a new sector for her (of manufacturing and packaging) and she rapidly developed an impressive understanding of the business and a very good working relationship with her new colleagues, at all levels.
Andrew J Woollard, Managing Director, SAICA PACK South
EDP and Sarah have developed a close working relationship and she has developed a good understanding of our business, culture and priorities. This gives Sarah the ability to recommend solutions which do not come straight out of the ‘best practice’ box, but instead she recommends solutions which are pragmatically tailored to our specific requirements.
Tim Knowles, Finance and Commercial Director, The Environmental Dimensions Partnership
EXECUTIVE-LEVEL PARTNERING AND SUPPORT
As well as her extensive specialist knowledge, Sarah demonstrated excellent communication skills and met agreed deadlines, being flexible and industrious. I enjoyed an excellent personal rapport with Sarah and would not hesitate in recommending her.
Tim Thurston, Commercial Director, Trader Media Group
The personal support you have given me has been invaluable particularly in the area of coach, mentor and confidante.
Steve Thomas, Human Resources Director, InterserveFM
Sarah displayed good stakeholder management at a senior level.
Kevin Rodgers, Programme Director, Interserve FM
I really appreciated Sarah’s clear, direct and constructive approach to working. Her specialist guidance was comprehensive and invaluable in helping me to understand all possible options for what was a difficult and complex case. I felt reassured by her attention to detail and by the clarity of her advice. I have no hesitation in recommending Sarah’s expertise and would definitely work with her again in the future.
Sheila Fleming, Principal and Chief Executive, Hereward College
Although Sarah is an external consultant, she works seamlessly with the senior management team when required.
Paul Short, Group Finance Director, Sci-MX Nutrition
Sarah’s approach is very inclusive. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Sarah, I valued her contributions and sincerely hope our paths cross again.
Jilly Atherton, HR Director (UK & Ire), SAICA
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your excellent facilitation of both events for us recently. It is a testament to the confidence I had in your facilitation that on both occasions I was able to sit back and be part of the sessions, rather than worrying about the process.
Associate Director Education and Development, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Sarah adopted a highly consultative approach, working with the senior team to understand our strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying where the pressure points lay within the business. Aside from the practical delivery of our new management structure, Sarah has also empowered the senior team to take more individual (rather than collective) ownership for specific areas of the business. this has enabled individuals to grow within the business as well as improving the efficiency of our decision making.
Tim Knowles, Finance and Commercial Director, The Environmental Dimensions Partnership
I asked Sarah to support me with a significant grievance which required independent management. I was so glad I did. From the very beginning I felt confident and reassured that Sarah’s engaging and thorough approach would add the necessary value. She was forthcoming with the appropriate balance of advice an direction and challenge s necessary. I would not hesitate to utilise Sarah’s services again in the future and very much hope we have the pleasure of working together again.
Graeme Proud, Head of HR, (Financial Services business)
In May 2017 I was invited to become Chair of a company where the shareholders and directors had all died. This was no easy task with a workforce of over 150 people and a turnover of almost £20m. I immediately invited Sarah to join me in this project and we completed a risk assessment reduction review in all areas of the business. Sarah’s specialist knowledge in HR was invaluable to both me and the organisation. Sarah, who was not formally appointed as a Board member, attended all of the Board meetings along with me.
Neil Denniss, Partner, Bespoke Tax Accountants
PROJECT MANAGEMENT/DELIVERY
Sarah’s consultative style and enthusiasm to do the right thing were key in the overall success of this project. She should be very proud of her achievements as they have left a lasting legacy. It isn’t often that you get a highly driven and planning orientated HR representative like Sarah who possesses the project management and HR knowledge she brings.
IT Director, Zurich Financial Services
Sarah’s expertise and professional approach was invaluable and she planned, anticipated and followed through in an excellent way.
Lesley Cowley, OBE, CEO, Nominet
Sarah joined SAICA Pack on an interim basis to lead the South HR team and subsequently also delivered several key turnaround projects as well. As an expert interim and consultant Sarah was effective from day one, surpassing regional and national expectations.
Jilly Atherton, HR Director (UK & Ire), SAICA
Sarah was able to handle the large number of topics at the high pace at which we operate and under considerable pressure, especially considering the matrix structure she came into.
Andrew J Woollard, Managing Director, SAICA PACK South
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
Your contribution has been impressive. You offered strategic guidance and advice to me which I greatly appreciated. Your experience and knowledge helped enormously.
Steve Thomas, Human Resources Director, InterserveFM
Sarah is a good strategic thinker and strong challenger of the status quo which, together with her previous experience, she put to good use in forming future Interserve strategy.
Kevin Rodgers, Programme Director, Interserve FM
Sarah has a great way of examining the need for change and providing the solution to do so.
Jilly Atherton, HR Director (UK & Ire), SAICA
Sarah has an ability to quickly understand problems, develop and implement successful solutions and has a very high attention to detail.
Guy Youll, Group HR Director, Superdry plc
ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE
Sarah has good knowledge, especially around organisational change.
Kevin Rodgers, Programme Director, Interserve FM
Sarah came to the business to manage the implementation of a new company organisation structure. Within extremely tight timescales she mapped the full organisation of over 300 roles and developed the implementation plan for transition – including collective and individual consultation, redundancies, redeployment and recruitment (including Executive level) – which she then went on to deliver successfully.
Paul Howarth, Managing Director, Nelson Thornes
We were very impressed with Sarah’s work for us in connection with the recruitment of three senior team roles. We would be glad to recommend her services to others and would be happy to use her services again.
Lesley Cowley, OBE, CEO, Nominet
As a small and rapidly growing consultancy business, EDP identified the need to review our management structures and the requirement to put in place new arrangements better able to cope with growth. Through a series of one-to-one sessions and senior team workshops, Sarah identified and proposed a matrix management structure which we then collectively refined before implementing. Sarah also engendered an approach within the senior team to continuously review and reflect on these management roles and structures, to refine them as the business continues to grow and adapt.
Tim Knowles, Finance and Commercial Director, The Environmental Dimensions Partnership
Sarah came in during a period of intense business change. She landed really well and was quickly able to take on accountability for key areas of the business and team. She adapted well to the business and made herself part of the HR team, plus was able to provide an alternative perspective on a number of issues.
Guy Youll, Group HR Director, Superdry plc
HR DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION
Since arriving at TMG I have been working to transform the HR function to become a more proactive, value adding professional team and Sarah has been a good example of the New World in practice. I have greatly valued her contribution and am sure she will be an asset to any organisation she works with.
Patricia Williamson, HR Director, Trader Media Group
Sarah rapidly transformed the HR function from a ‘back office’ reactive ‘service’ to one proactively leading initiatives underpinning the business strategy and driving employee engagement and performance. Alongside the strategic initiatives Sarah established rigour with regard to HR practice and procedure, as well as the governance and control of the organisation’s headcount and personnel costs.
Paul Howarth, Managing Director, Nelson Thornes
Sarah worked with the HR team in Nelson Thornes to raise their profile in the company, refocusing the service provision and aligning it more closely with the corporate agenda. On a personal level I truly valued Sarah’s mentoring and support during her time as HR Director which helped me develop my capability as an HR professional and my ability to influence the business.
HR Manager, Nelson Thornes
As a small but rapidly growing business, Sci-MX places significant effort on recruiting, developing and retaining its employees. Whilst we do not have an in-house HR function, we aim to maintain the highest standard of best practice and legal compliance. We have worked closely with Sarah over a number of years to provide ad-hoc advice, specific HR projects and the implementation of formal HR processes within the business including: Supporting senior management with key employee issues including liaising with external third parties on behalf of the business; Formalising our recruitment policy including advice on structured interviews and technical assessments; Designing HR management infrastructure such as formal job descriptions, policies and processes; Formal training of senior management on specific HR procedures.
Paul Short, Group Finance Director, Sci-MX Nutrition
As an interim HRBP Sarah was extremely effective and demonstrated an ability to hit the ground running whilst maintaining, and progressing, delivery of the HR agenda. She delivered everything asked of her in a busy full time role despite only working 4 days a week, and never did I sense any interference or distraction from her other commitments. Sarah helped in the recruitment and selection of the new HRBP and agreed to stay on to undertake some project work for us, adding considerable value to our operation. I would not hesitate to recommend Sarah, whatever the sector.
Andrew J Woollard, Managing Director, SAICA PACK South
Sarah has remained a close and valuable consultant for EDP, providing ad hoc assistance to the business including; reviewing our business strategy, facilitating our senior team appraisal process, reviewing our contracts of employment and general HR advice and support. Whatever specific support we require, Sarah always adopts an approach to consider the wider commercial and strategic implications for the business and has provided useful advice on sometimes quite unrelated matters.
Tim Knowles, Finance and Commercial Director, The Environmental Dimensions Partnership