I have developed a model of HR that I use to audit and strategic challenges. With this information I am able to dig deeper and make recommendations for improvement. For a medium sized management consultancy, I helped to develop the HR Manager and implement an HR system, a compensation policy, a competency framework, an online appraisal and appraisal skills training.
Feedback from the Managing Director: "Kim has been a brilliant adviser to our organisation as we look to update our HR and performance practices across a range of areas. She has an instinctive understanding of the needs of smaller organisations like ours and really took time to understand us. Kim's knowledge of the field has enabled us to access a range of different perspectives and tailor them to our needs and her straightforward approach is appreciated by our staff. "
Having gained a Masters in Strategic Human Resource Management, I was given the skills to understand culture creation and change management. When I joined Planet Organic Ltd in 2010 it had just been rescued from the brink of bankruptcy, mystery shopper results were poor and there was endemic absence and lateness. Alongside the CEO and Commercial Director we created a strategy where we would differentiate the business based on service. Part one was to put employees in to uniform, attendance and timekeeping policies were created and customer service training was delivered. As a result, mystery shopper results improved by 50% and absence and lateness reduced by 80%. The implementation of performance appraisals, management development and Planet Player all helped to ensure that Team members could be promoted to senior level roles, there was a positive culture which helped us to turn the business around and prepare for exit at a premium in 2018.
Feedback from the CEO: "Kim lead an HR team that was an essential part of turning around the company. Under her direction the company established robust and forward looking approach to all the key elements of a progressive HR policy for recruitment, learning and development, performance management, and employee communication. HR became a pillar of the business and a foundation for commercial change achieved within a positive values based culture. One of the first SMEs to publish gender pay gap statistics and to see huge success from developing its management team from within."
Feedback from the Finance Director: "I worked with Kim for 9 years when she was HR Director at Planet Organic. When Kim was hired we had little HR in place. Kim quickly put in robust policies and procedures that had an immediate impact on the business helping to improve staff training and reduce absence and labour turnover thereby increasing sales and profitability. This then led to her developing the company's recruitment, training and compensation and benefits that allowed us to hire some very good people and develop a positive culture. Kim supported me in hiring some strong Finance Managers and then helped to coach and develop them. She has also provided excellent advice and guidance in employee relations matters. She has been a very good contributor to the leadership team, providing good HR insight to the business and participated in Board, Strategy, New Stores and Remuneration Committee meetings. Kim’s HR strategy was a significant factor in attracting new investment and investors in 2018."
Feedback from the Buying Director: "During her time Kim was instrumental in fundamentally changing the culture and mind-set of the business. She is professional, supportive, understanding and demanding, and through her team she dramatically improved our company communication, training and team retention."
When I joined Planet Organic, I was keen to create values that the team could buy into and live by. ‘Planet Player’ was created which was an employee of the month scheme where colleagues in store, head office and central kitchen recognised peers on a monthly basis who displayed values of work ethic, one team, service and a desire to develop. This culminated in an annual awards ceremony where the Planet Players of the Year were rewarded with sunshine holidays and high value gifts. As a result these values were woven into the business and interestingly the Planet Players were often the people who were promoted.
An online appraisal system was created where performance against objectives and values were assessed by the individual and their line manager. Goals and development for the coming year were agreed and inputted. This simple and transparent format revolutionised performance and results were fed into a 9 box grid. From here high potential people were identified.
It was recognised that management development need to be created for the management cohort, as a result this 3 day programme was created.
Day 1 - Management
Delegation, motivation, talent spotting and goal setting.
Day 2 – Coaching skills
Using the STAR model, understanding the fundamentals of coaching.
Day 3 – Leadership
Assertiveness, Decision making, Presence and credibility and Situational and Authentic leadership.
This initiative helped to accelerate those starting in junior roles to move to Team Leader and management level. After 5 years of using this strategy, 6 out of 8 Store Managers and the Area Manager were in place, all of whom started at Team Member level.
I am happy to create bespoke training on a topic of your choice.
An online gaming organisation had restructured and changed roles and responsibilities for their customer service teams. Alongside the Service training team manager, I helped conduct online workshops to define key competencies for customer service representatives and their leaders that tied into the organisation’s values.
The feedback from the client was: “I cannot thank you enough for your support with this, you’re a wizard. I have so enjoyed working with you, it’s been impactful. I have learned so much from you.”
In 2004 I gained my ILM Level 7 (equivalent to a Masters) in Executive Coaching and Mentoring. The HR team then qualified as coaches. Those identified as high potential people were coached over 3 sessions with someone from HR. I coached senior managers. As a result of this initiative we were able to help high potential people experiencing self doubt get to the next level and support senior managers with their thinking on challenging issues.
Some recommendations from former colleagues include from:
The Buying Director: "As a coach she enables personal transformation as well as business transformation, with a real focus on setting and then achieving company objectives.
The Operations Director: "I worked with Kim for 3 years, while she was HR Director at Planet. During this time, Kim was a great coach to me, to our colleagues within the Leadership team and our high potential people."
I coach executives and middle managers across a range of industries with particular strength in communication, confidence building and leadership.
I offer packages of 3 or 6 sessions. The first session includes contracting, clarifying primary focus areas and self awareness building. The client’s growth is at the very centre of what I do and I act as a guide and ask challenging questions to help clarify their thinking. I have models and frameworks that support this and can offer my many years in HR to provide mentorship if the client requires this. Each session is client led however there will always be goals set and a review of these at the start of the next session.
Some recent feedback from clients:
Chief Technology Officer – “Kim is pragmatic, approachable and brought some great insights and structure to things I was working on. Active listening and asking the right questions are real skills and I have no hesitation in recommending Kim.”
Finance professional – “Kim’s extensive experience, business knowledge, tookit and supporting personality make her a great coach. Her Insightful questions contribute to profound reflections and ultimately achieve very good results.”
Strategy Director – “Thought provoking and insightful sessions have been invaluable. Her impressive breadth and depth of experience are evident in the way she perfectly tailored every session.”
Digital Director – “Kim provided the framework for me to think strategically about the bigger picture”.
Human Advantage Ltd is a company registered in the UK under number 12328696