In May 2017, Karen was promoted to Senior HR Advisor – Team Leader, to help look after the HR Advisor team, and HR Administrators. In November 2017, Karen was promoted to HR Knowledge Manager.
Originally starting her career training in customer services in Selfridges, Karen became preoccupied with HR practices and built a wealth of experience working for many household name fashion retailers when she lived and worked in London.
Since then she has gravitated back toward her hometown in the Midlands and has specialised in employment law supporting a vast array of business and industries.
Karen has worked for 7 years and counting on a consultancy basis, working directly with CEOs and directors on strategizing HR policy, dealing with employment relation issues and navigating through cases to minimise risk and achieve the most desirable outcome wherever possible!
Not being precious about her skills, Karen sometimes adapts her approach to support her friends and family too, most notably rolling up her sleeves to act as a representative during conciliation and achieving an award large enough, that her thank you gift was a short break in the sun!
Karen enjoys spending her weekends taking her dog on long walks with her fiancée and setting the world to rights with her closest friends, some nibbles and a glass of something nice.
Karen’s Q&A
What’s your greatest personal achievement?
I was accepted into the London College of Fashion (UAL) which ranks in the Top 10 fashion schools globally. I graduated achieving a dissertation prize judged by WGSN for my unique research and discussion about the importance of HR & organizational culture on the customer facing brand. (LCF is also very pink!)
What’s the best bit of advice you have ever been given?
If you are not happy about something, change it.
If you can’t change it, change the way you look at it.
What is your favourite ice cream?
Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup.
What do you wish other people knew about HR Solutions?
Professional integrity and mutual respect is at the heart of how HR Solutions operate. It is wonderful to be a part of a team aligned to these values who support each other and work together to achieve this. I hope this lovely culture emanates through in our service as a genuine, forward thinking, friendly, knowledgeable support function who take pride in the quality we deliver.
Sue Watson
Head of Client ServicesSue Watson has gained extensive HR experience over the course of her career with HR management positions across a range of industries.
Victoria Templeton
HR Knowledge ManagerVictoria is CIPD qualified and joined HR Solutions as an HR Advisor, bringing with her an expertise in employee relations that she gained within FCA regulated businesses.
Rob Coppillie
Senior HR ConsultantRob brings valuable insight to his HR Consultancy role that he gained from 20 years operational and management experience within the fast paced logistics, fresh and frozen foods sector.
Aftab Jussab
Senior HR ConsultantAftab brings over 15 years' worth of Legal & HR experience to HR Solutions. He is a self-motivated individual with a unique blend of business acumen and his professional experience stems from working with legal experts and leading HR organisations.
Abi Ashford
Lead HR ConsultantAbi Ashford brings a great level of experience and HR knowledge to the HR Solutions team and was promoted to HR Consultant from HR Advisor in 2019.
Sheena Harris
Senior HR ConsultantSheena joined HR Solutions after almost 12 years in her previous role working in HR Management with a tour operator in Leicestershire.
Louise Balloch
HR ConsultantLouise supports HR Solutions’ clients with their employment related concerns. Her experience includes an array of topics including flexible working, probation, conduct, performance management, parental leave and absence management.
Juliet Coates
Client Services ManagerJuliet joined HR Solutions in September 2016 as HR Advisor to predominately support our clients using our ever-growing HR Advice Line service. She has since been promoted to Senior HR Advisor, HR Consultant and Client Services Manager.
Sarah Dunnell
HR AdvisorSarah’s HR Advisor experience within the Travel & Tourism sector saw her specialise in business change management whether it was selling a brand, closing an office, making redundancies or reorganising the workforce.
Bhavika Chauhan
HR AdvisorBhavika has over 18 years HR experience gained with leading UK organisations where she designed and implemented reward schemes and employee engagement programs.
Chris Thomson
HR AdvisorChris achieved a BA in Business Studies (Hons) (2:1) from Nottingham Trent University and a CIPD Level 5 Diploma in HR Management. His HR experience covers working within highways, utilities, construction and infrastructure sectors.
