A pioneering HR peer group has been created for senior HR professionals by GlobusHR Consultancy and Gales Solicitors. The group provides much needed peer support, training, specialist & expert employment advice, coaching and development for HR professionals. It is called the GlobusHR Advantage Group.
Founded in 2017, the GlobusHR Advantage Group provides ½ day sessions where HR professionals from Dorset and Hampshire can meet in a supported and closed environment to confidentially discuss and share concerns about a broad range of employment issues. GlobusHR Managing Director Sarah Hamilton-Gill is on hand to chair the group, as is Gales Employment Law specialist, Sarah England. The sessions allow attendees to have conversations about work-place issues; to identify possible options and outcomes, discuss risks and enables members to access a better decision- making process. This in turn ensures better outcomes for both the business and employees.
Since August 2017 employers have been at more risk of being taken to court as fees have been dropped. Subsequently, the number of employment tribunal claims that were received in the last quarter of 2017 increased by a staggering 90% and the backlog of single employment tribunal claims has increased by 66%. Figures that Sarah England said should not be ignored.
GlobusHR Director Sarah Hamilton-Gill commented, “Our sessions tackle some difficult issues but we have lots of meaningful conversations, with plenty of learning along the way. It often means that HR professionals are able to avoid unnecessary, costly and lengthy legal disputes and of course employment tribunals. As most HR professionals are aware, their function within the business is crucial. Management rely heaving upon their expertise and it is therefore vital that HR has all the tools necessary to ensure that they are able to support the business successfully. HR has typically and traditionally attracted women, but females are hugely under- represented at board level. With the coaching, support and knowledge that we impart we are seeking to enable more senior HR professionals to have a voice on their company’s Board and give them increased confidence in their roles.
“There are plenty of peer groups out there for CEO’s and MD’s but we felt that there was nowhere for HR professionals to go. Many HR professionals that we spoke to felt quite isolated within their companies, especially in an SME. We identified this gap in the market and decided to set up the GlobusHR Advantage Group. We meet ten times a year and there are three levels of entry for participants – providing different levels of support. We are attracting a fantastic group of like- minded senior HR people who can confidentially share concerns about a broad range of issues. The benefit to the businesses that are represented is that they manage to retain and develop their stand-alone HR professional. If they lost that individual it would probably cost around £20,000 to replace them – due to lost productivity, lost knowledge and the cost of finding an HR replacement.”
Sarah England added, “The GlobusHR Advantage Group helps to prevent conflict and disputes by equipping HR staff with the specialist knowledge to address issues in a much timelier way, thus reducing potential employment tribunal claims. Tribunal claims don’t just only impact financially on a business but also from an employer branding perspective. Having a well- trained HR professional within the business also gives the company the ability to grow and doesn’t restrict potential growth – hugely important to SME’s.
“GlobusHR Advantage members have the opportunity to learn the basic legal foundations in Company Law to help them understand more about the legalities of business and the structure of their organisation. There will also be a section covering mergers and acquisitions.”
The next meeting for GlobusHR Advantage Group members is on 12thSeptember in Poole. Anyone interested in attending or finding out more is urged to contact Sarah Hamilton-Gill E: sarahHG@globusconsulting.co.uk; Tel. 01590 637364
About Gales Solicitors
Gales Solicitors was established in 1948 by John Gale and has been providing legal advice to the people of Bournemouth and the surrounding areas for 70 years.
Now located on Winton high street, Gales Solicitors continue to deliver a professional service from a local base. Offering legal services to both individuals and business clients. The company prides itself on offering expert advice with a friendly face.
About Sarah Hamilton-Gill FCIPD and GlobusHR Consulting Ltd
Sarah is the MD and founder of GlobusHR Consulting Ltd. She first went into HR consulting in 1994. Currently she has a team of Associates and a small operational team, having moved away from running a larger consultancy firm in Hertfordshire.
The team are based in Lymington and cover SME’s in Dorset, Hampshire and Central London.
They are finalists for the annual CIPD Awards for Best HR Consultancy for 2018, nominated by one of their Dorset based clients.