Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

People News

Top job: Amanda Towse, HR director, Begbies Traynor

by Personnel Today 8 Jun 2004
by Personnel Today 8 Jun 2004


Amanda Towse is the new HR director at corporate rescue and recovery company, Begbies Traynor. She is the first HR professional at the firm, and will work with the senior partners to provide ‘a competitive edge through people’.

Where did you work before and what were your duties?

At construction company Mow-lem, in its facilities management division. I was a business HR manager, focusing on business development and the mobili-sation of new contracts and transfer of staff.

What do you hope to achieve in your new role?

To work with the partners to integrate the cultures of the different offices, and to contribute to making an already successful business even more so.

Which aspects are you most looking forward to?

Being part of the overall business process, as opposed to an overhead sitting at the edge just implementing policies.

What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?

When I was younger, I worked at a video store and had to ask Keith Chegwin and Sarah Bright-man (separately!) for proof of ID before they could rent a video.

How will HR change over the next five years?

People will always be people but business and its needs will change – HR will have to be flexible and adapt to that change to ensure that it still has influence.

What is your essential viewing?

ER and The West Wing, and being in the car in time for The Archers.

What is the best thing about HR?

The diverse nature of the work and the ability to develop both individuals and businesses.

And the worst?

The sick feeling I get before delivering bad news. I know it has to be done, but it really doesn’t get any easier.

How do you fill your spare time?

I follow the dream at Manchester City Football Club.

What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?

See the above answer!

What is the essential tool in your job?

Being able to adapt to different situations and people.

And the most over-rated?

Using e-mail instead of personal contact.

What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?

Don’t lose sight of the commercial side of the business.

What would be your ideal job?

Starring in a West End musical or in a Hollywood blockbuster.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

A young me would be Drew Barrymore.

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with?

Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown – what an objectionable man.

Towse’s cv

2004 HR director, Begbies Traynor Corporate Rescue & Recovery

2001 HR manager, Mowlem Managed Services

1997 HR adviser, Eversheds Leeds & Manchester

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
British Airways execs sacrifice inappropriate bonuses
next post
With psychometric testing you can…

You may also like

Prince Philip: an HR reformer of his time?

9 Apr 2021

Grant Eldred joins Clifford Chance as chief people...

25 Feb 2021

2021 nominations open for CIPD’s highest accolade

8 Jan 2021

Movers and shakers autumn 2020: HR appointments at...

10 Nov 2020

Movers and shakers: HR appointments – Jo Swinson...

26 Aug 2020

Dave Prentis to step down after 19 years...

13 Jul 2020

Uber’s head of HR Liane Hornsey resigns after...

11 Jul 2018

Sir Cary Cooper elected as new CIPD president

15 Dec 2015

Arriva appoints HR director to bus and rail...

1 Oct 2013

Barclays appoints Irene McDermott Brown as group HR...

25 Jul 2013
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+