Angela Edwards has been appointed head of HR at St Basils, a charitable organisation that provides a range of services for young people. She will be responsible for all HR issues across 27 sites within the West Midlands.
What are the duties in your new role?
To deliver an HR strategy for the business, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. The team currently consists of two HR members of staff and two customer service assistants. Part of my role will be to reshape the team to meet objectives that will impact significantly on the business.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
I hope to develop a credible, business-needs driven service that ensures diversity and equity are central to all we do. It is my intention to ensure HR is an important and integral part of the business, and that it is not just there to sort out problems.
What are the challenges HR faces in the next five years?
A major challenge will be efficiency and ensuring we deliver more effective services with the same level of resources without compromising on quality or increasing costs.
What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?
Get to know the business and its people – get on grass-roots level with staff, managers and customers to understand their history and current and future needs. This will help to create a shared understanding of the needs of the business, and it will also help the business to understand the role and nature of HR.
What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?
Human capital.
What is the essential tool in your job?
My paper diary – I am not organised without it.
Who is your ultimate guru?
Nelson Mandela – because he is consistent in his beliefs and showed dignity and respect to his adversaries.
Who would you most dislike to work with?
Donald Trump – his hair would drive me crazy.
How do you fill your spare time?
Relaxing with my family, working out at the gym, and crafting (card making and compiling memory albums).
What was the last book you read?
Book by Whoopi Goldberg – it’s a funny, lighthearted read.
What song gets you on the dance floor?
Anything a little bit corny, such as Tony Christie’s Show Me the Way to Amarillo.
What would be your dream job?
A presenter on home shopping channel QVC.
What is the best office party you have ever attended?
We held a very grand affair two years ago to recognise the achievements of the young people we work with. It was wonderful to see that young people in the community were being given recognition for their achievements.
Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?
It would definitely be Donald Trump – then I could pin him down and cut his hair!
Edward’s CV
2005 Head of HR, St Basils
2002 Training manager, St Basils
2001 Freelance trainer
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1999 Training and development adviser, Prime Focus
