Heather Angus is the new director of HR at food service company 3663. She has been with the company for seven years, and before that she was a personnel officer in the NHS.
What will be the duties in your new role?
To direct HR strategy and overall activities and ensure our HR depart-ment is proactive and responsive to the changing needs of the business.
I am also responsible for effectively managing the activities of the HR team to ensure that we continue to work to a professional standard.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
To ensure that we deliver on our aim of being a ‘First for People Employer’, and to demonstrate that HR adds great value to the business.
What are the challenges HR faces in the next five years?
Recruiting and retaining key staff in a very competitive market, which is also affected by national skills shortages for certain jobs.
Who is your ultimate guru?
Birmingham City football club’s director Karren Brady.
What is the most annoying piece of management jargon?
An ‘ideas shower’.
What is the strangest situation you have been in at work?
Being interviewed at 7.30am live on BBC Oxford Radio for our Young Drivers Scheme, and then having to drive to one of our depots to appear on TV standing in the rain wearing a massive fluorescent jacket.
What’s the worst thing about HR?
Organisations sometimes struggle to see the commercial value HR adds to the business.
What is the essential tool in your job?
I have three – my mobile, followed by my car (also known as my office), and my laptop.
And the most over-rated?
Lengthy, wordy, non user-friendly manuals.
What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
Jumping out of a plane at 12,000 feet for a sponsored activity for the Blue Cross charity.
What advice would you give to people starting out in HR?
Ensure that you have a strong know-ledge of the business that you are working in.
What was the last book you read?
I’m reading Paula Radcliffe’s biography.
What song gets you on the dancefloor?
Anything by Britney Spears, or Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.
What would be your dream job?
A professional scuba diver.
Who would play you in the film of your life and why?
Rene Zellweger – my life sometimes resembles a collection of very entertaining ‘Bridget Jones’ moments!
What is the best office party you’ve ever attended?
A ‘Night of the Stars’ party, organised by our parent company and held in Bangkok in February.
Angus’ CV
- 2005 HR director, 3663
- 2001 Senior HR manager, 3663
- 1998 HR manager, 3663
- 1995 Personnel officer, St Thomas’s Hospital
- 1994 Personnel and training officer, Creda
