Laura Hopson is the Founder and a Director of The People Business.
Laura is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel & Development. Having 25 years experience in HR, training, recruitment, change management and business improvement, working at operational and director levels across various market sectors for multi-nationals and local SME’s, she knows what clients need. Before going into Consultancy, she worked for T&N Plc and British Alcan Aluminium Plc, in the manufacturing, engineering and automotive sectors and then worked for The Consumers Association/Which? Magazine.
Laura set-up and ran the HR Consultancy business for PEM, a professional services firm in Cambridge, for 8 years, where she and her team gained extensive knowledge of fast growth start-ups in the Technology sector. She really understands how excellent HR practices add value to a business, whatever its size or strategic aims may be. Her expertise and passion in running business improvement projects (including Kaizen) offers a commercial perspective, a holistic approach to change management and HR, whilst delivering impressive results.
Nick Slowe is a Director of The People Business, since 2010, having at his disposal his extensive business improvement and change management skills, whilst using his enthusiasm and team building experience to drive through real business results. His strategic perspective, extensive project management experience, as well as a hands on approach, is of great value. Nick joined the IET in 2003 as Director of IT where his focus was on change management, utilising the best technology available as appropriate, integrating information, people and technologies to create a knowledge network that connects engineers across the globe. Nick began his career in 1986, working as a Programmer for Anglian Water. In 1992 he moved into IT management, supporting the business transformation of AW post privatisation. As Programme Manager and Programme Director, he was responsible for a number of strategic, technical and business change programmes.
In April 2000, Nick joined Telewest Broadband as Head of Management Information. He was responsible for delivering and improving business critical management information in an environment of change, rapid growth and technical innovation. Later that year he became Head of Corporate Systems. He is a Judge for the SET Awards “IT Student of the Year” and has recently been involved with the development of a new guide for developing and managing web standards, which has just been published by the BSI.
Nick is a graduate of Keele University, with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology.
Helen Alvey is a commercially focused senior Human Resources professional (Chartered MCIPD) with 26 years business experience, including more than 16 years in senior HR roles for SMEs in and around the Cambridge area. Latterly working with The People Business and it’s wide range of clients on various HR projects.
Significant experience in start-up and small technology businesses, combining full operational and strategic HR remit to develop HR services, often from scratch, to align with business needs. Strong HR generalist experience includes policy development, recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation and benefits, employment law and employee relations covering full employment cycle.
Competent working with senior managers and directors, both in internal HR roles and in freelance consultancy/advisory capacity. Good strategic and business awareness with experience in change environments including growth as well as downsizing/restructuring. Managed very varied employee relations issues including complex dismissal, discipline, grievance and redundancy cases.
Works with a pragmatic and practical approach, a strong customer service focus combined with a people-centric style.
Laura and Nick are supported by a team of HR professionals, offering specialist skills and knowledge gained from working in different market sectors.
Liz Gibson
- Senior HR professional for over 15 years, having worked at both operational and Senior Director level
- Worked for large international organizations across a variety of sectors with a strong focus on pharmaceutical/biotech and technology.
- Strong experience in working for SME’s, including hi growth businesses which either don’t have their own HR in house or require input for a specific project
- Experience covers the full employment cycle
- Comfortable working operationally and strategically depending on stage of development of the organization
- Pragmatic and business focused approach to providing HR which allows flexibility and bespoke solutions
- Change management and management development experience including development of training programs
- An open and honest approach for all clients.
