Early Career and Transition into Human Resources
After completing a history degree and initially aspiring to work in the museum sector, Angela began her career in the Civil Service where she quickly realised that working with people and organisations was a better fit for her skills and interests.
Higher Education HR Experience
Angela then moved to The University of Sheffield, where she provided trusted and practical HR support to senior academics and managers across a wide range of faculties and departments. During this time she worked on a broad range of people management issues including complex employee relations matters, employment tribunals, organisational restructures and change programmes.
She also worked closely with Occupational Health teams to improve service provision and developed and delivered bespoke management training programmes for academic leaders and managers.
Transforming HR Services at Lancaster City Council
Angela later relocated to the North West with her young family and joined Lancaster City Council, where she led the HR team through a substantial improvement programme. She developed the service into a trusted and forward-thinking HR function, providing guidance and support across the organisation and working closely with the Chief Executive, Corporate Management Team and Councillors.
Angela and her team delivered transformational organisational change, supporting the delivery of challenging business plans which improved service delivery and delivered efficiency savings whilst reducing workforce costs. This work included significant organisational change and restructuring and complex workforce restructuring programmes.
Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Workforce Development
Angela led the development and implementation of the Council’s health and wellbeing strategy which resulted in significant improvements, including reducing absence levels by over six days per employee per year and delivering substantial efficiency savings.
She also oversaw the development of the organisation’s HR intranet and public HR pages, introduced online recruitment systems and supported the implementation of a new HR and payroll platform. In addition, Angela led the organisation’s learning and development agenda, including launching the successful “Celebrating Success” employee recognition awards, introducing a Learning Management System and establishing the Lancaster Leadership Academy.
HR Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
More recently Angela returned to the higher education sector where she worked as the lead HR Business Partner supporting a university’s response to the national COVID-19 lockdowns. This involved working closely with senior university leaders and trade unions to develop and implement organisational responses at pace.
Her work covered a wide range of HR issues including complex employee relations cases, contract regularisation and workforce planning.
Professional Credentials
Angela is a Chartered Member of the CIPD.
