Hi, I’m Sandra Blake and I’m the Founder of BlakeHR. I thought I would start my first blog with a Q and A of questions that potential clients often ask me when we first start talking and building a relationship. Why not check out more ‘about me’ when you have read this blog?
How do you approach your work?
My job is to provide friendly support in a way that you can understand. This means:
- Not using jargon and “HR speak”
- Using plain English, especially in written documents
- Providing you with documents or recommendations for best practice
- Coaching your managers (if required)
- Always working to the mantra that “no question is a silly question”
Tell me about your credentials
I qualified with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in 2009. I became a Chartered member in 2014 after gaining substantial industry experience in the HR field. The CIPD is the industry-wide recognised membership good practice body for the HR and people-related profession.
My HR experience comes from a wide variety of sectors, including, but not limited to, education, central Government, telecoms, retail, logistics/distribution, manufacturing, IT, and accounting.
What experience do you have in project management and HR?
Some of my past projects have included:
- Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) also known as TUPE, both for transfer in and transfer out of employees, for multiple organisations
- Employee survey analysis identifying areas of concern, including dissatisfaction, potential resignations, interest in development among other things
- Transformation and integration, including helping an organisation to implement a new system to combine their HR, payroll, and finance functions
- Workforce planning and restructuring of an organisation that took on new projects and required new skillsets
- Employment tribunal, where my role was to support the senior management in their response to an unfair dismissal claim
How do you ensure you stay up to date with HR law and compliance?
I ensure this through many different methods. Firstly by Continuous Professional Development (CPD) which is how I am able to call myself a Chartered CIPD professional, and is part of the membership. The importance of staying current cannot be overstated as things can change quickly, and often do in the HR space. I stay up-to-date with HR news and trends by studying, journal reading, networking, and attending webinars frequently.
Why should you choose to work with me?
Because of the type of work that I do, it’s essential to gain trust from the outset. I’m trustworthy, professional, and personable. In recent organisations that I’ve worked with, I have been described as “the voice of reason”, “a safe pair of hands” and even “a comfort blanket”!
I have great knowledge and experience which makes me an essential part of your consulting team for all of your HR and people needs.
Thanks for reading this blog. I hope it has given you a bit more insight into both myself and BlakeHR.
How can I help you with your HR and people needs?
Book a call now to make an appointment for a no-obligation chat, or complete my contact form. If you would like to find out more about the types of service I offer please visit my “Our Services” page.
