Sally Wilkinson Kennedy

Developed the HR Function in this small £26m turnover group, consisting of 2 companies, both engineering, manufacturing and shipping large industrial machinery around the world, during a period of fast turnaround from £2.3m loss to £2m profit. Customers include among many others, Greggs, Warburtons, Smith & Nephew, Devro, TATA Steel. • Introduced and rolled out Performance Management across both companies within 6 mths, 97% completion rate in Year 1, 99% in Year 2. • Brought working practices on and of-site, in line with WTD • Stabilised internal payroll process and successfully improved/outsourced. • Significant improvements to HR systems, processes and data storage across the Group. • Advised on and managed sensitive board level changes across both companies. • Introduced HR KPIs into the Group. • Undertook a communication/engagement review, and rolled-out a Line Manager Briefing tool to ensure greater, consistent knowledge and understanding across departments/levels. • Collectively consulted on full suite of Company Policies and Procedures for Dowson and implemented in Jan 20 and overhauled Spooner HR systems/procedures to be ISO9001 compliant • Introduced absence management procedures to reduce sickness absence levels giving savings of £185,000 in last financial year in Spooner Industries. • Assessed need for, planned and delivered cross-functional collaborative working L&D event to help break down historic departmental silos and planned for CEO review, pre-covid line management Level 5 apprenticeships and post-covid level 3 and 5 online leadership programmes. • Restructured departments for improved ways of working (cost neutral) and restructured Dowson for cost savings of over £350,000 p.a • Led the Covid-19 response on behalf of HR, (covering gaps in H&S and Operations as required) to ensure both companies remained safely open throughout to factory and reduced office staff and while we ramped up production at Spooner Industries and reduced downtime at Dowson.

Undertook a variety of different HR and wider business improvement projects for several SMEs, large businesses & provided coaching to private individuals. Contracted my HR professional services as a Senior HRBP UK & Ireland (4000 employees, Commercial and R&D) to Johnson & Johnson, Depuy Synthes, (off-payroll) and provided HR expertise on behalf of a specialist HR consultancy PACT HR and Bradford Council (2yrs on payroll-working). • Coached international HR managers with responsibility for UK sites and operating in international companies with UK HQ. • Designed international talent management programme for expats based in the UK for large Japanese company. • Project managed 3rd party Logistics, Sales, Quality, Finance and Admin services and undertook beneficial contract negotiations (saving over £100,000 p.a) for UK SME importer. • Customer account management for distributors in Europe, America, South Africa, India and Australia. Brought in over £200,000 p.a. of new business (expanding product range, improving B2B marketing, distributor education and POS marketing support inc. new website design) • Stepped into a complex, high performing manufacturing organisation as Senior HR Business Partner for UK & Ireland for Johnson & Johnson across Commercial and R&D Business Units. Partnered Sales Directors, Business Unit Directors in Commercial Area and the R&D Director. • Led and delivered a large senior level business restructure within Commercial division to align against Global directive from the US. • Rolled out new HRIS system across the business and new flexible benefits options. • Led on Line Leader Accountability Project, collaborating with colleagues across other businesses. • Led on Best Place for Best People, R&R Project as part of a multi-functional team. • Rolled out new Performance Development process – training 1000 employees.

HEAD OF HR – UK (with European project management) Yazaki Europe has 50,000 employees and forms part of the Yazaki Group comrising of 300,000 employees worldwide. I was the UK HR lead, responsible for a HR team partnering 5 sites across the UK inc. 3 European Board Directors. I was accountable to the European HRD based in Germany. • Named as one of the ‘Hot 100’ ‘Movers and Shakers’ in Employee Benefits Magazine 2012 http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/resource-centre/analysis/the-hot-100-g-l/14353.article • Responsible for creating and managing the UK HR & Facilities budget of over £2M. • Partnered Board Directors on Pan-European projects in support of the European HRD. • Redesigned company pension scheme to incorporate salary sacrifice arrangement and improve employee value. • Leading on personnel cost reduction of £850,000 and facilities/services cost reduction of over £200,000 during the 2008-2010 recession. Managed difficult employee relations and communication across UK during this time. • Proposed and project led the design of a tailored HRIS system from ADP on a cost neutral basis with savings starting in year 3. Gave guidance and support to the Assistant HRM in delivering management & general user training. • Recommended, designed and ensured effective delivery of a new Executive Development Programme for 5 Senior UK Managers in 07/08 and rolled out a new company Talent Management Programme in 2011 across the UK. • Took responsibility for a successful move of all European HQ employees into a new building within agreed timescale and budget. • Led on organisational change, moving the UK Finance & HR functions to the Midlands and reduced headcount in line with business needs in our Newcastle site. • Quickly improved HR's image. • Designed and implemented relevant policies, succession planning processes and rolled out Mercer management job grading. • Key internal & external contact for expatriate management & immigration issues.

HR BUSINESS PARTNER Automotive, Birmingham My site (450+ employees & 100 temps) was part of the automotive division, supplying directly to several highly demanding automotive manufacturers. The HR budget itself was linked directly to cost-minimising objectives quoted in £s/m2 of glass product produced. I completed Pilkington’s ‘International HR Management Development Programme’ in October 2006. I was nominated to join the company’s ‘YHPT’ Talent Group but sent to China to lead on an international project instead (above). • Leading on complex Grievance & Disciplinary investigations, supporting middle and senior managers. • Absence Management (supported a reduction in sickness absence of over 20% over the last 12 months = £500K saving). • Permanent recruitment and liaison with interim consultancies (approx. 40 agency staff on site). • Maintaining effective TU relations and ensuring appropriate consultation (8 TU Officials on site - UNISON). • Training needs analysis, training design and delivery at all levels.

At the request of the Global HR Director, I moved to China to lead on recruitment, policies and training for a new factory build, which was a joint venture between Pilkington and China Glass. I led autonomously as the only HR professional to successfully provide support to the project, which was falling behind on the planned timeframe by up to 6 months. This factory was due to commence production in Feb 08 with 300 employees. • Developed and implemented a ‘green field’ recruitment & training plan and timeline (training locations spread across various countries). • Developed a suitable reward structure using initial data prepared by local consultants and adapting to the NE China market. I then benchmarked and job graded every role on site. • Negotiated contracts & forged relationships with local job advertising companies, Chinese glass industry websites, Local Government and further education providers. • Completed the recruitment process successfully in a competitive recruitment market at very low cost for 80% of the Senior Management Team and other key positions making use of psychometric testing methods. • Produced a labour cost budget – pre-operational and forecast for 08/09 following start-up. Reported on this and gave risk assessments to the UK in a weekly teleconference. • Developed a range of HR policies, employment contracts, ‘local labour contracts’ and a comprehensive induction pack (Mandarin/English) in line with local requirements and global company culture.

Starting out as HR Officer in an Acute University Hospital in Coventry, I progressed to an Assistant HR Manager role in a PTC Trust. ASSISTANT HR MANAGER - Multi-site, South Birmingham PCT Trust Recent restructuring within the Division led to my coordination of the consultation and redeployment process for 20+ staff. In this role I also designed a comprehensive induction programme. HR OFFICER, Multi-site, UHCW Acute Trust UHCW Trust comprised of 3 sites in Coventry Centre, Walsgrave and Rugby. UHCW was undergoing relocation to a brand new hospital and preparing for a huge nationwide project, which would re-evaluate every role, moving each employee to new pay scales and role-specific frameworks for progression and development.

ImpaQt is a specialist Learning and Development Consultancy with 8 sites based in France and one in the UK. I held a high level of responsibility in terms of developing UK business, pedagogical analysis, delivery and evaluation and was strategically implicated with regards to running the UK site. I trained in a customised style depending on whether I was training a group of operational level employees or working one to one on an intensive 5 day training programme with Executive Management such as the Vice President of Banque Populaire, France.

Recruitment consultant specialising in Supply Chain roles. I successfully completed the TMP Worldwide ‘Fast Track to Consultancy’ Graduate Programme.