Our advisory team

Our advisory team is based across the UK and all advisors are professionally qualified members of the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), with experience of helping clients from a diverse range of industries at all levels.

Our senior advisors both joined the company in January 2001:

Alison Blackhurst, Chartered MCIPD Senior advisor

Prior to joining us, Alison spent seven years working as a self-employed consultant providing a full generalist service to SME's, including advising on employment policies, contracts, disciplinary matters and new employment legislation. Alison previously held a number of HR management positions in personnel and training within a blue-chip unionised food manufacturing company, an accountancy firm and the BBC.

Susan Watson, Chartered MCIPD Senior advisor

Sue worked for a manufacturing company as Personnel Officer for fourteen years before she joined our team, and prior to that provided HR support for the Royal Northern College of Music. Offering broad HR advice to both senior and site management, Sue has extensive knowledge of employment law, disciplinary procedures and the introduction of new terms and conditions, as well as experience of conducting negotiations with recognised unions in respect of pay awards and policy reviews.

Abi Ashford, Chartered MCIPD Advisor

Tracey Riley, Chartered MCIPD Advisor

Before joining the helpline team in 2004, Tracey spent 12 years with a leading Industrial Automation provider. As HR Manager she gained extensive experience at senior management level through successful completion of restructuring activities, acquisitions, advising on employment law, harmonising terms and conditions, contracts and policies and employee relations. More recently, Tracey worked as a self-employed consultant, providing a full range of generalist HR support to small businesses, as well as outplacement consultancy.

Claire Rogers, Chartered MCIPD Advisor

Claire has over twenty years' experience in HR within a variety of business sectors, ranging from blue-chip fmcg, to high-tech manufacturing and financial services. Claire progressed from recruitment through generalist HR management, alongside management development/training and continues to coach and advise both individuals and corporate clients. She joined the BusinessHR team in July 2005.

Jo Wymer, Chartered MCIPD Advisor

Jo joined the BusinessHR team five years ago. She has over twenty-five years' experience in Human Resources, fifteen of which are at Board level. She has worked in the public and private sector in broadcast media, publishing and consumer research, education and health care. She has also worked as an HR Consultant to SMEs where her clients included manufacturing, food production and transport. She has extensive experience of managing teams, industrial relations, leading change managment and culture change. She now specialises in representation at Employment Tribunals and training managers in employment law.

Our advisors handle our helpline calls and contribute to our website content, which is reviewed, expanded and updated on a regular basis. They also prepare our monthly newsletter, which can be received if you register.

If you think you could add your skills and experience to our team, email info with your CV.