Experience

The Platform Project CIC

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder & MD

  • Aug 2017 - Present

  Designed and launched a ground-breaking youth development not-for-profit where hard to engage young people develop confidence and freelance skills by running real, trading youth social enterprises as an alternative to mainstream education and employment. KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Organisation quadrupled in size within 2 years of launching and is in the process of franchising the model to launch in other Towns & Cities along the M4 Corridor. Designed and launched a ground-breaking youth development not-for-profit where hard to engage young people develop confidence and freelance skills by running real, trading youth social enterprises as an alternative to mainstream education and employment. KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Organisation quadrupled in size within 2 years of launching and is in the process of franchising the model to launch in other Towns & Cities along the M4 Corridor.



Freelance

• Swindon, United Kingdom

• Board Advisor / NED, Executive Coach & Speaker

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  Providing transformational consultancy advice and support to Boards and management teams in organisations of all sizes, as well as providing strategic training, event keynote speaking and published articles in industry journals on topics such as The Future Of Work, Organisational Redesign, and Leading Transformational Change. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS - One of only a handful of CIPD Organisation Design (OD) specialists worldwide. - Wrote the CIPD Factsheets on Organisation Design & Development, downloaded 6,000+ times pa. - Published a book charting the ups and downs of my entrepreneurial journey. - Share my insights through blogs, articles and keynote speaking online and at events. KEY PROJECTS: - Facilitated a team of 30 senior managers at the University of Bath to redesign their function. - Trained the senior HRBP and OD team at HSBC on how to take OD into the business effectively. - Development consultancy for Primark on how to transform key operations using an OD Mindset. - Led development programme for university HR professionals to become internal OD consultants. KEYNOTE SPEAKING: - Delivered keynote to 200+ Sainsubrys HQ staff to help them embrace their inner imposter and develop their careers. - Delivered a keynote presentation at the CIPD Learning & Development conference on how HR and L&D needs to “go native” and immerse themselves in the front line in order to identify emerging opportunities. - Designed and delivered arena based keynote sessions to 10,000 Asda sponsored “Tour-makers” (800 people per session) volunteering as part of the 2014 Tour de France in Leeds & London. CLIENT TESTAMONIAL: "Sadie has all the key attributes to provide either leadership in her own right or to support a leadership team with any challenge, which I have seen first hand. She is focused, determined, dedicated, intelligent and methodical and has a vast experience. I can not recommend her enough." James Phipps, NED & Philanthropist Show less



Baker Ashley Solicitors

• Pontypridd

• Non Executive Director

  • Jan 2019 - Present

  Supported this start-up solicitor’s firm from inception through attendance at monthly Board meetings and ad-hoc telephone support. Input includes advising on how to set up a corporate Governance Board, guiding business plan development, establishing financial forecasting and coaching the Lawyer business owners to improve decisions, relationships and handle leadership challenges. CLIENT TESTAMONIAL: “Having Sadie on board as the business specialist has made an incredible difference since day 1. Her Board contributions challenge and complement our thoughts, and her coaching style support has definitely helped us develop as a Board team.” Cerys Ashely, Founder & MD Show less



CyberOrchard

• United Kingdom
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non Executive Director

  • Apr 2017 - Mar 2018

  CyberOrchard is an information-centric security provider, delivering managed data security services to a broad range of organisations, from enterprises to dynamic start-ups. Provided strategic Board leadership and practical support to deliver the organisations aggressive growth targets by attending monthly Board meetings and fortnightly coaching sessions with the CEO. Contributions included supporting the design and implementation of corporate infrastructure, advising on the design of performance management frameworks, and introducing enhanced controls on various governance processes (12 month FTC before growing the Platform Project). KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Enabled growth from 4 staff to 30 within 12 months, empowering the CEO with key insights, coaching and support to establish effective and sustainable growth infrastructure. CLIENT TESTAMONIAL: “Sadie immediately spotted the gaps within our current strategy and as an expert in the HR and development side of businesses saw where the team needed propping up. She has made a huge difference to the way people execute within the business.” Jason Bird, CEO Show less



LPW Independent School

• Bristol

• Chair of Governors & Non-Executive Director

  • Feb 2017 - Mar 2018

  Learning Partnership West Independent School is a network of small urban village schools based in city communities, which support young people excluded from mainstream education to focus on their personal and social development, re-engage with their education, gain qualifications and move forward into further education, training or employment. Led the 6 weekly Schools Board of Governors meetings to modernise their educational Governance practices, and sat on the Board for the wider LPW youth development organisation (parent company) to advise on how to realign the whole organisational corporate strategy following a significant change in funding contracts (12 month FTC before growing the Platform Project). KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Led the school through an improved OFSTED rating from Requires Improvement to GOOD within 12 months of involvement, predominantly focused on suitable Governance and Leadership. CLIENT TESTAMONIAL: "Sadie is a strategic thinker who will ensure you don’t stay still. Incisive, focused and creative; she knows how to encourage and challenge to move individuals and organisations to their next level.” Rachel Robinson, CEO Show less



C Squared Consultancy Ltd

• Business Consulting and Services

• Founder & Director

  • Jan 2017 - Jan 2018

  Merged my consultancy company (Invensis) with a project management consultancy to create this transformational change management consultancy, focused on delivering transformational change to large organisations. Led to rapid expansion and sale of the organisation within 2 years of merger. KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Led a Programme Board to analyse a group of Council-owned companies (collective turnover c. £200m) and developed a parent company providing back office shared services and strategic leadership of the group, including a new TOM, business plan, structure and leadership team. BUSINESS PARTNER (also former client) TESTAMONIAL: “Sadie’s experience and knowledge allow her to get directly to the optimal solution, and her stakeholder skills enable her to take people on the journey. In my 20 years experience managing complex transformation projects, Sadie is without a doubt the best HR & OD specialist I have ever worked with, consistently exceeding mine and others expectations.” Paul Hamill, CEO & Co-Founder Show less



Invensis UK Limited

• UK & Europe

• Director & Transformation Consultant

  • Apr 2010 - Dec 2016

  Delivering business support services and transformation projects, including strategic HR, employment law advice, management consultancy, coaching and leadership training / qualifications to a range of clients. KEY ACHIEVEMENT: Established the UK’s first Council Joint Venture Teckal company by extracting Nottingham Councils highways department and setting up as a new co, transferring 700 staff, designing and embedding a new TOM and revising all people practices within 8 months. Reduced operating costs by 25% and delivered shareholders a £0.5m dividend within 6 months. KEY PROJECTS: - Led senior leadership strategy sessions for the RAC to help the SMT more fully understand their 5 year business plan and the impact it would have on organisational structure and redesign requirements. - Designed a service review process for West Yorkshire Combined Authority and conducted strategic organisation design planning sessions for the senior leadership team to identify the direction of the Council and how it would respond to changing funding priorities by re-engineering existing operations and introducing new ways of working. - Conducted a strategic review of the HR function in the European Investment Bank (Luxembourg), recommended re-structuring the function into business partners, shared services, and specialisms, then designed and delivered a 6 month development programme for the HR business partners so that they could act as internal consultants and guide the organisation through a broader restructure. CLIENT TESTAMONIAL: “Sadie is very quick to understand the business, the people, and their motivations. She has an unerring knack of getting to the rot cause of issues / challenges no matter how obscure.” Angie Allcock, University of Bath Head of Staff Development Show less



THE Group Limited

• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Interim HR Director

  • Sep 2008 - May 2010

  Management of the HR activities for the organisations 3 offices during a strategic change project, including introduction of strategic resource planning, design of performance management mechanisms and change related organisation design. Management of the HR activities for the organisations 3 offices during a strategic change project, including introduction of strategic resource planning, design of performance management mechanisms and change related organisation design.



Swindon College & New College and University of Oxford Brookes & Exeter University

• Swindon, United Kingdom

• Guest Lecturer

  • Sep 2007 - Aug 2009

  Design, delivery and assessment of the CIPD L3 Certificate in Personnel Practice (CPP) programme and the L7 Professional Development Scheme (PDS) programme over 2 academic years. Subsequent delivery of leadership, management consultancy skills, transformational change, and women into self-employment programmes as part of undergraduate and postgraduate / professional qualifications after 2009 on an ad hoc basis. Design, delivery and assessment of the CIPD L3 Certificate in Personnel Practice (CPP) programme and the L7 Professional Development Scheme (PDS) programme over 2 academic years. Subsequent delivery of leadership, management consultancy skills, transformational change, and women into self-employment programmes as part of undergraduate and postgraduate / professional qualifications after 2009 on an ad hoc basis.



Connections Consulting

• Swindon, United Kingdom

• Director

  • Mar 2006 - Nov 2008

  Running own company as a self-employed management consultant, designing & delivering accredited and non-accredited management & HR training. Assisting SME’s (up to 250 employees) with strategic development support, including Investors in People accreditation, HR practices, employment law advice and management strategies. Running own company as a self-employed management consultant, designing & delivering accredited and non-accredited management & HR training. Assisting SME’s (up to 250 employees) with strategic development support, including Investors in People accreditation, HR practices, employment law advice and management strategies.



Train to Gain (pilot) / Business Link / LSC

• Swindon, United Kingdom

• Business Advisor

  • Nov 2004 - Mar 2006

  Providing advice and training to external clients (SMEs & 250+) on a variety of business areas, specialising in learning & development / training, leadership and management, business development, change management, Investors In People, growth assistance and coaching. Providing advice and training to external clients (SMEs & 250+) on a variety of business areas, specialising in learning & development / training, leadership and management, business development, change management, Investors In People, growth assistance and coaching.