HR Experts are based in Tunbridge Wells and our team of HR specialists operate throughout the country supporting businesses of all sizes with their HR requirements. It is led by people who have made their mark in HR at the highest levels, understanding the issues facing business owners and managers.
Our People
- Barry Woodward FCII - Managing Director
- Amethyst O'Neill, MCIPD - Manager and HR Consultant
- Neil Williams, FCII, MCIM, MNLP - Associate
- Julie Bass ACII, FCIPD - Associate
- Aidan Walmsley MCIPD - Associate
- Carol Misselbrook MCIPD - Associate
- Colin Davies - Associate
Barry Woodward FCII
Managing Director
Barry began his professional career in the Motor Underwriting division of Minster Insurance Company in 1966 and he moved through various appointments rising to the position of Regional Motor Fleet Underwriter, Birmingham.
In 1980 he became Birmingham Branch Manager of The Elizabethan Insurance Company which later became Lombard Insurance Co. Ltd. Barry was esponsible for establishing the new Birmingham operations and in 1985 moved to Manchester to take responsibility for this major Branch with 50+ staff.
In 1988 Barry was approached to join Independent Insurance Co. Ltd. as Development Manager, North responsible for the Branch operations in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham.
Following a period of three years as Head Office Motor Underwriting Manager (1991-1994) he was headhunted to join the new direct operations of the Provincial Insurance Co.: Prospero Direct, as Head of Underwriting & Claims.
In 1995 Barry rejoined Independent again as Development Manager but this time with the additional responsibility for Scotland and the two offices there in Glasgow and Aberdeen.
In 1997 he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of the award-winning loss adjuster PCS Ltd. This consisted of over 360 professional employees in over 12 offices. He subsequently successfully sold this operation to Royal and Sun Alliance in 2002 before joining ICS in late 2002.
Amethyst O'Neill, MCIPD, BA (Hons) Business Decision Analysis
Manager and HR Consultant
Amethyst has gained a wealth of HR and Development experience both at a strategic and operational level during her 14 years as a senior HR practitioner. She started her career with Swinton Insurance before then working for Scottish Courage Brewing Limited, HB Fuller and more recently, 3663 First for Foodservice as a key member of the divisional board.
She has experience of managing a team of HR professionals and leading them to provide excellent service to their customers to ensure that HR is considered a credible business partner both commercially and strategically.
During her career she has been involved in a number of key business projects including TUPE transfers, restructuring programmes and implementing HR and Payroll systems.
Amethyst is also qualified in Saville and Holdsworth and Thomas International psychometric testing and Hay Evaluation techniques.
Neil Williams, FCII, MCIM, MNLP
Associate
Neil brings a wealth of specialist knowledge from being a senior executive in both an insurance underwriting company and a regional schemes broker.
With over 35 years’ experience in the financial services sector, Neil has worked at senior management level for a number of insurance companies including Royal Insurance (UK), Lombard General Insurance and Independent Insurance Group, in sales, business development and operations.
He spent four years as Managing Director, building and implementing the strategy of Deacon Insurance Services, focusing particularly on the development of the company’s property insurance schemes. He was responsible for the turnaround of Deacon by driving operational and sales change as well as rebuilding the reputation of the company with underwriters.
Neil has always been interested in people and communications and commenced his coaching training by studying NLP (Neuro Linquistic Programming) in 1997. Subsequent to this, he is a Master NLP Practitioner and a Member of the ICF (International Coach Federation).
Julie Bass ACII, FCIPD
Associate
Julie has held a variety of general insurance and HR roles in the UK and Hong Kong since commencing her career with Lombard Elizabethan back in 1982. From 1998 she held the position of Strategy and HR Director for Groupama. With many years experience in the financial services sector, Julie has operated in strategic and senior managerial roles for over 15 years.
During her seven years with Groupama, she was a key member of the integration team following the merger of GAN with Lombard General in the UK. She was responsible for developing and implementing the strategic planning processes across the whole UK business in addition to her HR duties.
Julie has in-depth practical and conceptual knowledge and experience across the full spectrum as both a leader of a department of 30 plus HR professionals and as a strategic planner. A recent achievement involved the transformation of an operational and decentralised HR function into a centralised service centre creating an enhanced strategic capability. This resulted in a 42% reduction in headcount and a 35% reduction in the operating costs of the function.
Julie is currently studying to become a Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner.
Aidan Walmsley MCIPD
Associate
Aidan has nearly 20 years’ experience in both strategic and operational HR roles, primarily in financial services, but also in the commercial sectors including engineering, shipping, IT and utilities.
He has operated as an employer, buying recruitment services, and as a recruitment consultant. He has also established his own advisory service for SMEs within East Anglia, covering the whole range of HR support, including strategies for attracting and retaining staff and the management of staff issues such as disciplinary and sickness issues, terminations and redundancy.
Carol Misselbrook MCIPD
Associate
Carol has spent her career in generalist HR roles with over ten years’ hands-on experience. She has managed an HR team within the Lloyds Market, successfully taking them through the IIP standard.
Her knowledge of market practice and the commercial needs of the industry has led Carol to work within the requirements of the FSA and other regulatory bodies to tackle competence and training issues by providing a balanced approach to regulation.
More recently she has worked as an HR consultant, specialising in employment law for SMEs. Carol considers her strength as being able quickly to identify the criteria for implanting HR strategies in compliance with the FSA regulations and acting as a remote and on-site HR Department.
Colin Davies
Associate
After 15 years in sales, sales management and general management Colin moved into a senior HR role with responsibility for developing all the HR and People Development systems for a significant Insurer. This included competency protocols, staff handbooks, appraisal processes, disciplinary procedures, company car policies etc.
The key benefit of involving Colin in your HR development is that he is from a business background not HR and therefore understands the challenges a business faces in dealing with its people and getting the most out of them.