Stephen is a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He joined them in 2001 following five years as an Executive HR Director in the NHS. He has over 30 years of experience across the public and private sectors, both in the UK and internationally. He is qualified professionally with the CIPD and has an MA in Strategic Human Resource Management. Stephen's previous work includes HR strategy development, performance management, developing new working practices and terms and conditions and the implementation of organisational wide change programmes and restructuring exercises. This has included large scale downsizing, TUPE transfer and Private Finance Initiative projects in highly unionised organisations. His specialism’s include advising on HR service delivery design including HR process re-design and improvement, organisational strategy, design and development and change management. He focuses in particular on supporting HR functions to become more strategic, provide a more value added service, undertake HR strategic reviews and identify and select possible HR service delivery models whilst improving HR administrative/process efficiency. He is currently concentrating on Government and the Public Sector and is the Health Account Driver for the PwC HR/Tax Consulting Practice with personal revenues of £1m per annum.

Nottingham City Hospital employed 6000 staff and had a £150 million per annum turnover and was one of two teaching hospitals in Nottingham. The post of Director of Human Resources was an Executive Board level position and therefore had a significant role in setting the strategic direction of the hospital, with responsibility for all aspects of human resource management, including HR, Organisation Development, learning and development and medical staffing. There was a staff of approximately 20 people and a budget of £1m. The Trust achieved the only National HR Nye Bevan Award and HR Beacon status for the work undertaken on developing competency frameworks and a set of harmonised terms and conditions.

Professional lead to some 200 personnel staff in the second largest Metropolitan Local Authority in England employing 37,000 people with Executive level responsibilities. Managed a corporate personnel team of 12 staff, accountable for a £400,000 p.a. budget. Adviser to several strategic Committees, Elected Members, Executive Directors and Chief Officers on all HR issues.

Senior Manager responsible for HR in a business which turned over £500 million p.a. and employed in 1990 15,000 people belonging to 7 trade unions at HQ and across 15 sites including managerial, professional, technical, clerical and industrial staff. Managed day-to-day HR issues through a team of 15 Personnel Managers based at sites around the Group providing advice on all HR issues and ensuring compliance with legislation. Led negotiations leading to re-organisation, down sizing and colliery closures, negotiating redundancy packages and redeploying staff as required involving 18,000 employees at several sites. Successfully represented the Corporation at numerous Employment Tribunals and internal appeals. Created and introduced a Management Development Scheme working closely with external consultants to develop criteria for measuring managers’ performance with clear focus on demonstrating an individuals contribution to the commercial success of the organisation. The programme was successfully introduced against a background of great change and uncertainty in the industry. Improvements in incentive programmes, team-building measures which led staff to take ownership of their tasks, the growing awareness of market forces and a number of other initiatives caused Group productivity to improve by 35% in 1993.