Hi, I’m
Gemma Murphy
Canvey Island,Essex
Summary
An accomplished HR Consultant with experience in implementing HR strategies / policies for companies across a breadth of sectors. Well versed in providing guidance in line with long term objectives and delivering value to both management and employees. Skilled in forging professional relationships with stakeholders and acting as a trusted advisor to ensure execution of HR plans that meet core business objectives successfully. Genuine passion for supporting efficient and high performing teams to drive the achievement of targets.
Overview
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Peninsula
HR Consultant (Face2Face)
10.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Delivering face-to-face HR consultancy services to clients, advising on employment law, policies and best practice in line with Peninsula standards.
- Conducting on-site meetings with clients to assess workplace issues, identifying risks and recommending practical HR solutions to implement.
- Supporting managers in handling employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, absence management and performance issues.
- Drafting, reviewing and updating HR documentation such as contracts, handbooks, policies and procedures as required.
- Providing real-time, pragmatic advice on HR cases, balancing legal requirements with commercial considerations.
- Investigating workplace incidents / disputes, gathering evidence and producing detailed reports with recommendations.
- Coaching and guiding managers on best practices in people management, improving confidence and capability in handling HR matters appropriately.
- Delivering training sessions and workshops on HR topics, employment law updates and management techniques.
- Building strong client relationships through regular visits, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and retention.
- Staying up-to-date with changes in employment legislation and communicating impacts and solutions to clients.
Marks & Spencer
Store Manager
07.2017 - 10.2024
Job overview
- Managed overall store operations, ensuring high standards of performance, compliance and customer service in line with Marks & Spencer expectations.
- Led, motivated and developed a team of staff, creating a positive workplace culture and driving employee engagement.
- Oversaw recruitment, onboarding and induction processes, ensuring new hires were effectively integrated into teams.
- Handled employee relations matters, including disciplinary procedures, grievances and absence management, in line with company policy and employment law.
- Delivered coaching and performance management support to team members, conducting appraisals and implementing development plans.
- Ensured compliance with HR policies and maintained accurate employee records and documentation.
- Managed scheduling and workforce planning, aligning staffing levels with business needs whilst controlling labour costs.
- Monitored store performance against KPIs, implementing strategies to improve sales, productivity and efficiency.
- Resolved customer complaints and operational issues promptly, maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Collaborated with senior management and HR teams to implement organisational initiatives and support change management processes.
House of Fraser
Department Sales Manager
05.2015 - 07.2017
Evans Arcadia Group
Flagship Store Manager
09.2008 - 05.2015
Wallis Arcadia Group
Deputy Store Manager
07.2003 - 09.2008
Adams Childrenswear
Store Manager
07.1996 - 07.2003
Education
University of Northampton
BSc (Hons.) from English Literature and History
01.2003
Furtherwick Park Sixth Form
A-Levels from Law, History, English Literature and Language
01.2000
Furtherwick Park School
12 GCSEs from incl. English and Mathematics
Skills
- HR strategies
- HR policies
- HR plans
- People partnering
- Change management
- Organisational design
- Employee engagement
- Talent acquisition
- Recruitment
- Payroll
- Succession planning
- Learning and development (L&D)
- Employee relations
- Performance management
- Reward and recognition
- Compensation and benefits
- HR projects
- Microsoft Office 365
- Word
- Excel
- Outlook
- HRIS
Expertise Key Skills Competencies
- Driving the deployment of effective HR strategies, policies and plans to drive organisational performance.
- Providing an effective people partnering service and influencing the design of HR plans and activities.
- Supporting key areas including change management, organisational design, employee engagement, talent acquisition, recruitment, payroll, succession planning and learning and development (L&D).
- Imparting advice to employees and managers on HR issues, practices and policies including those related to employee relations, performance management, reward and recognition and compensation and benefits.
- Holding involvement in supporting organisational design in collaboration with senior leadership teams.
- Working on HR projects and initiatives to meet core aims / objectives in challenging, people oriented environments.
- Clear communicator with colleagues to build excellent professional relationships and influence up to senior levels.
- Proficiency in the use of applications including Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook) and various HRIS.
- Abundance of personal energy and drive with a passion for HR.
Career To Date
- HR Consultant (Face2Face), Peninsula, 2024-10-01, Present, Delivering face-to-face HR consultancy services to clients, advising on employment law, policies and best practice in line with Peninsula standards., Conducting on-site meetings with clients to assess workplace issues, identifying risks and recommending practical HR solutions to implement., Supporting managers in handling employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, absence management and performance issues., Drafting, reviewing and updating HR documentation such as contracts, handbooks, policies and procedures as required., Providing real-time, pragmatic advice on HR cases, balancing legal requirements with commercial considerations., Investigating workplace incidents / disputes, gathering evidence and producing detailed reports with recommendations., Coaching and guiding managers on best practices in people management, improving confidence and capability in handling HR matters appropriately., Delivering training sessions and workshops on HR topics, employment law updates and management techniques., Building strong client relationships through regular visits, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and retention., Staying up-to-date with changes in employment legislation and communicating impacts and solutions to clients.
- Store Manager, Marks & Spencer, 2017-07-01, 2024-10-01, Managed overall store operations, ensuring high standards of performance, compliance and customer service in line with Marks & Spencer expectations., Led, motivated and developed a team of staff, creating a positive workplace culture and driving employee engagement., Oversaw recruitment, onboarding and induction processes, ensuring new hires were effectively integrated into teams., Handled employee relations matters, including disciplinary procedures, grievances and absence management, in line with company policy and employment law., Delivered coaching and performance management support to team members, conducting appraisals and implementing development plans., Ensured compliance with HR policies and maintained accurate employee records and documentation., Managed scheduling and workforce planning, aligning staffing levels with business needs whilst controlling labour costs., Monitored store performance against KPIs, implementing strategies to improve sales, productivity and efficiency., Resolved customer complaints and operational issues promptly, maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction., Collaborated with senior management and HR teams to implement organisational initiatives and support change management processes.
Earlier Career Summary
- Department Sales Manager, House of Fraser, 2015-05-01, 2017-07-01
- Flagship Store Manager, Evans Arcadia Group, 2008-09-01, 2015-05-01
- Deputy Store Manager, Wallis Arcadia Group, 2003-07-01, 2008-09-01
- Store Manager, Adams Childrenswear, 1996-07-01, 2003-07-01
Professional Training Courses Awards
- DPS Licence Holder
- Build Future Leaders Programme, 2022
- LEAD @ HOF, 2016
- Store Manager of the Year, 2013
- Achieve Stepping into Store Management, 2005
- Store Team of the Year, 2005
References
Available upon request
Timeline
HR Consultant (Face2Face)
Peninsula
10.2024 - Current
Store Manager
Marks & Spencer
07.2017 - 10.2024
Department Sales Manager
House of Fraser
05.2015 - 07.2017
Flagship Store Manager
Evans Arcadia Group
09.2008 - 05.2015
Deputy Store Manager
Wallis Arcadia Group
07.2003 - 09.2008
Store Manager
Adams Childrenswear
07.1996 - 07.2003
University of Northampton
BSc (Hons.) from English Literature and History
Furtherwick Park Sixth Form
A-Levels from Law, History, English Literature and Language
Furtherwick Park School
12 GCSEs from incl. English and Mathematics