Thomas Edwards
Wythall,Worcestershire
Summary
Experienced and commercially aware HR professional with a background spanning both HR Advisor and HR Manager roles within regulated and high-compliance environments, including social care, estate agency, financial services, and legal services. Proven ability to operate as a sole HR lead and member of Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic and operational HR support across the full employee lifecycle.
Skilled in employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, absence management, and HR policy development, with strong knowledge of employment law and sector-specific regulatory requirements. Experienced in building HR functions from the ground up, implementing robust policies, systems, and processes to ensure compliance and consistency across organisations.
Confident in advising senior stakeholders up to CEO level, producing HR reports and workforce insights to support business decision-making, and managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments. Known for a practical, people-focused approach combined with strong attention to detail and a commitment to fair, consistent HR practice.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work history
Human Resources Manager
Resolve Capital Group
Redditch, Worcestershire
2024.05 - 2026.02
- Sole HR team member and of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), responsible for leading the full HR function across a multi-sector organisation (Estate Agency, Financial Services and Conveyancing Law).
- Established the HR function from inception, designing and implementing a full suite of HR policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and operational consistency across all business areas.
- Provided strategic HR advice to the CEO and SLT, supporting business decision-making, workforce planning, and organisational priorities.
- Managed end-to-end recruitment and workforce planning, including vacancy approval, advertising, candidate selection, and onboarding.
- Controlled recruitment spend and managed external recruitment platforms including Indeed to support cost-effective hiring.
- Oversaw HR systems and employee data management using BreatheHR, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and effective record keeping.
- Led onboarding and induction processes, ensuring compliance with sector-specific regulatory requirements including FCA-related processes and professional accreditation requirements.
- Managed employee relations activity, advising managers on disciplinary, grievance, performance, and absence matters in line with employment law and company policy.
- Oversaw sickness absence and capability processes, including long-term absence management, return-to-work processes, occupational health referrals, and supporting formal procedures.
- Coordinated learning and development activity, including mandatory training compliance and use of training platforms.
- Supported employee wellbeing initiatives, promoting support services and embedding wellbeing into HR practice.
- Acted as HR liaison with external partners including legal advisors, insurers, occupational health providers, recruiters, and training providers.
- Ensured HR compliance across regulated sectors, maintaining alignment with legal, financial, and professional standards.
HR Advisor
Extel Limited
Birmingham, West Midlands
2018.04 - 2024.04
- Worked with managers across the organisation to provide expert HR guidance on employee relations matters including performance management, disciplinary, grievance, absence management, recruitment, and health & safety.
- Supported managers throughout the full employee relations process, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant handling of cases. Prepared all associated documentation including meeting invitations, minutes, correspondence, and outcome letters.
- Delivered end-to-end safer recruitment processes in line with CQC requirements, including enhanced DBS checks, right-to-work verification, obtaining and reviewing references, and validating full employment histories.
- Coordinated onboarding for new starters, issuing contracts and ensuring all pre-employment compliance checks were completed prior to commencement. Delivered HR inductions on first day of employment, covering key organisational policies and procedures.
- Supported sickness absence management processes, including attendance at return-to-work meetings where required, acting as HR scribe during long-term absence cases, and supporting home visits, medical evidence gathering, and capability processes.
- Provided guidance and informal training to new and existing line managers on HR processes, including absence management and employee relations procedures, ensuring consistent application of policy and employment legislation.
- Produced monthly recruitment reports and insights for management, analysing vacancy activity, application volumes, time-to-hire, and recruitment outcomes to support workforce planning.
- Utilised HR systems for accurate maintenance of employee records and supported recruitment activity via external job boards including Totaljobs.
- Gained experience of disciplinary hearings where employees were accompanied by trade union representatives, ensuring fair and compliant HR processes were followed.
- Drafted formal HR documentation including disciplinary and grievance outcome letters for review, ensuring accuracy and compliance with policy and employment legislation.
- Issued HR correspondence including meeting invitations, confirmation letters, and organisational policy updates to employees.
HR Administrator
RPS Group PLC
Birmingham, West Midlands
2017.01 - 2018.04
- First point of contact for HR queries via telephone.
- Provided administrative support to HR Business Partners.
- Responsible for updating HR databases.
- Drafting of offer letters and contracts.
- Created reports and provided analysis on multi city office relocation plans, involving travel compensation packages and trying to ensure no impact on office culture.
Production Manager
Gemporia
Redditch, Worcestershire
2013.04 - 2016.04
- Leads and manages the department’s daily operations, ensuring targets, standards, and objectives are achieved.
- Oversees staffing, recruitment, training, and performance management to support an effective and skilled team.
Senior Director
Gemporia
Redditch, Worcestershire
2012.03 - 2013.04
- Calls camera shots, graphics, audio cues, and transitions to maintain the flow and pacing of the show.
- Operates the vision mixing desk to switch between camera feeds, graphics, VT playback, and other visual sources during live broadcasts.
- Oversees the day-to-day management of staff, ensuring roles and responsibilities are carried out effectively.
- Organises and delivers training to support staff development and maintain operational standards.
Director
Gemporia
Redditch, Worcestershire
2011.08 - 2012.03
- Calls camera shots, graphics, audio cues, and transitions to maintain the flow and pacing of the show.
- Operates the vision mixing desk to switch between camera feeds, graphics, VT playback, and other visual sources during live broadcasts.
Technical Operator
Gemporia
Redditch, Worcestershire
2009.07 - 2011.03
- Operates studio or broadcast cameras to capture live shots according to the director’s instructions.
- Adjusts framing, focus, zoom, and camera movement to maintain high-quality visuals during live production.
- Works closely with the director, floor manager, and production crew to ensure smooth shot transitions and accurate coverage.
Floor Manager
Gemporia
Redditch, Worcestershire
2008.11 - 2009.07
- Relay communication between the gallery and in-studio crew during live broadcasts.
- Cues presenters and camera operators, using hand signals, countdowns, and timing updates.
- Ensures the studio floor runs smoothly by managing movement, safety, equipment positioning, and quick problem-solving during live production.
Education
CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management - Human Resources
Solihull College and University Centre
SolihullCIPD Level 3 Certificate in Human Resource Practice - Human Resources
Solihull College and University Centre
SolihullEmergency First Aid at Work
St John Ambulance
2025.05 -
Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace -
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Data Protection and Data Security -
NCFE
NVQ Level 3 - Media (Moving Image)
Solihull College and University Centre
SolihullSkills
- Current CIPD associate member
- Employment law legislation
- On-boarding management
- Policy and procedure advice
- Employee data management
- Absence management
- Data analysis
- Employee relations management
- Independent worker
Timeline
Emergency First Aid at Work
St John Ambulance
2025.05 -
Human Resources Manager
Resolve Capital Group
2024.05 - 2026.02
HR Advisor
Extel Limited
2018.04 - 2024.04
HR Administrator
RPS Group PLC
2017.01 - 2018.04
Production Manager
Gemporia
2013.04 - 2016.04
Senior Director
Gemporia
2012.03 - 2013.04
Director
Gemporia
2011.08 - 2012.03
Technical Operator
Gemporia
2009.07 - 2011.03
Floor Manager
Gemporia
2008.11 - 2009.07
CIPD Level 3 Certificate in Human Resource Practice - Human Resources
Solihull College and University Centre
Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace -
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Data Protection and Data Security -
NCFE
NVQ Level 3 - Media (Moving Image)
Solihull College and University Centre
CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management - Human Resources
Solihull College and University Centre