A human resources expert from Howe Green, Hertford has set up her own business offering HR advice and support to local small and medium-sized companies in the area.
After a varied corporate career, Annette Tyler has taken an opportunity to start The HR Dept Hertford and Hatfield, providing outsourced HR services in the local area which also includes Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Ware.
Before her new venture Annette spent more than 25 years in a rapidly growing insurance group, working her way up through the company after starting as an executive and HR assistant.
During that time she covered secretarial, operational, generalist and strategic HR duties, alongside studying at college and eventually becoming HR director.
“My former role gave me accountability for decision making, with the responsibility of working under my own steam,” she said. “So psychologically I certainly feel like I’m ready to run my own business.
“I’ve worked with a small firm which grew to become a relatively large one, along with overseeing the staffing issues which came up as a result. I truly understand the importance of a good company culture and treating people fairly and the benefits that such an approach can bring.
“From what I’ve experienced there are common themes running through successful businesses – good ethos and working culture, as well as proper rules and regulations around those. Most companies do not have the luxury of an in-house HR professional. That is where we can help, allowing business owners to concentrate on their core activities while supporting their staff.”
Born in London to Irish parents, Annette has independent business ownerships in the family, with three brothers who run their own two independent local businesses and a father who set up his own construction firm in Ireland when she lived there as a child.
“I remember working for my father’s business during the school holidays handing out leaflets, talking to clients and answering the phones in the office,” she said. “He always talked a lot about the importance of hard work, so I’ve grown up in that environment.
“Now I am a business owner myself, I look forward to the rewards that my hard work and efforts will bring when running my own business. I can appreciate the challenges that businesses are facing particularly during the economic downturn. The current recruitment market is challenging as competition for talented people remains high. This coupled with skills shortages means that it will become more costly to replace staff that are being enticed for a better offer elsewhere. So it’s important that businesses develop robust recruitment and retention strategies and focus on ensuring that employees are developed and valued.
‘’I can appreciate the unique local blend of rural communities and proximity to London, reflected in the make-up of the business landscape. I am looking forward to working with the various size and varieties of industries in the local area and learn about their individual businesses. As the law is always evolving it is important that business owners get the right employment advice when faced with difficult employment issues.
“I feel that I have a lot of experience to offer given my background in a larger organisation, so I’m looking forward to helping my local business community work through any issues so they can grow and prosper. Obviously, it’s exciting, and new, and a step into the unknown. There’s a lot to do and, while there are opportunities for expansion of the company over the next couple of years, I’m going to take each day as it comes.”
The HR Dept is a franchisee network of 75 licensees providing outsourced services in 112 territories in the UK, Ireland and Australia.
Across the network, The HR Dept’s licensees provide high-level experience but at an affordable rate for growing businesses, who need the expertise on hand but have neither the need nor the budget for an in-house HR team.
The company also provides a viable option for experienced HR practitioners looking for better work-life balance and a new challenge after working in corporate life.
Felicity Kenny, managing director of The HR Dept, said: “It’s great to see someone of Annette’s calibre and experience offering HR services to SMEs in Hertford and Hatfield. We wish her all the best operating the licence and are sure she will make it a great success.”
