Lynn Cowling

Experienced within HR with over 20 years of professional experience in HR Director/Head of HR roles, both operating in standalone and team environments. Having recently completed last assignment in now immediately available.

My diverse experience and in field expertise in Employment Law, HR restructuring, and realignments, have allowed me great career growth. However, I am now looking for a new position offering greater challenges. With sharp organisational skills, careful attention to detail, and my ability to identify areas of non-compliance with policies/procedures and Employment Legislation, will make me an asset to your team.

As highlighted within my attached cv, I have experience of working across a number of different sectors which includes, medical engineering, foodservice, and emergency response.

Some highlights of my career accomplishments include:

• Worked closely with Senior Leadership teams, including working with MDs to align roles, responsibilities and strategic KPIs.
• Ensured the on-boarding of Managers/staff on HR policies, support, and guidance to ensure compliances are in line with UK Employment Legislation.
• Implemented new and revised processes, aligned to new and current employees including “Welcome! Intranet for new starters, “Your HR” intranet, for current employees, “Health & Safety” intranet.
• Assured the timely delivery of HR requirements and initiated/implemented HR activities that aligned with organisational business goals.
• Reviewed HR structure; realigned the team to meet business needs, leading to a reduction in staffing and a team more focused on supporting Line Management and employees.

HEAD OF HR at Integral Memory Plc (2024-09 – Present)

A family run business which has grown most rapidly over the past 5 years and joined as they continued their evolution. As part of the Senior Leadership team, holds responsibility for the HR team, HR Business Partner and for all aspects of the department.

• Ensured legal compliance throughout all HR processes, policies and procedures, ensuring that they were rolled out internally and appropriate Line Management and employee training undertaken. This process was completed within the first six months of engagement.
• Transferred all HR paper-based personnel files to digital, ensuring that all documents were named and dated accordingly, and updating the relevant information into the HR database.
• Created a training compliance worksheet, highlighting updated information which included rolling out 42 revised and updated polices, and aligning the process to Microsoft forms, to allow the training confirmations to be saved within electronic HR folders.
• Created several SHAREPOINT intranets/hubs which included Onboarding, HR, Fleet Management, Senior Leadership Team, Payroll and Health and Safety. This has enhanced collaboration, document management and workflow efficiency.
• Reviewed all HR documents, including contracts, letters and forms. This resulted in setting standard documents, which were compliant, and version controlled.
• Championed performance management and rolled out, October 2025, a new PMR process across the business, which has and will ensure growth and career development. This has resulted in the development of a training calendar to address current needs and also to assist in the creation and implementation of strategies to ensure retention of top talent, including succession planning, and career frameworks.
• Working closely with the HR Business partner to oversee all talent acquisitions.
• Responsible for the payroll process for UK, France and the Netherlands, which has resulted in processes being streamlined and standardised, to reflect efficiencies across the Company.
• Responsible for Health & Safety, which is represented at Board level, increasing within the first 12 months from 48% to 92% compliance.
• Responsible for undertaking day-to-day HR activities as the first point of contract and SME.

HR DIRECTOR at Davroc Ltd (2023-02 – 2024-09)

Served as a member of the Board and external-facing representative for HR. Implemented HR strategies in conjunction with the Leadership Team and refocused/developed effective HR procedures/policies to reflect business aims/focus. Also held responsibility for payroll, health and safety and facilities.

The Company had not had a dedicated HR resource on board for a period, and therefore the first 6 months of the role was spent ensuring that processes and procedures were reviewed, updated and implemented to ensure compliance. This also included working closely with the Finance Director following the implementation of a new internal payroll system, aligning all records, job codes and personnel details. The latter part of the role was to work with the Board regarding talent acquisition and development of the current Senior Leadership team to create an infrastructure to attract and retain top talent.

This was undertaken through fostering a positive work environment, managing compensation structures, benefits administration and collaboration with external partners for employee programmes. As part of the Senior Leadership development, this resulted in aligning a performance management process, undertaking a learning curve process, and acted as liaison between the Board and SLT providing guidance and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.

HR CONSULTANT at BEARS Private Ambulance Service Provider (2022-06 – 2023-01)

Fixed term role to review, propose and implement HR compliance within all personnel aspects including recruitment processes, right to work, DBS checks, induction, training, personnel and payroll aspects to ensure compliance with HCA. This initial project was anticipated to be 6 months and was extended to undertake further compliance training with internal employees, including frontline, drivers, Paramedics. Once completed, the HR compliance was completed and adhered to relevant guidelines.

Career Break at Career Break (2022-01 – 2022-06)

Contracted COVID, was hospitalised and was in recovery until June 2022.

HR DIRECTOR, SHARED SERVICES / HEAD OF HR at Safetykleen UK Ltd (2020-02 – 2021-12)

Initially commenced as Head of HR (2/2020 to 8/2020) and in August 2020 was promoted to HR Director which served as a member of the Executive Board and external-facing representative for HR. Implemented HR strategies in conjunction with the Leadership Team and refocused/developed effective HR procedures/policies to reflect business aims/focus. Also held interim responsibility for 8 months for HSEQ, and Facilities.

Led the HR team on a day-to-day basis, prioritising business requirements, whilst providing service and support on recruitment, performance, training, and recognition. The team consisted of 2 HR Business Partners, 2 HR Administrators, Benefits and Payroll Manager, Head of Recruitment, and 4 Recruitment Advisors covering a workforce of 540 employees across 18 branch locations.

• Liaised with the MD and Senior Exec Team to review organisational structure, roles and responsibilities.
• Facilitated the furlough scheme process which reflected initially the stand-down of 50% of the workforce.
• Championed the strategy to centralise the recruitment process to fall within the remit of the HR department, releasing the responsibility from Branch Managers due to the high turnover of staff.
• Championed the full implementation and usage of an applicant tracking system and associated on-boarding software.
• Coordinated with the HR leaders' rollout of initiatives that included training workshops, employee consultative forum, staff survey, performance management review programmes, and realignment of holiday benefits.
• Facilitated the transfer and review of paper-based personnel files to electronic standardised folder structure and to ensure individual data compliance.
• Oversaw investigations and complex employee relations issues such as redundancies, grievances and operational restructures/design.
• Represented HR at Executive Board level, providing HR MI data, compliance and risk register, guidance on HR policies and procedures.
• Responsible for managing complex ER issues, disputes and any legal risks, implemented appropriate risk registrar whilst ensuring compliance in relation to employment laws whilst taking a commercial versus risk outlook.
• Agreed, and maintained the HR service budget.
• Coordinated and assisted the HR leaders with day-to-day activities.
• Supported in the coaching and upskilling of Senior Management team, and middle Line Managers in relation to HR processes, compliance and activities which included the implementation of a monthly HR Bulletin.
• Initiated and developed compensation and benefits framework to attract and retain the best talent.
• Implemented an employee survey to provide insight and recommendations to be undertaken across the business.

HR DIRECTOR at SSG UK Specialist Ambulance Service Ltd (2019-07 – 2019-08)

Company entered voluntary administration. Reviewed team structure and carried out best practices to meet CQC's special measures compliance. Implemented recruitment strategies to meet the company's clients' NHS Trust requirements relative to the hiring of additional workforce. Team consisted of Recruitment Manager, 2 Recruitment Assistants and 2 Compliance Administrators.

• Championed new contracts to meet IR35 worker status for new hires and internal transfers.

HR DIRECTOR at Falck UK Ambulance Service Ltd (2017-11 – 2019-06)

Served as a member of the Executive Board and external-facing representative for HR. Implemented HR strategies in conjunction with the Leadership Team and refocused/developed effective HR procedures/policies to reflect business aims/focus. Evaluated/advised on compliance/risk management issues, accountable for the HR department relative to management consultations on strategic resourcing plans, compensation, benefits, training, and development/labour relations. Team consisted of 3 HR Business Partners, HR Analyst, and 2 HR Administrators.

Reason for leaving: headhunted.

• Oversaw investigations and complex employee relations