Samantha Newton

Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and Employee Relations specialist. Across a career of more than 20 years I have handled hundreds of ER cases, and I now work independently on the cases others would rather avoid: investigations, hearings and appeals that are too complex, too sensitive or too high-risk for an in-house team to run alone. I support HR consultancies and their clients on an associate, subcontract or white-label basis.

My work is evidence-led, fair and grounded in UK employment law and the ACAS Code, and my reports are written to stand up to tribunal and legal scrutiny. I keep matters confidential and manage any conflicts of interest. I set out the risks and the options for decision-makers, then leave the final decision with them.

I am as comfortable working under another consultancy's brand as dealing directly with owners, trustees, directors, managers, employees and witnesses.

Founder & Principal ER Consultant - Magenta HR Consulting

(2025-02)

Independent Employee Relations consultancy supporting SMEs, charities and larger organisations, and providing associate and white-label delivery to other HR consultancies.

• Manage multiple live ER matters with competing deadlines, maintaining case plans, evidence schedules, audit trails and stakeholder updates from instruction to conclusion.
• Conduct independent investigations and chair disciplinary, grievance and appeal processes, from case assessment and hearing preparation through questioning to outcome documentation.
• Advise on absence, capability, performance, restructure, redundancy, TUPE and settlement, balancing legal risk with operational reality, and work within client systems including BreatheHR, BambooHR and PeopleHR.

HR Business Partner (Heritage, Projects, Race Team & Operations) - Williams Racing

(2019-01 - 2025-02)

• Advised senior leaders on complex ER, performance and capability matters in a high-pressure, operational environment.
• Led a voluntary redundancy programme delivering £1.2m savings while maintaining a fair process, and a reward review generating £400k annual savings.
• Supported organisational redesign, workforce change, TUPE-style transfers and the COVID-19 response across technical and operational teams.

Regional People Advisor - Pets at Home Group / Vets4Pets

(2015-09 - 2018-12)

• Advised more than 100 veterinary practices on disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance, TUPE and restructuring matters, working directly with practice owners and managers.

HR Officer - Copart UK

(2014-07 - 2015-09)

• Provided HR and ER support across 15 UK sites in an operational, blue-collar setting, advising managers and directors on employee relations.

Generalist and business-partnering HR roles - Multiple (Unilever, T-Mobile, Butcher's Petcare, Bedford Girls School and others)

(2002 - 2014)

Generalist and business-partnering HR roles across unionised and non-unionised environments building strong foundations in employee relations, employment compliance and manager support.

BA (Hons) - Human Resource Management with Business - University of Gloucestershire