Amanda Shaw explains why she believes HR is all about fostering a positive culture and why donning an ambassador’s hat is part and parcel of the job.

1. How strategic is your current role and what does it involve?
My current role is a new step for the business and covers broad HR across three business divisions; retail, corporate and Jordangate, our graphic design and marketing agency. In terms of strategy, there’s lots in place, but the main development area is to ‘join up’ thinking across the teams and develop people to achieve targets. In case I get bored, I also head up the operations function of 17! This is crucial to my understanding of the business – if the policies and processes don’t fit day to day, I now see it first hand.

2. How is the HR function perceived within your organisation?
HR is an integral part of the business, although plenty of ‘HR’ activity happens without organisations realising it and without HR experts. The benefit of having HR expertise in a business is that current practices can be developed far more effectively. We also deal with HR professionals day to day as client contacts so HR is seen as a vital business ingredient.

3. How does your business use HR practices to get ahead?
We have had a lot of changes in the last 12 months, during which time we have achieved Investor in People recognition. Employees are more aware of what is going on in the business and generate ideas through our suggestion scheme. We’ve also had a lot of interest in the forthcoming age legislation – not only is this an issue for us as employers but, as reward and recognition providers, it’s also an issue for our clients. We have used our knowledge of the industry and law to get to the bottom of the legislation.

4. Why is your company such a great place to work?
People here care with a passion about the business and many have been here since the business started. There is plenty of opportunity to do a meaty, enjoyable job. It’s a very rewarding place to be (excuse the pun!).

5. How does HR win hearts and minds in your business?
Fairness and clarity are important. People don’t want to do what they are told when they could have a much better time being involved in decisions. HR is all about fostering a positive culture.

6. Will HR survive outsourcing and changes to service delivery?
Only if HR professionals start getting more commercial and actually understand their business. You have to be involved and you can’t do that on the end of a phone.

7. What's the new skill set of HR?
Without a doubt there’s a need to understand the financial stuff, be adaptable, act as ‘ambassadors for change’, and be able to measure HR activity.

What does Amanda think are the best and worst things about working in HR?