Becoming Independent on Independence Day

Thinking about becoming independent or recently started out on your own? Then join our panel of local Independent HR business owners to learn from their journeys so far and ask any questions you like. Get some top tips, guidance on what they did that worked well (and not so well!) and build connections with others to get the help and support you need to be successful and make your dream a reality. This session will have a formal sharing of experiences with a Q&A session and more informal networking too.

Our panel has both HR generalists and specialists, some of whom have been independent for many years and some who have made the leap more recently. They will share their experience and be ready to answer any questions you may have to help you decide if independence is for you.

Your host for the evening will be Ruth Dawson-Jones, who will be joined by fellow HR Independents Liz Crutchley, Liz Gait and Claire Lawton. Light refreshments will be available, so please book your place to ensure we have enough.

Ruth Dawson-Jones – Processio Solutions and Get Ruthless

Ruth has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of HR roles and industries. Starting out as a HR Generalist for a utilities company and then moving to Reward. Roles in learning and development, HR systems and business change in care, social housing and outsourced public sector organisations then followed, before she set up her own business in 2019. She works directly for organisations but also takes on Associate work for others under their brand and has completed some interim contracts too.

Her main business, Processio Solutions, offers specialist support to a range of organisations as well as other HR practitioners, with a focus on reward, line manager development and business improvement. She has her “Get Ruthless” brand which focuses on career development individuals and offers outplacement support to organisations.

She hadn’t expected a global pandemic so soon after starting out, but believes that having kept her fledgling business alive whilst also homeschooling a 7 year old, anything you set you mind to you can achieve with the right support!

Liz Crutchley (she/her), Chartered FCIPD – Orange Orchid

A Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader, CEO and Founder of Orange Orchid. Striving for everyone at work and in society to feel like they belong. Disrupting ‘the system’.

Liz is an ‘HR Lifer’, Diversity Activist & Feminist who provides a behavioural, conversational and activity-based approach to raising awareness and progressing the D&I agenda.

She took her first steps to independence a few years ago and then found a 12 month interim role that lasted for 10 years! She took the next step last year to become independent again, focusing on her passion for everything DEI.

Liz Gait – EG People Development

After starting her career working at Heathrow Airport for British Airways, Liz spent time working in the Probation Service and Local Government. She found a passion for energising and enthusing others to realise their potential. Her corporate life saw a focus on learning & development, organisational and leadership development, coaching and performance enablement, and she is an accredited Insights Discovery Licensed Practitioner and NLP Master Practitioner.

Transitioning out of the corporate world took a total of 17 years! Working part time in the relative safety of an organisational/management development role and developing her own freelance business was definitely a long term and evolutionary affair! The defining moment of clarity occurred when my coach asked me how many of my values were being met in the corporate world v my freelance world and my notice letter was written that very week.

Since that moment I have been liberated from the politics and restrictions I faced on a daily basis and have developed a business with a clear purpose and values. Shifting too from transactional pieces of work, I’ve recognised that working ‘on’ the business is just as important as working ‘in’ the business. Having invested in business development support, I now work more closely with a selection of ‘ideal customers’ who believe in the same things as me – notably the development of entrepreneurial teams, investing in leadership development and enabling everyone to find their purpose and motivation.

I love what I do and feel grateful for every day ?

Claire Lawton – Acorn Support

Growing up, Claire spent time working with my parents at an education center for people with learning disabilities. Their approach, which focused on enabling each individual to shine and treating everyone with dignity, greatly inspired her and influenced her career in human resources.

Despite some doubt from peers about her ability to work in a legal framework with compassion and equity, she embarked on her HR career as one of the youngest CIPD students. My passion for working for the best for people and enabling them to shine has remained constant throughout my career.

In 2009, Claire founded Acorn Support, with the goal of directly supporting directors, managers, and their teams to help each individual be their best and deliver results for the company. Acorn Support provides generalist HR support at each stage of the employee lifecycle.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building, University of Worcester, Hylton Road, Worcester, United Kingdom