A bit about me

I help leaders and organisations move quickly, think clearly, and deliver meaningful results. Clients usually bring me in when they need experienced, senior support — the kind that adds value fast.

With decades of leadership and HR experience, I’ve worked across growth, turnaround, and transformation. My focus is practical: diagnosing what matters most, shaping the right approach, and delivering impact — without the noise or hand-holding.

I’m a leader first and an HR expert second. I combine commercial acumen with deep people and organisational insight, helping businesses pivot, grow, and perform at their best.

Whether it’s scaling up, rethinking strategy, managing M&A transitions, reshaping culture, or embedding new ways of working, I deliver change at pace — bringing people with you, not dragging them through it.

Clients describe working with me as:

“Quick impact, flexible, and focused on what adds value.”
“A talented Chief People Officer who builds trust fast and partners to drive growth and change.”
“Nicola helped me get clear on my thinking and frame strategy in a helpful way.”
“She packs a lot of value into short timeframes — ideal for growing organisations that don’t need full-time HR but want depth, rigour and real outcomes.”

My work spans a wide range of complex challenges, including:

Leading major logistics and manufacturing transformation
Delivering global systems and process integrations
Managing complex industrial relations and workforce negotiations
Designing and implementing new operating models and organisational structures
Integrating businesses post-merger and aligning culture, systems, and leadership
Establishing governance and leadership frameworks post-IPO
Shaping people and organisation strategies in acquisitions, mergers, partnerships, and disposals
Steering organisations through crises such as product recalls, site closures, offshoring, and outsourcing
Turning around underperforming functions and unlocking growth
Realigning organisational purpose, leadership focus, and culture
Coaching senior leaders and new executives to accelerate impact and clarify strategy
Redefining HR functions to improve efficiency, scale, and strategic influence

Fractional HR Director, Leadership and Executive Coach

Fractional Chief People Officer West Midlands and Worcestershire

About me

I’m known for my intuition about people and performance — combining sharp insight with a focus on the bigger picture. I spot what others often miss, surface what needs to be said, and create space for honest, productive dialogue.

I bring creativity and rigour in equal measure, developing practical solutions that inspire action and deliver results. Equally at home on the shop floor or in the boardroom, I lead complex programmes with confidence, empathy, and precision.

Those who work with me describe me as an authentic and trusted partner — valued for my clarity, care, integrity, and ability to get things done.

Coaching Philosophy & Approach

I view coaching as a collaborative, solutions-focused partnership. My aim is to help leaders and teams gain clarity, expand their impact, and navigate complex challenges with confidence.

Drawing on decades of experience, I combine practical business insight with behavioural understanding, helping clients:

Reflect on their leadership style and decision-making
Clarify priorities and sharpen strategic thinking
Unlock the potential of their teams
Build resilience and adaptability in themselves and their organisations

I tailor every coaching engagement to the individual or team, ensuring relevance, practical application, and measurable outcomes. My approach is grounded, human, and always focused on delivering sustainable performance improvements.

Qualifications

Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD)
Member of the British Psychological Society
Occupational test trained
Qualified 16PF and MBTI assessor
Experienced coach (Graham Alexander Supercoach Programme graduate)
Currently completing ILM Level 7 in Executive and Leadership Coaching, formalising decades of practical coaching experience

Outside of work, I live in Worcestershire with my husband Richard and our dog Barney. I love silversmithing and serve as a Trustee for a charity.