Tuning in with tlmNexus' Head of HR

“I would say I am the HR department because my work encompasses HR strategy right through to sending birthday cards.”

The description captures both the breadth of her role and the way she approaches it: with humanity, humour and an unwavering focus on people as individuals.

From Chemistry to HR

Emma’s path into HR was not planned. With A-levels in science and a degree in Chemistry, she found herself working in payroll at Shell for a number of years.  Following a return from maternity leave, she knew something wasn’t right.

“Work followed the same patterns every month with nothing new to grapple with. I couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted to learn.”

That curiosity and a desire to learn something challenging led her to Shell sponsoring the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) PDS course and into a demanding but fascinating new world at Shell, of business learning, employment law and organisational behaviour. Studying largely in her own time, while working full-time and raising a young child, she discovered an unexpected passion.

Her first HR role was a baptism of fire: straight into a job outsourcing the IT function, including her own role.

“It taught me very quickly that HR isn’t just about process; at the heart it’s about people’s emotions.”

A pivotal moment came when she combined HR advisory work with a Diversity & Inclusion role across Europe. Working with volunteers from IT helpdesks across multiple countries, she helped shift culture from the ground up.

“People at the lowest grades were wanting to change the culture, and it was brilliant. That’s when I knew this was the right career for me.”
 

Learning to adapt

Emma’s career has taken her through global corporates, Royal Mail, industrial relations and the railways. These were all environments that demanded resilience and adaptability.

“You have to be a chameleon,” she says. “If you can’t adapt to the culture, you’ll fail.”

One of the hardest lessons she learned was that HR can’t always sit on both sides.

“I got into HR to help people. But in big organisations, you have to work within the bounds of process and the company line. You have to pick a stance, otherwise you get torn apart.”

Those experiences sharpened her judgement and made her value organisations where trust genuinely matters.

Why tlmNexus feels different

At tlmNexus, Emma found something distinctive: a trusting, adult culture.

“You’re given a job and expected to do it well. It’s simple and refreshing.”

She describes a business where people feel they belong and where directors are open to ideas and change. That openness has allowed her quietly to reshape the people experience across the company.

Recognition is intentional and frequent. Monthly recognition calls have even evolved into social calls.

“We were running out of recognition, which is a good problem to have.”

Trust is central. “We don’t nit-pick or look over shoulders. We say: we trust you, and we know you’re good at what you do.”

What ‘wellbeing’ really means

For Emma, wellbeing isn’t about tick-box initiatives.

“It’s about being happy and healthy enough to do your job well, with nothing holding you back.”

That means flexibility, honesty and treating people as individuals. Being able to say “my child’s sick” without fearing a negative repercussion at work matters more than any formal policy.

“I’ll give back to the company because they do the best for me. That loyalty goes both ways.”

She’s clear that support must be personal and advises, “Don’t just give people time off; ask them what they need.”

Building from a blank sheet

One of Emma’s proudest achievements at tlmNexus has been building HR processes from the ground up.

“When I arrived, there was a mission with very little HR infrastructure. I found this to be a real gift.”

Since then, she has introduced appropriate controls for an SME, refreshed recruitment, developed managers, reshaped rewards and benefits, and introduced total reward statements so people truly understand what the company offers beyond salary.

“The directors trusted me to be the professional I am and that trust makes all the difference.”

Life beyond work

Emma is clear about separating work and home.

“When I finish work, it’s off. It’s an active decision.”

Family time is central, often spent at Brighton & Hove Albion matches or playing board, card and video games with her family.

Something you may not know about Emma involves darts…

She got married in Barbados during a darts tournament, with darts legends Eric Bristow and Cliff Lazarenko as witnesses.

“That usually surprises people,” she smiles.
 

Looking Ahead

Emma is excited about the future of work, particularly learning and development. After discovering that people weren’t using the training budget evenly, she’s now building skills matrices and exploring clearer development pathways.

AI also excites her, not as a replacement for people, but as a tool for learning and growth.

What would she like tlmNexus to be known for as an employer?

“Trust and loyalty. People don’t leave, and if they do, some come back. That tells you everything.”