Who we are

The HR Dept Durham & Newcastle South provides local and personal HR expertise in a cost-effective way. Serving businesses and organisations in Durham, Newcastle, Darlington and the surrounding areas, we can provide you with a tailored solution designed exclusively to meet the needs of you and your business.

Do you have these business challenges?

  • You rely on a call centre or Google for expert advice.
  • You don’t know if you are legally compliant in employment law.
  • You are under threat of an Employment Tribunal claim.
  • You are concerned by the removal of Employment Tribunal fees.
  • You have tight budgets and inadequate insurance.
  • You don’t have time to make sure your HR is adequate or effective.
  • You would like to train and develop your staff more.
  • You spend too much of your time dealing with HR problems.

Whether you need day-to-day advice or a one-off HR project, please contact Alison and her team to find the solution to meet your needs.  Whatever the issue, we can help!

Our services include:

HR consultancy

Absence management

Employment law

Appraisals process

Auto enrolment

Redundancy management

Contracts of employment

TUPE transfers

Disciplinary and grievance

Employee satisfaction surveys

Performance management

Organisational development

Training and development

 

Meet the team

Alison Schreiber

Director

Alison is a Chartered Member of CIPD and very experienced in UK and international HR. She worked in the manufacturing sector for 26 years and, as well as over 20 years’ in HR, and is also experienced in QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment), R&D (Research and Development) and Business Management.

Alison thrives on being able to make a difference when working with small and medium businesses by supporting their HR. She is passionate about the local area, having been born and raised in Durham.

Alison says, “I love the variety and diversity that comes in interacting with so many different sectors and businesses.  I am also lucky to have a great team alongside me that believe in the services The HR Dept provides as much as I do”. For information contact alison.schreiber@hrdept.co.uk

Louise Agbatar

Senior HR Advisor

Louise worked in retail for over 15 years and, having supervised a small team for a couple of years, found that she really enjoyed the Human Resource side that her role involved.  She decided she really wanted to branch out and help people in a different way.

She obtained her Level 5 CIPD Human Resource Management qualification in 2020 and began working for the HR Dept Durham & Newcastle South the following year, progressing to her current role of Senior HR Advisor.

Louise says, “I have found a great team to work with at HR Dept Durham & Newcastle South. Every day is a new experience and challenge, and I am fortunate to work with experienced HR professionals who share their knowledge and expertise”.

Damilola Idowu

HR Advisor

Damilola is a seasoned HR professional with over 13 years of hands-on experience in human resources management, primarily within fast-paced FMCG environment. He has previously held HR leadership roles at Kaine Management and Anheuser-Busch InBev, where he managed large teams and spearheaded several high impact initiatives.

His expertise spans across HR functions, from employee relations, compliance, and policy development to talent acquisition, retention, and development. He has been instrumental in leading HR transformations and driving change initiatives in highly regulated and dynamic environments.

Damilola is passionate about HR and providing tailored HR solutions to our clients to support ensure legal compliance, optimise employee relations, and foster workforce engagement.

Emma Kent

Trainee HR Advisor

Emma began working in customer-facing roles, which helped her develop strong communication and interpersonal skills, which she found she loved.

Building on this experience, she completed my Level 3 CIPD qualification in 2019, which deepened her understanding of HR fundamentals, leading me to pursue a career in HR. In February 2024, she started working for the HR Dept Durham and Newcastle South starting out as a HR Administrator.  She is now doing Level 5 CIPD to continue her development.

Emma says, “I have recently changed roles to be employed as a HR Trainee Advisor, where I have the opportunity to work alongside knowledgeable HR professionals and can continue to grow with the HR Dept and contribute to the team’s success.”

Samantha Milburn

HR Administrator

Currently on Maternity Leave

Jessica Schreiber

Adminstrator

I am a student studying for my BSc in Archaeology, usually based at the University of Southampton but currently doing a year abroad in Sweden.

I work for the HR Dept on a part-time basis between my studies and carry out business administration such as our client tribunal indemnity insurance, purchasing and issuing social media posts, such as our weekly blog.

Looking for expert HR support?

We can help you focus on your business by taking care of all your human resources needs.

 

Let us know how we can help or ask about our free initial HR review.

Preventing People Problems

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Office Address: Portland House, Belmont Business Park, Durham, DH1 1TW | VAT Number: 206711045 | Registration Number: 9438642

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