Who we are
The HR Dept North Derbyshire offers a wide range of outsourced HR services, tailor-made to suit your business. The HR Dept prides itself on offering a local, pragmatic service at an affordable rate – more financially viable than hiring an in-house HR department or HR Manager.
The HR Dept North Derbyshire specialises in:
• Employment law
• People management
• Recruitment
• Contracts of employment
• Disciplinary and grievance
• Dismissal
• Performance management
• Appraisals
• Absence management
• Redundancy management
• TUPE transfers
• Employee surveys
• Training and development
• Payroll
• Health and safety
With a wealth of experience in providing HR services to both large, blue-chip companies and smaller owner-manager businesses, Tracey has a clear understanding of the priorities and values of owner-managers across a number of industries.
Tracey says: “I am passionate about making a difference to SMEs in the North Derbyshire area by providing comprehensive advice to my clients. Small businesses need flexible, realistic guidance but don’t have the requirement for a full-time, permanent HR practitioner. This is where The HR Dept adds value to a small business, by providing the expertise of highly qualified HR professionals at a fraction of the cost of employing a full-time HR Manager.”
Awards
The HR Dept North Derbyshire has been recognised within the HR Dept network and has won a “Collaboration Award” as well as the “Growth Award”. They have also achieved Platinum status as a partner of Breathe HR: a simple HR Software that over 60 of their clients are now using.
Tracey Hudson won the West Midlands Regional Forward Ladies 2016 award in the category “SME Emerging”. She was recognised for her dedication to her business and its success. She is also recognised as the “Licensee’s Licensee” and “Mentor of the Year” at the HR Dept’s National Conference 2024. Tracey has won other HR Dept Network awards including “Embracing Change and Innovation 2022”.
Past and current employees of the HR Dept North Derbyshire have won awards from various local bodies over the years including “Employee of the Year”, multiple “Apprentice of the Year”, and a “Rising Star of the Year”.

Meet the team
Tracey Hudson
Executive Director
Tracey Hudson is our Executive Director. Tracey is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and holds a Masters degree in Strategic Human Resource Management. She has a wealth of HR experience having previously worked in larger corporates as well as SME businesses. She started The HR Dept in Warwickshire in 2005 and enjoys proactively supporting SME’s with their people issues. Tracey has built a strong commercial understanding of business challenges which is why the team always take a pragmatic approach to HR issues.
Sarah Asprey
Managing Director
Sarah joined the HR Dept in 2013 as an experienced, CIPD qualified HR professional who has worked in a variety of businesses and sectors during her career. Sarah understands the challenges facing small to medium sized businesses and has a practical and commercial approach to HR along with experience of dealing with complex cases.
Sarah is Managing Director of The HR Dept South Warwickshire, North Warwickshire, Rugby and North Derbyshire and is responsible for leading the business, ensuring exceptional service to our clients as well as providing our retained clients with advice on complex cases.
Caroline Gibbons
Managing Director
Caroline became Managing Director of The HR Dept North Birmingham in 2023, after she joined the team in 2019 as a HR Manager. Before joining the HR Dept, Caroline specialised in Employee Relations in the Care Industry; prior to this, Caroline has also worked in HR within the Manufacturing and the Recruitment Industries. Caroline graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BA in Business Management Joint Honours with HR. Caroline is also an Associate Member of the CIPD and is Level 7 CIPD certified.
Vickie Shears
Business Development Director
Vickie joined the HR Dept family in September 2021. As Business Development Director covering five HR Dept offices North and South Warwickshire, Rugby, North Birmingham, and North Derbyshire. She is responsible for engaging with business owners to identify potential HR requirements and providing guidance on the best solution to meet their needs.
With over 25 years of working within the hospitality area, 5 of which were as a small business owner herself, Vickie really understands the challenges faced by many start-ups and SME’s and the importance of having robust HR processes in place, protecting businesses against potential litigation.
In addition, with 5 years’ experience working for a national training provider, Vickie recognises the benefits of having an upskilled and motivated workforce and the impact this can have on building high performing teams.
Vickie is delighted to be supported by a team of highly skilled HR Specialists who offer a personal, professional service that prevents people problems and improves bottom line profits.
Jane Godefroy
HR Consultant
Jane joined the team in December 2018 and has focused on supporting clients with day to day advice, complex HR issues and has also the creation and delivery of People Plans. Jane is CIPD qualified and has worked in HR for over 20 years. Jane’s experience has been gained from both large and small businesses, she has an extensive knowledge of all things HR and is passionate about the SME Sector.
Jane understands the challenges small businesses encounter, having worked independently as an HR consultant prior to joining The HR Dept. Jane provides pragmatic advice to clients across the full HR spectrum. She also provides on-site support to clients for specific projects and complex cases. Jane develops and delivers bespoke HR related Management training for our clients and also runs our workshop programme that we deliver at our Warwick site. Jane also became a qualified Workplace Mediator in January 2024.
Lisa Tyers
HR Consultant
Lisa joined the team in November 2020 and has since been promoted to HR Director in 2024. She has a LLB in Law and experience of working in SME’s as well as large corporate departments and Not for Profit Organisations.
Prior to working in HR, Lisa worked in a Maintenance and Operations background for over 15 years, and as such, has gained valued insight into the day to day workings of businesses and the challenges they face. Lisa is skilled in understanding the challenges that organisations have daily, and in having challenging conversations as well as taking a pragmatic approach to driving forward solutions in a time and cost effective way for the employer. Lisa is available to provide on-site support.
Milena Maric
Business Assistant
Milena joined the team in May 2019 as Business Co-ordinator and is responsible for all clients’ Advice Line and tribunal insurance renewals and also bookkeeping for the HR Dept North Derbyshire, South and North Warwickshire, Rugby and North Birmingham. Milena has many years’ experience of working in support and co-ordination roles, amongst them working as a wedding and events co-ordinator and a PA in a busy accountancy practice. She also ran her own hospitality business for three years.
Stefanie Avery
HR Consultant
Stefanie understands the challenges small businesses encounter first hand. She is also passionate about growing the business, leading our team of advisors and supporting our clients as a HR Director. Stefanie utilises her people skills and knowledge by providing an excellent service to our clients. Stefanie is available for on-site support.
Sophie Sainsbury
HR Consultant
Hannah Donnelly
HR Consultant
Hannah joined the team in April 2024 as a HR Consultant for the South Warwickshire team. Hannah is CIPD qualified and holds generalist HR experience in a range of sectors having worked previously with both SMEs and large corporate companies.
Hannah has over 8 years’ experience in stakeholder focused environments and understands the need for pragmatic decisions when supporting our clients with any challenges they may face. Hannah is available for onsite support.
Deji Sorinola
HR Consultant
Deji joined the HR Dept in April 2024. Deji has been working in HR for a total of 3 years which includes HR admin, Consultancy, and involvement within the Construction sector. Deji has previous experience within Social Care too and is currently undertaking his CIPD level 5 qualification which is due to finish in 2024.
Emily Noble
HR Consultant
Emily joined the team in March 2024 as a HR Assistant. Equipped with a BA in Business and Management from the University of York, Emily brings a passion for HR. With prior experience in the food production industry, Emily has delved into various HR-related realms, gaining invaluable insights along the way. Emily is dedicated to further honing her skills, actively pursuing her CIPD Level 5 certification.
Claire Larsen
HR Administrator
Claire Joined the North Birmingham team at the HR Dept in July 2023, as an Office Administrator. Claire comes with a wealth of experience in understanding administrative HR processes, the payroll function, driving results and teamwork. Claire has strong professional skills and supports the team in all administration areas.
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: 2nd Floor, 8 Bridge Street, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1AX | VAT Number: 5563896 | Registration Number: 871350432
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