Debra Lee

Experience

• 

  IKEA

  Mar 1989 - Sept 1989

  Graduate Management Trainee

  Graduate Management trainee working across all areas of the business in a 6 month secondment

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  Marks and Spencer

  Sept 1992 - Feb 1996

  Assistant Personnel Manager

  Held various Managerial roles after joining Marks and Spencer on their graduate scheme.Latterly became an Assistant Personnel Manager in the Liverpool and Manchester stores.

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  Asda

  Feb 1996 - Aug 2013

  Worked alongside the Diversity Steering Group, defining the Diversity & Inclusion strategy for the business.Developing the agenda and activity for 5 specific areas; Gender, Ethnicity, Age, Disability and Sexual Orientation with Executive sponsors.Engaging the wider business in the overall Diversity & Inclusion plan including raising awareness of Unconscious Bias and the effect this can have on decision making through providing education and up-skilling for all areas of the business.Key Achievements:* Developed and delivered the business case for change and Unconscious Bias up-skilling for over 1000 senior leaders.* Organised the launch event for 650 talented females, and launched the new Retail & Logistics Women in Leadership Programme for 250 delegates at a Conference.* Led a programme of local Women in Leadership events through engagement with the regional HR business partners* Developed an Asda Pride Toolkit with the LGBT Network to successfully engage our retail colleagues to become involved in over 20 regional PRIDE events in 2013* Facilitated listening /focus groups with female / ethnic talent to understand what they needed from the business* Worked with external partners including Race for Opportunity, Everywoman, Global Diversity Practice and Stonewall to bring fresh thinking and best practice into the organisation Show less The Supermarkets Division is Asda's smaller store portfolio (under 25,000 square feet). A newly created role in 2010 - responsible initially for 21 stores in this group - opened over 10 new and converted stores in the first 12 months- developed a new way of working- structure re-organisation delivered to improve the operation and profitabilityIn 2011 when it was announced that Asda had purchased Netto UK, took on responsibility for - Converting 137 Netto stores into Asda Supermarkets over a 5 month period- Leading a team of 15 HR Business Partners - Communication between Netto and Asda on all People matters.- The TUPE of 1800 Netto colleagues and over 175 Managers - Creating new fit for purpose training material - Recruitment and training of over 6000 new colleagues.- Set up 2 Training Stores for new Managers and Section LeadersThe Supermarkets Division grew to 175 stores by Nov 2011 Show less

  • Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion

    Sept 2012 - Aug 2013

  • Senior Director People - Supermarkets Division

    Jan 2010 - Aug 2012

  • Regional People Manager

    Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

  • General Store Manager

    Apr 2000 - Jan 2007

  • Various Management Roles

    Feb 1996 - Mar 2000
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  Debra Lee People Consulting Limited

  Aug 2013 - now

  HR Business Consultant

  An Associate of Mitchell and Lee People Consulting:Our services include:Leadership and Team Development Executive and Personal CoachingDiversity and InclusionEngagement and Communications Management Skill TrainingHR Consultancy and SolutionsAn Associate Consultant of Global Diversity Practice working with Farrah Qureshi

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  People Puzzles

  Oct 2014 - now

  Regional Director

  I’m a commercially focused Regional Director having gained over 25 years Operational / HR expertise, working at Ikea, Marks & Spencer and Asda. Since 2015 I have worked with over 200 ambitious growing SME’s, I’m passionate about understanding the workings of a business so I can provide solutions both from an operational and a strategic perspective that help maximise its potential to thrive.✳️ 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩?𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 get in touch with me when they are looking to grow but don’t have the right structure in place, or have people-related issues that could be improved by better engagement, a stronger culture, or a more effective recruitment and retention process. ✳️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬◉ 85+ board level strategic HR Directors ◉ Proven commercial impact from day one ◉ Skills matched to your sector, region and business needs◉ Chosen by over 1000 ambitious business leaders◉ Fully flexible with no minimum commitment period✳️ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬...◉ Turnover & headcount growth doubled in 2 years ◉ Saving £30K to £40K pa on cost compared to employing a full time HR Director◉ Voluntary labour turnover (LTO) reduced from 238 to 168 leavers saving around £40k in annual recruitment costs.𝐈𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬...◉ “Having a strategic HR capability in our business has freed the Directors up to work onthe business, not in it.”◉ “I used to think that HR was all about employment law compliance and managing the administration basics. I didn’t get the hugely positive impact strategic HR could make to the business – I do now!”◉ “Success comes from highly motivated and engaged individuals – and People Puzzles has helped us create this atmosphere and culture”✳️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡For help to develop your roadmap for growth, do get in touch:07766821522debra@peoplepuzzles.co.uk Show less