This year, we celebrate two significant milestones at enlightenHR – not only are we celebrating 20 years as a business, we are also thrilled to share that our Founder, Alison Benney has been offering her pragmatic HR expertise for 30 years!
A Vision Born from Experience
Starting with the management of the family hotel business and subsequently with Grand Metropolitan and the Burton Group – the first half of Alison’s career was taken up in business operations. This has given her a unique ability to understand the operational pressures people face in running a business and the value of someone who will take away some of the “hassle factor” of managing people.
Her experience gained working in personnel and human resources with WHSmith, Whitbread/Marriott, UNITE and Securitas, gives businesses the opportune benefit of experience in some of our most well-known companies.
In 2004, with a vision to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), alongside the same level of HR expertise typically reserved for larger corporations, Alison launched enlightenHR.
Her goal was clear: to make top-flight HR advice and support accessible to all businesses, tailored to their unique needs and challenges.
A Legacy of Pragmatism and Expertise
Alison is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, recognising her as a leading professional in the human resources field. Her approach is always pragmatic and down-to-earth, qualities that have helped shape the company’s ethos and client relationships.
Under Alison’s guidance, enlightenHR has grown significantly. Our team now includes handpicked advisors, each a fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development with over a decade of senior-level operational HR experience.
Like Alison, they are pragmatic, business-oriented, and dedicated to finding the right solutions for our clients.
Expertise that Drives Change
Alison’s expertise spans a wide array of critical HR functions:
• Managing Organisational Change: From reorganisation and redundancy to retraining and recruitment, Alison has steered businesses through significant transformations.
• Navigating Legal Complexities: Her experience in negotiating exits and managing TUPE transfers has made her a trusted advisor during complex business changes.
• Fostering Employee Relations: Alison has set up successful employee consultation processes and coached managers on resolving discipline and grievance issues effectively.
A Personal Note from Alison:
“Whatever business you’re in, people lie at the heart of success. My background in both hospitality and human resources has equipped me to support clients not just with day-to-day challenges but also with strategic matters that drive growth and success.”
As we celebrate these 30 fantastic years, we look forward to continuing our journey with Alison as our mentor.
Here’s to many more years of innovation, leadership, and success. Join us in celebrating Alison’s outstanding contributions to our company and the field of HR.
