New senior HR hire for Forbes Solicitors

Forbes Solicitors has appointed Gabriela Hammond in the newly created role of head of HR consultancy.

The role will see Gabriela work together with Forbes’ established employment law team to support clients with employee relations matters and to develop people strategies. 

Gabriela brings with her more than 20 years of people management experience, having led the HR function for the UK arm of leading PVCU window systems manufacturer for the construction industry, VEKA UK Group.

She comments: “I’ve been part of a progressive organisation that really values HR as a strategic part of the day-to-day. This has provided me with a wealth of experience in terms of developing people-focused ways of working that boost staff retention and recruitment, and overall performance. 

“I’m looking forward to drawing on this insight to support Forbes’ clients in addressing the many varied and fast-changing HR opportunities and challenges they face. From the prospects of four-day working weeks, through to changes in flexible working and disengaged employee trends such as quiet quitting, it’s increasingly important for businesses to take a more innovative and agile approach to HR. The newly created head of HR consultancy role will help clients with this.” 

Jonathan Holden, partner and national head of employment at Forbes Solicitors, added: “Through a number of different retainer agreements, we work closely with a wide variety of SMEs, PLCs, Public Sector bodies and Education establishments, often acting as an extension of their senior leadership teams and HR functions.

"This enables our team to properly understand how to provide bespoke employment law advice that suits specific goals and delivers against wider commercial objectives. 

"The new head of HR consultancy position enhances this offer and will provide clients with greater opportunity to dovetail our services with their people and organisational development strategies. Gabriela has the ideal experience and expertise to work together with our employment law team to make this a reality; enhancing the people strategies of those organisations to meet specific business goals.”