Goldsmiths College - Review of the HR Function

• evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the current operation,  including benchmarking against other organisations;
•  advise how the HR function would be best placed to serve the business needs of the organisation in the future;
• examine the appropriate “balance” of responsibilities for HR management between HR and departmental managers;
• consider the potential for more effective alternative arrangements, including joint ventures, outsourcing, shared services, reviewing existing contracts and making better use of the market place.

The function was, by its own admission, not meeting the College’s needs and was burdened by administrative workload which was not adding value and was limiting the HR team members’ abilities to develop and build positive working relationships with College staff.  Subsequently, HR staff morale was low and the function was not well perceived by stakeholders.

Successes, benefits realised and the value added:

• work proactively and professionally, in partnership with managers in the business (avoiding problems rather than solving crises);
• develop clearer contractual boundaries with the business (i.e. mutual and shared expectations about what services will be provided by HR);
• move towards performing more “higher valued” roles and fewer “low value” transaction processing tasks;
• implement streamlined HR business processes;
• effective HR information systems and meaningful management information;
• adopt best practice from colleagues across similar organisations.

The products from the review included an implementation plan which provided the basis for a change programme to realise the longer term vision and strategy.

Lessons learnt and customer relationship:

Benchmarking of best practices across public, private sector and other Higher Education establishments identified best practices and innovative approaches which we worked with Goldsmiths HR team to analyse the appropriateness of incorporating into their new ways of working.

We have an excellent ongoing relationship with Goldsmiths and have recently assisted them in the second stage of recruiting and developing the enhanced HR capabilities identified in the implementation plan.  We supported the effectiveness of the selection process by developing and running assessment centres and are currently transferring our assessment centre skills to Goldsmiths staff in order that they will become self sufficient in this process which will be rolled out across the College.

Client Testimonial:

Mr Chris Pearson, Goldsmiths Director of Human Resources – 020 7919 7990

"Goldsmiths were delighted to work with Basis in undertaking the long awaited review of HR and its services.  The HR revolution began on the day the review started, with Basis' innovative, face to face and wide ranging consultation methods.  In a matter of 3 months we had a really deep, balanced and credible analysis of internal and external views, a customer focused best practice exposition, and a prioritised way forward.

This is analysis and review that is done ‘with’ you and not ‘to’ you.  Goldsmiths, and especially the HR team, could own the review, aspire to the vision it help us set for ourselves, and we are really building a great service that's right for us.  We've continued and will continue our partnership with Basis, who show the deep understanding they have of us as a customer.  They are helping us to meet the challenges we have for now and the future." 

For more information regarding the above or any other matter please email us