Ursula
Henderson

WHO I HELP

Start-ups. SMEs. Investor-Backed Businesses. Internal HR Teams. Business Owners & Directors. Medium-Sized Companies.  Large Organisations. Large International Organisations. 

HOW I HELP

HR Strategy. Improving HR Functions. Employee Relations Management. HR Meeting Support. Coaching & Supporting Managers. HR Strategy Development. Investigation & Disciplinary procedures. Managing Grievances.

SECTORS/SUPPORT

Industrial. Not for Profit. Public Sector. Leisure, Retail & Hospitality. Professional Services. Family Business. Technology. Construction & Property.

“WHEN A CLIENT BRINGS A CHALLENGE THAT SEEMS INSURMOUNTABLE, I CAN LOOK THROUGH THE DATA & START A POSITIVE CONVERSATION THAT WILL HELP BRING ABOUT A SOLUTION.”

Ursula Henderson is a Senior HR Consultant based in our Belfast office. Ursula’s main role is engaging with management and employee teams to understand the root cause of any issues, and providing expert advice and guidance to bring about a lasting resolution. She works with many clients on long-term improvements for their human resource response to reduce the number and significance of issues that arise over time.

Ursula works across a mix of public, private and third sector industries, for companies ranging from large scale manufacturers to smaller independent businesses and charitable organisations of all sizes.

MUTUAL TRUST

“To my mind, the ideal client relationship is one that is based on mutual trust; where they trust the support that I give them, and I trust that they have given me all the information I need to provide that support. My clients can always expect expert knowledge, reassurance and professionalism from me, as well as solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.”

FINDING THE BEST FIT

“I like to look at any situation that is brought to me from all angles, just because a company has ‘always done it this way’ does not mean that it has to continue to do that. I feel that it is my responsibility to generate a solution that will resolve a situation, and if that is very different to how the business operates, I see it as my responsibility to help the client understand why this is the best fit and how to implement it so that it is its most effective. At the same time, I quite like Status Quo – Rockin’ All Over the World is one of my favourites, so if a tried and tested method is the best solution, I am equally happy to go down that route!”

A BLEND OF BOTH WORLDS

“When it comes to methods of communication, I believe that a blend of both worlds works well in this industry. With people, it’s important to make sure that you are using the best communication method for any given situation. The best may be the quickest, therefore you can have a Teams call, or it may be that a face-to-face meeting is required due to the nature of the issue, in which case, of course, it’s crucial to be there in person. It is a decision that we make every day, and we’ll always try to advise and promote the best method for the client and for the situation at hand.”

PEOPLE: BOTH CHALLENGING & REWARDING

“The biggest challenge in my area of work is also the most rewarding aspect: people! People often take sides and can make assumptions, misinterpret things due to cultural differences or only hear part of a communication. But without doubt, people are also the most gratifying aspect for me. Getting colleagues and clients onto the same page and allowing them to see things from the other perspective not only produces the best results usually, but is also a fantastic feeling.”

PROVIDING A SEAMLESS TECH-ENABLED EXPERIENCE

“As AAB Group grows I am excited to be part of that growth. Developments in technology are helping us reach more and more clients, and customers are reaching out to us with more diverse needs. So, having a broader service offering means that we can provide our clients with the whole package – a more meaningful, seamless service that includes finance, recruitment, learning and development, organisational development and employee relations.”

CLIENTS’ CONCERNS ARE OUR CONCERNS

“When working with clients I always look at situations first and foremost through the eyes of the client. With over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources across three continents, I have a good insight into how diverse our small planet is, and I can help companies understand the complex people issues that arise. I like to feel that we and the companies that we work with are all part of a wider team; their concerns are our concerns. This makes helping to resolve an issue to their satisfaction of all the more rewarding. Similarly, coaching and nurturing the developing talent within the team of AAB gives me great satisfaction.”

A ‘GLASS HALF FULL’ PERSON

“AAB is an organisation that allows me to be myself, and I am a ‘glass half full’ person. I enjoy seeing the positive in every situation and helping clients to get there too.

One of my other greatest strengths is resilience. When a client brings an issue or challenge that seems insurmountable, I can look through the data and start a positive conversation that will help bring about a solution. A client once said that they were so worried about and consumed by a situation until they spoke with me and realised that there was a way forward. I’m always looking on the bright side of life and the culture of AAB is very much the same.”

BEING PART OF A CLIENT’S TEAM

“The best compliment I can receive from a client is when they include me as part of their team and treat me as one of their own.”

ENABLING PROGRESS

“Human resources are often positioned as the company police or the department that takes away all the fun. However, I prefer to see the function as being the team that enables communication when it breaks down, enables progress when things have reached a standstill or a deadlock, and enables development when more skill is needed. We enable the fun stuff to happen – we can’t have fun without people!”