About Us

Over 25 years experience at senior level HR

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About Rainbow

Rainbow HR was created by Fiona Irvine in response to the need for more commercially based HR solutions, with a strong focus on delivering transformational change. Fiona has continued to develop her skills in the area of business and transformational change, creating effectiveness and efficiency, across a range of business sectors for a variety of well-known organisations.

With over 25 years’ experience at a senior level in HR, Fiona is well known and respected within the transport industry. Fiona has been recognised for her excellence in HR having won the HR Network HR Director of the Year and the CIPD/ASA Excellence award, during her time as HR Director at First ScotRail, and is now a Fellow of the CIPD.

At Rainbow HR we focus on the people, developing their skills in the delivery of great results with a strong focus on delivering an excellent customer experience. We also have a UK wide network of associates - all who have a track record of delivering HR and change solutions to drive bottom line performance.

Fiona also uses Rainbow HR’s success as an opportunity to help people, giving 2% of the profits to charity as well as championing various charities and great causes through Charity Heroes, which Fiona set up.

Our Approach

For all of our clients we take the time to fully understand your business and the challenges you face.

We work with your teams to ensure that our solutions are right for your business.

We ensure that our project planning is robust and that change programmes are implemented with a clear understanding of the impact on your people and the business.

We always ensure that there is a clear monitoring process in place to evaluate what we deliver.

Our aim is always to bring a return on your investment. We are more than happy to have an informal meeting to understand your business challenges and put together a bespoke proposal with a wide range of options for you to choose from.

Our Clients Say....

Recruitment@Rainbow HR has supported the extensive recruitment activity being undertaken at Porterbrook during a period of growth and organisational structural change. Key roles appointed include Head of Fleet Services, Refranchising Manager, PMO Co-Ordinator, Head of Digital Services and Engineering Audit Manager. All recruitment is carried out by HR professionals with a background in rail at a senior level and we offer a high-quality approach for just a 10% fee. Kate North, Head of HR for Porterbrook, said of the service delivered:

"I have used Rainbow HR for recruitment to support transformational change within our business over an 18 month period. Fiona’s first priority was to understand our business culture and need. That understanding enables her to recruit the right people with the right skills for us. Her knowledge of the rail sector is excellent, and I have always found her to be professional and responsive when priorities change. I would highly recommend the service Fiona offers as a recruitment partner."
"Rainbow HR (Fiona) was critical in facilitating my appointment as Head of Digital Services for Porterbrook Leasing. The prompt and personal approach made the process seamless and aptly targeted. It has resulted in a successful match of skillset, requirements and experience."

Steph Klecha, Head of Digital Services, Porterbrook Leasing
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all at Rainbow HR for your help and guidance through the selection process when I applied for the Lead Auditors role with Porterbrook.

It was easy to talk to you regarding my up and coming interview and it was helpful prior to my interview that you gave me some information on the interviewees and Porterbrook as a company.

I felt totally prepared when attending the interview which, with your help and guidance went very smoothly.Once again a big thank you for your help through the process."

Tony Brian Wykes, Lead Auditor for Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited in Derby
"Fiona was instrumental in my successful placement as Reliability Task Force Lead at Porterbrook. Her knowledge and understanding of the business as well as her ability to extract key skills and qualities of candidates resulted in a perfect match between Porterbrook and myself.

She helped to create that personal connection between my CV and the hiring manager to further strengthen my application. She has enabled me to take the next positive stride in accelerating my career forward."

Chris Beales, Reliability Task Force Lead, Porterbrook
"Can’t thank Fiona Irvine and Tom Waddell enough for their support during my recent job search!

They both offered advice and online webinars that were extremely useful when looking for my next job opportunity! During such a horrible time, the support and kindness both they and others have provided have been a positive I won’t forget.

If you’re currently faced with looking for a new role due to COVID-19, I would recommend getting in touch with them."

Rachel Stewart, Senior Communications Officer, NHS Lanarkshire

Our Associates

We have a superbly talented team of Associates in the business, with a wealth of experience in many different industries. Read on to find out more about them.

Steven Allan

Background:
Steven has held several senior HR roles in the retail and hospitality industries, working with renowned organisations such as Tesco, RBH Hospitality Management, and, most recently, IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he served as the HR Lead for the North region of managed hotels within the estate. He also gained valuable experience in the public sector through an interim role with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.
Steven is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, an ILM Level 5 Coach, and an Everything DiSC Practitioner. He is a passionate advocate for personal and professional development, exemplified by his ongoing investment in his own learning and growth as an HR professional.

Experience:
With a strong operational background, Steven leverages his commercial acumen to deliver measurable value through people-focused strategies that enhance organisational performance. An empathetic and proactive people leader, he collaborates with clients to place their people at the centre of business objectives, fostering positive workplace cultures and driving employee engagement.
Steven’s extensive experience as a strong HR generalist includes large-scale organisational change, employee relations, employee engagement, and management and leadership development. His transition from corporate HR to consulting led to the launch of his own HR consultancy business, Concept HR Solutions, at the start of 2022.

Key Skills:

HR | Employee Relations | Employee Engagement | Organisational Change | Talent Management & Development
Tracey Chrystal

Background:

Having worked in the corporate world for many years, Tracey decided to make a pivotal career change towards the end of 2020. She realised how much she enjoyed helping many small to medium size companies and welcomed the opportunity to help business owners improve their businesses, advising and supporting them with people matters and helping them create positive change. Tracey is our HR Consultant of choice and Executive Coach and a fantastic addition to our Team.

Experience:

Tracey is a strong, clear communicator, who is always professional and discreet, she will add terrific value to Rainbow’s clients.

Her experience extends to recruitment, and pretty much all aspects of employing an individual from onboarding to redundancy or retirement for a wide variety of clients. She is CIPD, Chartered Fellow and ILM Level 7, Executive Coach

Skills:

Training | Employee relations | Coaching, | HR Health Checks | Employment Contracts | Policy and Procedures | Restructure | Business Change | Mediation
Karen Fitzpatrick

Background:

Karen is a published author, and has written illustrated guides on Edinburgh and Scotland. She started off as an editorial assistant, working her way up to become a commissioning editor in illustrated reference books, before going freelance.

As a freelancer Karen has worked as a project editor, copy writer, features writer and proofreader, with her biggest clients including Google, NHS Health Scotland, Frommer’s, Dorling Kindersley and Scottish publisher Saraband (shortlisted Booker prize in 2016).

Experience:

With years of experience editing, Karen knows what works well on the page and is meticulous about typesetting. Over the last five years, she has worked as a bid (technical) writer and editor in the transport sector.

In 2018–2019, Karen has worked as a bid writer for Arriva on the East Midlands bid, as well as for Rainbow HR to create a Technical Writing skills presentation for Porterbrook. Karen has also worked on Abellio’s West Midlands bid, the high-profile Clyde and Hebrides Ferries tender and winning NorthLink Ferries bid for Serco.

Key Skills:

Editor | Bid Writing | Copy Writing | Proofreading | InDesign
Cheryl Fox

Background:

An exceptional, commercially focused strategist and leader with a background in Customer Experience, Operation Delivery and Transformational change. Experienced at Statutory Board level, with a history of delivery against objectives in all roles. Multi -sector experience with a focus on transport including rail, metro, tram, and ferry, along with contract experience with over 25 years’ experience in public transport. Demonstrating improved customer and employee satisfaction ratings. Has worked in the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Experience:

Cheryl has worked at director and head of roles over the last 25 years, managing multifunctional teams in excess of 2,500 people. This includes, mobilisation of new rail and ferry franchises, led transformation programmes and worked in the DfT on commercial contracts.

Key Skills:

Generalist Customer Experience | Operational Lead | Programme Management |Transformational Change | StakeholderManagement | Employee Change Programmes | Technical Advisor
Lesley Malcolm

Background:

A graduate of Glasgow University in History and Politics and a Fellow of the CIPD, an accredited coach, IIP advisor, Qualified Behavioural Analyst (DISC) and an NLP Practitioner, Lesley has over 20 years experience in senior HR roles.

Lesley started her career in HR with a BHS Ltd working in Newcastle, Belfast, Manchester and Glasgow. Lesley then moved as HR Manager to Makro Glasgow, the UK’s leading Multi Self Service Wholesaler and had a national role in developing policies, procedures and strategy for the entire UK operation.

Experience:

On leaving the retail sector Lesley set up as an independent HR consultant and was quickly appointed by a Compaq Computer Manufacturers to support their HR function. Lesley was then asked to become a permanent Compaq employee and managed site employee relations and took a lead role in restructuring design and delivery and outplacement support.

After 6 years at Compaq Lesley set up Clearwater Brookes Ltd, a Human Resources and Development Solutions organisation; Clearwater Brookes Ltd provides organisational and people development support, executive coaching and outplacement support to clients from all sectors.

Key Skills:

HR | Employee Relations | Executive Coaching | Outplacement Support
Jess Marsh

Background

Jess (MCIPD) is a pragmatic and seasoned people professional with over 15 years’ HR experience, gained in a variety of senior level roles. Having worked across a range of industry sectors, including Logistics, Utilities, Retail and Aerospace, Jess has gained broad generalist experience, working with Director teams to design and implement people strategies that bring about real business results. For example, Jess has led on numerous organisational re-designs, resulting in a reduction to operating costs, through to designing and implementing attendance management systems, reducing sickness absence costs and improving productivity. She is adept at working in complex environments, which require a customer focused and collaborative approach to creating and implementing HR solutions.

Experience

Having started out as a Retail Manager, before moving into HR and working her way up to being People Director at a leading retail field marketing agency, Jess finally decided to go it alone in 2022 when she started consulting for small sized organisations. Bringing a wealth of experience in a range of HRM areas, from designing and implementing performance management, reward and recognition systems, to culture and engagement projects, Jess set about helping them to set up HR departments and build robust policies and processes.

Since then she has been an Associate of a couple of different consultancy firms and has a track record of building repeat business through successfully delivering numerous bespoke HR projects for a variety of different clients. These projects have mainly been with public sector clients and range from building attraction, recruitment and retention strategies, developing learning and development strategy, reward benchmarking, creating career pathways to aid with attraction and retention and policy development.

Key Skills:

People Strategy | Performance Management | Talent Management & Resourcing | Reward & Recognition | Engagement | Organisational Design | Learning & Organisational Development | Policy Development | Culture Change
Rory Maxwell

Background:

With over two decades of experience in the global transport and travel industry, Rory has been involved with front-line customer service roles to operational improvement, strategy development, programme management and leadership positions. He has also provided advice to transport authorities, infrastructure providers and NGOs in the specification and procurement of multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, advanced CRM and operational software, the evaluation of supplier responses and the management of PFI/PPP schemes.

Experience:

Rory has regularly worked with bid teams in the rail and bus industries - successfully fulfilling roles as a bid programme manager, workstream leader, writer, independent reviewer and project manager. With several years running global benchmarking projects for the Railway and Transport Strategy Centre at Imperial College has given Rory first-hand experience of board-level decision making around best practice in operations, customer service and commercial strategy at the world’s leading metros and suburban railways.

Key Skills:

Global Transport | Customer Service | Strategy Development | Programme Management | Franchise Bidding
Steve Merion

Background:

Steve is an experienced HR Director with a successful background in leading and managing change. He has worked globally in many cultures and across a variety of sectors , including Motorsport, Professional Services, Financial Services, Retail and the Public Sector. He has over 20 years’ experience of managing complex change and is able to help stakeholders at all levels navigate their way through change. He is known for having an open, honest and transparent style – this straightforward approach has helped him manage change in an empathetic way whilst still delivering the change required.

Experience:

In 2016 he set up his own consultancy business ‘Drive The Change’ – offering HR interim and consultancy support to a broad range of clients. Often working alongside internal HR teams to provide support and guidance as required.

Recent clients have included Mercedes GP, Mambu (FinTech), Landbay (Financial Services), London Borough of Hillingdon, Civil Service, Deloitte and Nuffield Health advising on senior HR matters and helping clients with change programmes, including IR35 changes. His career prior to this was as an HR Director and Programme Manager for Barclays, Credit Suisse and Dixons.

Key Skills:

HR | Change Management | OD | Employee Relations | TUPE | Coaching | Payroll | IR35
Gary Muir

Background:
Having started his career with Bank of Scotland Gary has worked and led several learning and development and operational training teams, in both the corporate world and SME sector.
He is a confident and lively learning and development professional who believes the best way to get the most authentic you is when you are feeling at your most comfortable. He believes one size doesn’t fit all. He has a strong belief that we can all achieve great things with the support and development of our capabilities.
Gary has worked across a number of organisations in Financial Services, Oil and Gas, Health, Travel, Childcare, Property Management and the Third Sector, where he supports a number of charities on a pro-bono basis.

Experience:
Gary is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and is a Chartered Banker. He has a coaching qualification from the University of Strathclyde and holds a Certificate in Training Practice from the CIPD. He is a practitioner in several developmental instruments including, Insights Discovery, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI Steps 1 + 2), Thomas Kilmann (TKI) and Level A and B Psychometric testing. Gary is also an experienced host of conferences and charity events.

Key Skills:
Leadership Development | Personal Development | Coaching | Business Transformation | Succession Management | Motivational Development | Strategic Planning | Mentoring
Rae McNicol

Background:

Extensively qualified in a range of established industry standards including Myers Briggs Personality Profiling, Insights Discovery & Mentoring. Rae works with clients to develop & deliver learning solutions that deliver measurable business results, enable improved individual & team effectiveness through personal growth and promote positive cultural change.

In addition to her associate work with Rainbow HR, Rae is Director of Radiate Learning Ltd which provides Learning Consultancy to businesses across the public and private sector. Areas of expertise include Training Needs Analysis, establishing frameworks to measure Return on Investment, Facilitation & delivery of Training.

Experience:

With over 30 years’ experience of working in Senior Roles within the private sector Rae brings a combination of Learning, Leadership & Business experience and a proven track record of building high performing teams to deliver great results across a broad range of business areas including senior Learning, Customer Service & Change Management roles.

Rae is also a Mentor on the Scottish Chamber of Commerce UK Finance Mentoring Programme and was recognised for her outstanding contribution & support for business through a nomination for the Enterprise Educator of the Year Award.

Key Skills:

Mentoring | Personal & Team Training | Coaching | Learning & Development Solutions
Paul Nelson

Background:

Paul has worked for over 3 decades within the Rail industry having joined British Rail straight from high school as a Signal & Telecoms Assistant Technician, which has resulted in a career that has incorporated both maintenance engineering and extensive experience in the project management environment.

Experience:

In a career spanning over 34 years, Paul has gained extensive experience from a technical perspective across the telecoms maintenance environment within BR/Railtrack/NR and as a technical specialist on the GSM-R programme. He has experience of both the client side and the supply chain, having worked at different times for Jarvis Rail, Siemens, Kelly Rail, amongst others. The latter half of Paul’s career has involved working in project management on the client side (NR) and latterly, a sponsorship capacity on the major Crossrail programme. He was the Project Manager responsible for the Anglia Crossrail stations and Key Output 1, which allowed the Class 345 trains to be utilised on the Elizabeth Line for the first time between Liverpool St Station and Shenfield Station. More recently he was the Senior Sponsor responsible for ensuring the end to end opening of the Elizabeth Line and the implementation of the full Crossrail timetable.

Paul has worked and interfaced with most disciplines within the rail industry, including signalling, telecoms, civil engineering, electrical, overhead line equipment and has spent the last decade working with senior and executive key players within the industry.

Key Skills:

Maintenance | Project/Programme Management | Sponsorship | Change Management | Compliance | Inclusive Leadership | Communication | Stakeholder Management
Matt Watson

Background:

Matt is a generalist HR leader with broad sectoral knowledge and lengthy experience at Board level. A graduate in Management Science he also studied a Masters both in Industrial Relations law and Executive Coaching at Ashridge. He is an intelligent strategist, with a creative spark, recognised for commerciality, innovating & making a real difference. An influencer, skilled communicator and coach; a natural relationship builder, collaborator & team player. Matt is an adaptable, determined, independent and energetic values and purpose driven leader.

Experience:

Matt has broad sectorial experience incl. FMCG, manufacturing, business services, retail, customer service, healthcare and transport; within FTSE corporates, private equity and private ownership, charity, public sector & regulated environments; with over 20 yrs at board level. He brings strong corporate governance experience including board positions, chairing committees and overseeing performance.

He has an impressive portfolio of organisational and cultural transformation successes, And unusually strong track record leading performance and improvement within and beyond functional HR remit. Matt has significant success experience driving frontline engagement & capability, enhancing customer service, safety and productivity. He has been successful within complex stakeholder environments, building effective relationships with TUs, government departments, regulators, customer groups & powerful suppliers. Commercial instincts reinforced by experience incl. contract bidding, running a fledgling business and operational leadership including productivity and lean-type programmes.

Matt also has a strong leadership and behavioural development background and is known for building great teams, transforming organisational capability & productivity. He has strong coaching experience including at FTSE 100 main board level.

Key Skills

People strategy development and delivery | Operating model and Organisation design and change | Industrial Relations | HR function transformation | Change leadership | Talent and capability development | Coaching |Programme management | Relationship building and stakeholder management
Amanda Woodhead

Background:

Amanda is an experienced business change and project management specialist. She has a proven track record in delivering transformational change and high-profile commercial projects on time and to budget, within the private and public sectors.

Experience:

Amanda displays excellent leadership, communication and problem-solving skills, often working in high-pressured environments, providing strategic solutions with a focus on delivering maximum benefit and value for money for the client.

Key Skills:

Business Change | Project Management | Transformational Change

Our People

Find out a bit more about the Rainbow HR team.

Tom Waddell

Background:

Tom has held a number of senior Recruitment roles during his career working with organisations including Reed Employment, G4S, Newsquest and Brook Street. For the past 7 years he has been self employed advising a diverse client base on recruitment.

He has also gained exposure in the public sector working with a large Local Authority in London as Interim Head of Recruitment.
Tom is obsessed with getting it right and delivering on promises, he works tirelessly to ensure the candidate journey is as good as it can be whilst delivering service excellence to clients.

Experience:

With a background in Recruitment operations, Tom utilises his knowledge to add value to companies looking to find, recruit and retain the top talent available. Tom works with clients to ensure their people, processes and systems are the best they can be.
His deep experience covers recruitment agency and internal recruitment (Talent Acquisition) for temporary, permanent and interim hires.
Working across many sectors from Care to Policing, Engineering to Finance and covering roles from entry level to board level Tom brings tremendous value to clients’ recruitment needs.

Key Skills:

Recruitment | Talent Acquisition | Resourcing Strategy | Interviewing | Recruitment Advertising

Click here to head to our dedicated recruitment site - Recruitment @ Rainbow HR // Experts in delivering recruitment and HR solutions for organisations across the UK
Rebecca Nicholson, PA

Background:

Rebecca began her career in The Guardian newspaper’s sales department in Edinburgh, after graduating with a degree in Media. She then moved into recruitment advertising and then on to become an operational manager in the employability sector for the last 10 years, where Rebecca has been successfully running teams to assist the long-term unemployed back into sustainable work.

Experience:

Rebecca set up her own business in 2019 to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs with administrative services. She supports the team at Rainbow HR and is invaluable to ensuring the business runs smoothly.

Key Skills:

HR | Recruitment | Customer Service | Marketing | Administrative support