Welcome

I help businesses to


change, transform

or

transition

from where they want to be with practical support,
strategic insight, and a focus on results.

I work across organisations and sectors in the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Specialising in people, commercial and business operations. My work ranges from short term, engagements that address specific issue or initiatives to longer term projects that tackle complex requirements or strategy tasks. I bring a versatile and adaptive approach, whether quickly diagnosing and resolving challenges or partnering with clients to deliver sustainable high impact solutions over time.

Services

Consultancy Services

Providing strategic and practical advice, guidance and knowhow in a variety of fields across a broad range of organisational and management practices.

Interim Assignments

Delivering short to medium term support in Board and Executive roles for organisations facing immediate needs. I step in to provide leadership, stability and direction during critical transitions or to address emerging challenges.

Bidding, Tendering and Evaluation

Expertly managing Government or private sector invitations to Tender, for long term contracts setting out how to transform businesses and the people agenda over 8-20 year timeframes.Lead evaluation of Business Performance and Government Contracts.

I can offer help and assistance in a variety of ways:

  • a full, hands on service,
  • advice where it is needed
  • a toolbox full of techniques

Capabilities

  • Board Support and Director Development

  • Bidding,
    Evaluation, Drafting
    Documentation

  • Board and Executive Interim Support

  • Organisation
    Development
    and Design

  • Creation of
    Vision, Strategy and Plans. Risk and Mitigation

  • Recruitment
    and Resourcing
    strategy

  • Executive Remuneration and Compensation Schemes

  • Trade Unions, Employee Relations and Dispute Management

  • Pay, Conditions of Employment and Pensions Management

  • Talent Strategy and Succession Development

  • Performance and Engagement Strategy

  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals including TUPE

  • Redundancy, Termination and Settlements

Approach

Every organisation faces moments of clarity and moments of uncertainty. Sometimes the path forward is clear and internal teams have the resources and expertise to act.

At other times an outside perspective and a bit of extra support can make all the difference.

As a hands-on strategist, I'm happy to roll my sleeves up to help.

I believe it is critical to have a well thought through plan and some practical solutions but crucially there is a need to move on and implement the plan as soon as possible.

Approachable and collaborative, I bring a strong work ethic, clear, good communication skills and focus on delivery outcomes.

Ultimately, getting things done in the right way is what it’s all about for me.

About

I have extensive experience as an Executive Board member operating across various sectors including FTSE 250 and 350 companies.

  • West Midlands Trains Ltd - Human Resources Director
  • Scot Rail Trains Ltd - Interim Human Resources Director
  • Northern Rail Limited - Human Resources and Change Director
  • IDM Limited - Managing Director
  • Arla Foods pic - Group Human Resources Director
  • Express Dairies pIc - Group Human Resources Director
  • Caradon Catnic Limited - Human Resources Director
  • Caradon Stelrad Limited - Head of Human Resources Europe

I hold a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management alongside a Financial Times Advanced Professional Diploma in Non-Executive Directorship.

I have also completed the Strategic Management Consultancy Programme at Harvard University. My early career began in engineering, where I developed a strong analytical and operations foundation. I progressed through management into human resources bringing with me a practical, business-focused perspective that continues to shape my approach today.

I value: Knowing what works, delivering and taking pride in doing a great job.

Adrian Thompson Consulting was established in 2016 to work to provide strategic HR and organisational support for clients navigating change, growth and transformation.

Since then, the consultancy has delivered a diverse range of projects and assignments across sectors supporting leadership teams with strategy, planning, organisational development and culture change.

Work has spanned the UK, North America, Europe and the Middle East with an emphasis on providing knowhow, the latest expertise and most importantly practical tools, insights and innovation to help clients to be creative and drive lasting success.

Latest projects

  • People and HR Work Stream Lead for significant heavy rail, light rail and bus bids across the UK and North America.
  • Providing Industrial Relations advice on UK Rail Industry workforce reform.
  • Responding for clients to tenders fro major contracts in Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia
  • Collaboration review, report, and recommendations for major Scottish rail organisation
  • Technical expertise and advice to a client combating an entrenched UK industrial realtions dispute
  • Engaged as subject matters expert to develop a major UK infrastructure IR Strategy
  • Developing a leading Uk Talent and Succession Strategy for a large Uk business with mulit - site locations
  • Advice and support for a compliant TUPE transfer in UK Aviation
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What they say

“Adrian was my HR director for the first 2 years of the West Midlands Trains franchise, we needed to deliver significant improvements to people, processes and upgrade our assets as part of our franchise commitments. During that time, he guided us through a complex industrial relations environment which could have resulted in de-railing the company at a crucial time. Critically, he led the re-structuring of the business and was ‘Runner Up’ in the Institute of Organisation Development’s annual awards for the organisational design and execution of this project”.

Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde,
Managing Director, London Northwestern Railway/West Midlands Rail

“I worked with Adrian for 3 years in a volatile and challenging employee relations environment and what shone through was his ability to make measured and objective business decisions at critical moments. Adrian’s creative, business focused attention to detail taught me the importance of assessing all options before taking action and how to position the business in order to make the right move at the right time. Having Adrian as a mentor allowed me to challenge my own way of working and this has without doubt helped me to secure my first HR Director role”.

Jane English,
Human Resources Director, Merseyrail Electrics Limited

“Whilst working in a senior HR role, Adrian was my HR Director in a complex and challenging organisation which was going through huge change. His strong grasp of the business coupled with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels meant the HR function was integral to the business and very firmly seated at the 'top table”.

Craig Wright,
HR Director, Seven Seas Ltd

“I found Adrian to be an inspirational leader. He had many strengths but his greatest was his ability to adapt his leadership and managerial styles to ensure he motivated and obtained the best performance from a number of people with differing approaches and needs”.

Graham Clark,
Group HR Director, JCT600 Ltd

Contact

++ 44 (0) 7500 447 398