HAMILTON-based HR company HR Services Scotland has strengthened its team with the appointment of a Senior Consultant specialist to join its Health and Safety arm and to further grow the business.
The rapidly-expanding provider of human resources, employment law and health and safety services across the UK has secured the services of East Kilbride-based Drew Russell as its Senior Health and Safety Consultant.
Mr Russell, who had a 39-year career with multinational giant Coca Cola, rising from the ranks to complete a variety of managerial positions, joined the Lanarkshire-based company last month and will add his significant experience to the established Health and Safety team.
He will also direct his attentions to developing the training arm of the successful trusted adviser, with services to the SME sector in new workplace environment areas such as cultural training and behavioural safety.
HR Services Scotland managing director Andy Purdon, who established the firm in December 2011, said: “We are delighted to have been able to attract someone of Drew’s calibre and depth of knowledge to the business.
“He has a wealth of experience across a really impressive range of disciplines in business and management in an internationally-operating company and his services will make a great contribution to the team.”
Mr Russell, who is from East Kilbride, joined Coca Cola from school, starting as a warehouse operative and progressing through the distribution network into manufacturing, production, and office work.
He moved into production management and specialised in H&S issues and became Coca Cola’s Health Safety and Environment Manager in 2006.
He has a post-graduate degree from Nottingham H&S College and is a practitioner with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. He has also conducted management training on behalf of Coca Cola’s European partners in countries such as Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Mr Russell said: “After my leaving my previous role in October last year, I was looking for new challenges and I have been most impressed with the ambition, clarity of vision and sense of purpose which I have found at HR Services Scotland.
“I hope to be able to bring my experience to HR Services Scotland’s client base and continue to add value by conducting audits, surveys and risk assessments, as well as advising on policies, documentation and certification.
“My immediate ambition will be to help develop the company’s Health and Safety client network, particularly in the vital SME sector, as well as diversifying into new areas of training services.”
HR Services Scotland, which operates in all areas of Scotland and throughout the UK land specialises in outsourced HR, H&S, employment law and commercial accreditations.
The company has a 300+ client portfolio which, in turn, has an employee base in excess of 70,000. It employs 15 people from its HQ in Hamilton.
It differentiates itself from competitors by becoming an extension of the clients existing management team. All members of the HR Services Scotland team are highly qualified professional’s with extensive experience across all sectors.
