New Head of HR at NEWI
20 December 2007
THE new head of human resources at NEWI has spoken of his vision for the Institute to play a leading role in supporting the local economy by hosting employment law training sessions.
Matthew Winter, who has been promoted from Acting Head of HR, says there is a tremendous opportunity for the Institute to become more commercial in its activities and be at the forefront of educating local businesses on HR issues – a role which would benefit both parties.
He said: “We’d like to work with local industry to promote good HR practice and take an active role in developing employment law training courses.”
Matthew, who says he hopes to bring energy and new ideas to the post, has extensive experience in Human Resources management within the public sector, developed through positions at Lincolnshire County Council, Grampian Regional Council in Aberdeen and Dundee, and at Higher Education institutions in Scotland. His previous work has included handling issues such as employment tribunals, restructuring of services, conditions of employment and delivery of training courses.
One of the key responsibilities in his new job is to guide the Institute through a Pay Modernisation project designed to update and reform existing pay grade structures at NEWI.
Details of the outcome of the project are set to be formalised in January 2008 following a final round of discussions with trade unions.
Matthew said: “The Pay Modernisation addresses a lot of long-standing issues connected with equal pay and it’s critical for us to get it right. We need to make sure that we are a good employer in terms of the working conditions we offer staff and that the pay we offer is competitive in line with other universities.”
Born in Peterbrough, Matthew grew up in Lincoln before moving in 1987 to study at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. He married and raised his two sons, now aged 16 and 20, in Scotland, before moving to Wales four years ago when he was offered a position at NEWI as Head of Human Resources.
“The chance to work for an Institute that had a particularly dynamic and strategic point in which it wanted to go was what attracted me here,” said Matthew, a fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development since 1992. “NEWI’s a very friendly place and forms a very, very important part of the local community.”
He added: “There’s certainly going to be growth at NEWI over the next few years, hopefully in student numbers and staff, and I think there’ll be lots of management of change issues to address. Hopefully when/if we get university status, HR will be able to take a leading role in focusing the Institute - looking at potential collaborations with other institutions and constantly reviewing our curriculum to make sure it fits with our vision. I firmly believe that our biggest asset is our staff and I’d like to take every opportunity we can to help them develop.”
A keen music fan, Matthew spends much of his time attending gigs across the North West and lists his all-time favourite artist as 1980s icon Danny Wilson, alongside current favourite bands Interpol and Kings of Leon.
He also collects books, records and CDs and is currently writing a book entitled Hitchhikers Guide to Gigs and Bands, detailing all of the bands and venues he has seen and visited since attending his first gigs, Rory Gallagher in 1971 and Elton John in 1972.
Matthew said: “Going to gigs is something I’ve always done and something I’ve always had a passion about.”