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Staff Profile

Jayne May

People Services Business Partner

Background

Who are we?

I lead the People Services Business Partnering team, alongside Judith Burr and Amy Stewart (Amy is on maternity leave and is back in November). 


We are here to work alongside the Faculty to make sure we attract, retain and develop colleagues in HaSS, and to help you to navigate challenging situations. We work alongside Heads, School Managers and the Faculty team to facilitate pay reviews, promotions, recruitment and development activities.   


What are our current team priorities? 

  • Future strategic people planning, joining the dots between our student, finance and people plans over a 3-5 year time frame

  • Colleague wellbeing – so that we are fulfilled and enjoy our work, recognising that the pandemic has been challenging for many of us 

  • Colleague development - giving everyone the opportunity to excel in what they do

  • Retention and reward – recognising contributions and ensuring equality of reward

  • Leadership development - ensuring we have pathways for colleagues to take on leadership responsibilities, encouraging diversity across the Faculty and beyond

  • Mentoring/peer collaboration- providing a framework to ensure all colleagues are able to build mentoring relationships and develop their own skills as a mentor 

  • Supporting difficult and complex situations 

  • Recruitment – bringing in new talented people to complement the current HaSS team - Shelley Stonehouse leads HaSS recruitment. 

  • Organisational Development - preparing us for challenges and changes ahead in the sector - Liz Kemp leads the OD activities. 

What I enjoy about my role


The sheer variety, and love working with our amazingly talented Faculty colleagues. We also have one of the best views in the University – feel free pop up and say hello on 11th Floor Henry Daysh or say hello in Teams. 

My background 

Following a BSc in Economics I joined what was British Rail as a personnel trainee working in employee relations then training roles, followed by Retail then Banking (which wasn't for me!) I joined the HE sector in 2015 as an HR Business Partner to the Faculty of Science and Technology at Lancaster University before moving back to my roots in Newcastle where I grew up in 2021. I also completed a Masters in senior leadership at Lancaster University Management School during the pandemic which I really enjoyed.