Reality HR director Laura Davis finalist of The Women in Business Awards
Laura Davis, Managing Director of HR consulting firm Reality HR, has been named a finalist of The Women in Business 2016 Awards run by The Business Magazine, a platform for the Hampshire region.
Every year The Business Magazine organises the Women in Business Awards, a contest that recognises successful women who have excelled in their specific business and profession. The awards consists of five categories: Rising Star, Board Level & Senior Executive of the Year, Woman Business Owner of the Year, Champion of Change and Enlightened Employer Award.
The Woman Business Owner of the Year award, which specifically focuses on entrepreneurial women who have founded and run their own company, this year features six nominees, including Laura Davis, Managing Director of Reality HR, a Basingstoke-based HR consulting firm. Davis founded Reality HR in 2004, at the time as HR Solutions (the firm rebranded in June 2014), and has in the past fifteen years built the company up to a nearly 20-strong team of HR specialists serving more than 90 clients across the South.
Commenting on the news, Davis says she is delighted with the news, which, in many ways, she believes is payback for the hard work she has put into building the company. “This is excellent news for Reality HR. I have always been very committed to employing the very best talent for the business.” It’s not the first time Davis has been recognised for her impact: last year Davis was a finalist in the Enlightened Employer category of The Women in Business Awards, while earlier this year she won an award for her Outstanding Contribution as a Bizpedia Partner, a business club for companies. Davis is an active partner of the Winchester community.
Besides booking steady growth, Reality HR, according to the jury, distinguishes itself in the HR consulting market with its parent-friendly approach. The firm’s so-called HR Flexible Working Hour’s model giving all team members the flexibility to manage their working lives around their family commitments. “Our Flexible Working Hour’s model has worked well for the team, the business and most importantly, our clients, who often tell us how much they appreciate being able to contact consultants at flexible times. Our staff are very loyal HR specialists who give above and beyond the call of duty, often dealing with client emergencies in the evenings or at weekends from home.”
Other women nominated for the Woman Business Owner of the Year award are Freya Derrick (Hopscotch Day Nurseries), Nicola Hartland (Xcel Sales), Barinder Hothi (The Knowledge Academy), Susanne Thomson (Security Watchdog) and Renee Watson (WATS.ON).
The finalists will have to wait until 15 September to find out the results of the Women in Business Awards, which will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at Oakley Hall near Basingstoke.