FORREST GROUP
Meet the Team
Sophie Forrest-Lavery
Founder & CEO
Sophie originally founded ForrestHR in March 2018. She swiftly grew the business and started offering 5 key business services under the revised business name, Forrest Group in 2022.
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Sophie is a highly qualified HR professional, who has previously won the award of Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 at the SME News Southern Enterprise Awards.
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With over 20 years’ experience in the HR industry, Sophie has worked in senior HR generalist and strategic roles within a variety of industries including financial services, construction, law, hospitality, sports, retail, plus many more. Sophie is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider.
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Her HR consultancy experience has included managing and supporting clients with a variety of complex and day-to-day needs, operating at board level.
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She is committed to giving a first-class service in all areas of her practice, which has included dealing with high-profile employment relations cases, company restructure projects and employment contract and company policy reviews.
Jacqui Falvey
Director of Training & HR Services
Jacqui can provide HR support to businesses based in Gravesend and the surrounding areas of North Kent.
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On joining ForrestHR, she brings over twenty years of professional HR experience that she has gained across many industries including financial services, construction, housing associations and apprenticeships to name a few, both as a Freelance Consultant and in-house HR & Training Manager.
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Jacqui's extensive generalist HR experience enables her to serve clients across all industries and deliver a first class bespoke service for all your business's individual needs.
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Jacqui is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider.
Jacqui also delivers all of our training courses as part of Forrest Training Academy. Jacqui provides first class delivery of bespoke training and coaching services.
Sarah James
Head of Group Operations
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Sarah is the true backbone to all 5 services within Forrest Group.
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Providing essential support and partnership to the Founder and CEO, Sarah ensures all 5 services of the business are operating effectively and in line with the core values of what they all stand for.
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In addition, Sarah also has her Clients that she provides HR support to, bringing her wealth of HR expertise from previous roles both in house and on a consultancy basis for various public and private clients.
Sarah is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider.
As Head of Group Operations, Sarah is also responsible for all marketing activity within the business.
Laura Reilly
Associate Senior HR Consultant
Laura is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Associate Chartered Institute of Legal Executives member with a certificate in employment practice and a qualified Paralegal.
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She works as an Employment Lawyer and trained in employment tribunal advocacy through Central Law Training, with coaching from an experienced retired employment judge who has mentored Laura throughout her career.
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Laura has over 15 years of private and non-profit sector experience, a practical understanding of operational management as a national operations manager, combined with operational and strategic HR management experience, up to Board level.
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She is a qualified mediator (civil and commercial) as well as a skilled negotiator, with particular expertise in manufacturing and professional services environments. Experienced in settlement negotiations, employment dispute resolution and unionised environments spanning multiple UK sites.
Grace Lord
Senior HR Consultant
Grace is an HR professional with over 16 years’ experience across many industries, she provides HR support to businesses across the Surrey region.
Grace’s experience includes 13 years in a senior role for a growing luxury retail company, she has also worked in the logistics/supply chain sector and as a freelance HR consultant with a number of small and medium sized businesses.
A true HR generalist, Grace has a broad spectrum of experience across all HR areas including employee relations, redundancy and restructure, employee engagement, recruitment, onboarding, and policy/process review. Grace also has experience as an in-house Trainer including the devising and delivering of training courses, she is also a qualified mental health first aider.
Grace is passionate about HR and is committed to supporting small and medium sized businesses with their HR processes to help them become more successful.
Nick Adams
Head of Health & Safety
Nick’s specialisms are delivering business added value, risk management solutions, training, safety culture change and organisation health and safety improvements.
Nick also provides coaching and advise to employees, senior management, and board directors.
Nick brings over 20 years of health and safety management knowledge and experience, shaping and guiding businesses in industry and commercial sectors.