I’m Nicola Taman, Company Director at Definitely HR.
I studied at the University of Sheffield and qualified with a BA in Geography in 2001. My early careers were in retail management and sales before starting my HR career at Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust in 2003. During my time there I gained my post graduate qualification in HR Management and became a member of the CIPD.
Once qualified as a HR professional I moved to Warwickshire County Council to my first senior HR advisory role in 2007. It was there I first started working with schools and head teachers. With a new found love and admiration for the education sector I became a team manager for the schools advisory team in 2010 before then moving to Birmingham City Council’s schools employee relations team in 2011. I quickly became the lead employee relations consultant for the south area of the city looking after over 80 schools and developing strong working relationships and a large customer base.
I left the city council in August 2017 and in September 2017 I launched my own business, Definitely HR, a company specialising in schools employee relations services. I wanted to build a business that had relationships at the heart of everything we do. I wanted to deliver customer service unlike any other and just 12 months after it started, the company has quickly grown into one of the largest schools’ employee relations services in Birmingham.
Definitely HR are there any time you need us and we will listen and respond to your needs providing solution focused and practical advice. We will give you direction and advice you can trust. My strengths lie in relationships and providing clear advice on all school policies and processes. I have speciality knowledge in ER, education and employment law. I work daily with heads, governors, senior leaders, union reps, external agencies and our close partners S4S and bring them all together to provide the best service.
I have also been a Chair of Governors at a Local Authority School devoting 11 years of voluntary service which gave me a complete understanding in school strategy, operations and finance.
I am so proud of my achievements to date and so proud of Definitely HR, I hope you will be too.
I’m David Cox, HR Consultant at Definitely HR
With over three decades of operational and HR leadership, I bring a pragmatic and solution focused approach to human resources and employee relations. I've worked across a range of industries including healthcare, IT outsourcing, the public sector, the arts and aviation, gaining a well-rounded understanding of how different organisations operate and how people thrive within them.
Before joining Nicola at Definitely HR, I was the HR Manager for the UK’s largest provider of non-emergency patient transport services to the NHS in a highly regulated healthcare environment. We successfully mobilised simultaneous large scale TUPE transfers, navigating complex timelines and stakeholder groups to ensure seamless transitions. It wasn’t just about logistics, it was about guiding hundreds of individuals through change with clarity, dignity and trust. We built frameworks that protected continuity and safeguarded data integrity across the organisation.
Before stepping into healthcare, I served as HR Process Lead for a global IT firm. It was a role that blended precision, partnership and transformation. As we transitioned the HR functions from the UK to India, my focus remained firmly on maintaining continuity and confidence for all stakeholders.
My HR and ER expertise is grounded in over two decades within the aviation industry. A sector defined by scale, complexity and constant operational pressures. I held the role of Passenger Services Manager for over nine years, navigating the more complex employee relations that included grievance and disciplinary appeals, organisational restructures including redundancies and TUPE transfers.
Whether supporting managers through sensitive ER challenges or helping navigate complex situations, I build trusted relationships and practical solutions.
I'm Emily Haigh, HR advisor at Definitely HR
I have accumulated over five years practical experience working in two different education settings. This has included both a Trust, as well as a Local Authority. This has provided me with the opportunity to become familiar with both structures, working practices and different policies. I have spent my full employment immersed within HR. To further my professional development and deepen my understanding further, I have completed the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD) L3 Foundation Certification in Human Resources and CIPD L5 Associate Diploma in People Management. Both qualifications have provided me with a thorough and widespread understanding of HR within the education domain. I hold an associate membership of the (CIPD), which allows me to remain up to date with current legislative changes in employment law and network with other HR professionals.
I have been on the receiving end of support from Definitely HR, so it's exciting to be on the other side working with such a knowledgeable team. I share the same strong work ethic and friendly approach as the rest of the team at Definitely HR, and I look forward to continuing their excellent service.
I'm Tayler Gaffney, HR Advisor at Definitely HR.
I’ve been working in HR since early 2022. I started as an HR Administrator for a 2 school (primary and secondary) Trust in Birmingham, where I quickly proved myself and was sponsored to complete my Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice. Balancing full-time work with part-time study wasn’t easy, but it taught me a lot about commitment and resilience and I became a Foundation Member of the CIPD along the way.
A year later, I stepped into the role of HR Advisor within the same Academy Trust. I continued my professional development by completing the Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, earning Associate CIPD Membership. In this role, I managed a HR Administrator, worked closely with managers across the organisation, and focused on delivering HR solutions and specialist advice that kept students at the heart of every decision.
My day-to-day involved everything from policy development, recruitment and selection, contracts of employment, terms and conditions, payroll, absence management, lead any HR projects and initiatives, and performance reviews. I also handled employee relations cases — sickness absence management including completing return to work meetings, reporting of triggers, organising welfare calls/visits and drafting occupational health referrals, grievances, disciplinaries, redundancies and TUPE transfers. Arranging confidential meetings, advising on policies and procedures, taking accurate notes and drafting appropriate documentation and correspondence. I made sure every process ran smoothly, professionally and proactively whilst maintaining confidentiality and empathy at all times.
Before HR, I spent six years at a legal firm, where I learned the importance of excellent client service, responsiveness, and building strong relationships. That experience shaped how I approach HR today with a focus on clear communication, trust, professionalism and meeting deadlines.
I also completed a two-day Workplace Mediation Skills Training Course in 2024, which gave me valuable tools to help resolve workplace tensions before they escalate. I believe in proactive, people-first HR that supports both the organisation and the individuals within it.
I'm Sophie Keville, HR Advisor at Definitely HR.
I began my career in Human Resources five years ago and have since gained valuable experience in the care and education sectors. Over the years, I 've been involved in a wide range of ER casework and supported all areas of the employee lifecycle, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
I've particularly enjoyed building valuable relationships with clients, both in supporting and guiding them through complex situations. Building positive and trusting relationships has been key to my career to date and is something I take pride in.
I'm passionate about delivering the best possible outcomes for clients and always aim to provide clear, practical advice that adds real value in the workplace. My goal is to continue growing as an HR professional, while offering the best support I can to both client and colleagues.