“I have high regard for this professional 'no nonsense' approach, the ability to really see the value of HR and deliver it as a true business benefit.
Steve has well-developed communication skills and uses these to good effect across a number of different audiences. He has a no-nonsense style and talks in plain language without resulting to hiding behind management speak. This has resulted in good rapport between him and the managers. However they have quickly realised that behind this plain talking is a professional who knows his business and that of the Service.”
Upon taking command of the Division, I was faced with a number of challenges - key to these was the need to transform the culture and key processes of the staff. Setting strong targets for performance improvement I commenced a modernisation agenda that required all staff to confront attitudes of complacency and to transform these to those of' achievement and professionalism. In order to realise this, I required transformational leaders on my Command Team who were able to see the future and were able to deliver change with high levels of confidence and success.
Without Steve Mason from RealWorldHR, I would have failed.
Faced with some extreme challenges he has demonstrated not only the skill to deliver change but most importantly the positive mental approach, which has been instrumental in the programme.
The Force has undergone a series of challenges around its approach and commitment to Diversity. He has developed a number of initiates to combat this from a HR perspective. These have been extremely successful and he has presented the approach nationally and internationally in Europe.
Steve has been involved with and developed, a number of partnerships in the local area and is well regarded by local employers. He has chaired the Employers Forum on Diversity and is regarded as being extremely knowledgeable in the subject area.
I can do no more but to identify Steve as a very special individual with significant strategic vision who can make the connection between HR management and operational policing. In my experience very few HR specialists are able to engage development of our core functions.
“Steve Mason is exceptional. Well liked by everyone and a shining light in leading change in the Greater Manchester Police.
Steve's personal style is unique - a tough operator he has the ability to make everyone feel at ease with him. His staff, Police officers and colleagues all have confidence in his ability and in his interest in them as people.”
“In the dynamic and changing world of the fire and rescue service we have had to develop high quality and competent strategic challenge to our procedures and practices in both HR and organizational development.
It is important that that such challenge and associated advice is rooted in real understanding to ensure that the decisions we make are both right and good in taking our life saving service forward.
RealWorldHR have provided that advice, challenge and understanding, relying, not only on personal competence, and the highest quality work but also on an impressive network of professional contacts.
We will certainly continue to work with Steve Mason, and highly commend RealWorldHR”
“… I have known and worked with Steve Mason for 3.5 years. As the Chief Executive I have relied on Steve to steer the organisation through the HR issues associated with a complex modernisation programme for the fire service.
Steve has been a key member of the board and has been instrumental in setting a clear direction and working closely with staff and their representative bodies. This fire service, as a direct result of Steve’s efforts, has moved on considerably more than other fire services, and its relationships with staff and unions are widely considered as best practice by other union and management teams.
He is able to change style and presentation to suit different audiences, but remains consistent and aligned with the board’s objectives and direction. He has also created a useful network across local authority agencies and has been excellent in determining and implementing best practice from a range of industry sectors.”
"I have worked with Steve Mason on numerous issues of consultation and negotiation in the past few years.
Steve does not only promote the importance of partnership working to resolve issues, more importantly he puts them into practice in the industrial relations arena the result of which culminates in agreements that are beneficial to employer and employee alike."
“ … Life was simple until I started employing people!! RealWorldHR certainly made things a lot easier and helped me in a way I could understand.”
“… Alison is very knowledgeable and provides a great service with an understanding of commercial activity of business, which is imperative for any company with growth plans.”
“ … Wow, they do know their stuff!
I really didn’t know where to start to write a business plan that would help us get some grant funding to employ more staff. RealWorldHR are really down to earth and helped me understand the process and I now have more staff AND an apprentice …”
“… This is a firm you can really work with, they actually visit, sit and listen.
We are on the wrong side of a tribunal decision that may cost us six figures. Not only have RealWorldHR been able to structure our processes in such a way to reduce the risk of this happening again, they have also shown where we REALLY went wrong.
Great people, great ethics, great business. I highly recommend them to you.”
“As an organisation, we needed a step change in our thinking and a way to create some refreshed momentum. Bringing Steve Mason into our Service created an atmosphere of healthy challenge and helped several managers flourish as individuals.
He has a unique style that cuts through over bureaucratic mindsets that allows staff to encourage each other for the greater good. He has the ability to make excellent judgements in complex situations and supports his advice with sound and practical information.
His contribution within the Service was tangible when industrial relations improved, the management team made a step change in their capacity to think more strategically.”
“Steve has worked with the Elected Members the Authority for some time now.
His clear and methodical approach has been welcomed by the members who often require complex and detailed reports explained to them prior to decisions being made.
Steve always remembers that members are not experts in the Fire Service, or indeed HR but are from a wide range of backgrounds with different abilities and opinions. The work undertaken by Steve has enabled these members to develop in their roles as representatives of the Fire Authority and to become more challenging and ensure effective scrutiny. Without exception, every member of the Authority has commented on Steve’s excellent knowledge and competence.
He always delivers high quality reports that are understandable – anyone who has ever been an elected Councillor will appreciate the value of that! In particular Steve has a great understanding of Industrial relations and union issues and this has helped our authority to maintain excellent relationships with the representative bodies.”
