Mr Harry Allen

Email: h.allen@aston.ac.uk

Tel: 0121 2044756

Before beginning my career in Higher Education, I was a truly generalist human resources manager and leader operating at a strategic level within the hospitality, retail and finally, student accommodation sector. I started my career within the hospitality sector working both at an operational and then strategic level. I have extensive experience in leading and managing others in busy, demanding and high-pressure environments. I was able to demonstrate the ability to balance the demands of an organisation, its customers, employees, and profitability. Through this industry experience I gained valuable commercial awareness and applied this to HR practices within the businesses I had worked. Adding value to businesses via HRM policy is central to my philosophy. Now working within higher education as a Teaching Fellow and Programme Director I thoroughly enjoy sharing this experience from industry to the classroom to bring the people profession to life!

My research interests are within human resources management specifically diversity and inclusion in the workplace and HR technology.  I have taken an active interest into inclusion of police officers and their individual perceptions of inclusion and the contextual factors that influence these. 

I am an active member of the local Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Birmingham branch. 

By working within the CIPD I ensure our programme stays relevant and up-to date.  

Higher Education Experience  

• April 2023 - Present Day - Teaching Fellow and Programme Director BSc Human Resources and Business Management, Aston University.  
• October 2017 – Arpil 2023: Senior Teaching Fellow & Course Director; MA International Human Resources Management Courses, Birmingham City University 
• June 2018 – November 2019: Senior Teaching Fellow & Acting Deputy Head of Department, Birmingham City University 
• Visiting lecturer, Coventry University – Human Resources Management.  

Practice & Professional Experience  

•  July 2015 – October 2017: Head of Human Resources, Study Inn Ltd 
• June 2014 – July 2015: Retail HR Manager, Bonmarché  
• July 2012 – March 2014: Group HR and Training Manager, QHotels Group, QHotels 
• January 2011 – July 2012: Human Resources Manager & Group Trainer, QHotels Group, QHotels 
• March 2009 – January 2011: Cluster Human Resources Manager, QHotels Group, QHotels 
• April 2007 – December 2010: Human Resources Officer, QHotels Group, QHotels  

• MA, International Human Resources Management , Birmingham City University

  Award Date: 5 Jan 2023

• PG Cert, Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Birmingham City University

  Award Date: 13 Jun 2019

• PG Dip, Human Resources Management , Coventry University

  Award Date: 11 Nov 2011

I am currently programme director for the BSc Human Resources and Business Management, leading on first, second and final year modules including Skills for Human Resources, Employee Resourcing, Employee Relations and Critical Issues in HR.