About us - B3sixty

Thoughtful practitioners

B3sixty has operated since 2010, providing specialist, independent investigations and dispute resolution services in employment and education. Whilst continuing to work in Higher Education, where we have undertaken assignments for over 60 Universities and Colleges, B3sixty now has clients in all parts of Education including Academy Trusts, in the Not-for Profit Sector, the NHS, Central and Local Government, Police and Fire Services, Professional Services and in the Private Sector.

Flexibility

We customise our work to client need and provide an investigator, dispute resolver, facilitator, trainer or note taker who really understands your business

Quality

We take a systematic approach; pay attention to detail; communicate throughout the assignment; and assure quality of work through our own internal peer review system (at no additional cost to the client)

Understanding

We learn continuously from our work and from what is happening in the world of employment relations. This learning adds value to what we can offer – hence our aim to be “thoughtful practitioners”

Confidentiality

We are highly sensitive to the confidential and reputational issues surrounding investigations and dispute resolution, including the legal or regulatory obligations that may apply.

As part of our commitment to Confidentiality we have a Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy. This ensures that we comply with legal requirements regarding the handling of personal information and the protection of the individual’s right to privacy. If you would like a copy of our Policy then contact us at info@b3sixty.co.uk. As part of our commitment to quality we have a Client Complaints Policy. This provides a clear statement of intent with regard to the handling of client complaints and sets out a procedure for handling complaints that is fair, timely, transparent and consistent. Effective handling is an opportunity to improve our services and reduce the occurrence of similar complaints. If you would like a copy of our Policy then contact us at info@b3sxity.co.uk.

Directors

Clive Bane

BA (Hons), MA, Dip.IR, MBA, MCIPD, FRSA

Clive has worked in Human Resources in the UK and internationally for 40 years, latterly as HR Director at University of the Arts London. He is a longstanding Member of CIPD, a Fellow of the RSA, and has an MBA and a Diploma in Industrial Relations. Clive has a special interest and expertise in employment and industrial relations, both at a policy level and in "hands on" experience of implementing effective processes for preventing or dealing with disputes. He has either commissioned or conducted numerous investigations, and has been involved in resolving many individual and collective disputes. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-bane-614b1716/

Katie Hayday

BA (Hons)

Katie trained and practised as a solicitor in the litigation practice of Clifford Chance between 2002 and 2012. During this time she worked on a number of high profile insurance, reinsurance, contract and financial services disputes as well as financial services investigations. Katie was also involved in a number of mediations and arbitrations in the course of her work. Since 2012, Katie has focused on running the Joshua Hayday Helping Hand Trust - a charity that supports families caring for children with life-limiting conditions and working as an Associate, and now as a Director for B3sixty. With her legal background and experience of running a charity, Katie is particularly well placed to assist voluntary sector organisations with their dispute resolution and investigation needs.

Steve Hodder

BSc (Hons), MCIPD

Steve had a 30-year career in Acas (Advisory Conciliation & Arbitration Service) culminating in his role as Director for London and National Conciliator. Steve is a long-term member of CIPD, and author of the book “Resolving Conflicts at Work: A Guide to Negotiation and Joint Problem-solving in the Workplace”. Steve has had a longstanding association with B3sixty, as an Associate and then Director, undertaking investigations, mediations and training, Having stepped back from direct work on assignments Steve is now a non-executive Director. https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hodder-45199619/

Linda Laurance

FRSA, MInstF (retd.), CEDR accredited

Linda has been in the not-for-profit sector for most of her working life, in a variety of roles including Chair and Chief Executive. She now specialises as a consultant in governance and conflict management for nfp organisations and also as a mediator and facilitator in all sectors. Her consultancy focus is on board development, board and staff relationships, facilitation of strategic awaydays and team consensus building, as well as mentoring Chairs and CEOs. She chaired the working party which first established the Good Governance Code for charities in 2005, and contributed to several government sponsored task groups on governance issues. As a mediator Linda specialises in workplace disagreement resolution. Past chairmanships include the Family Holiday Association, The Charity Forum, Charity Trustee Networks (founding Chair), EUConsult and Social Link. Linda is a non-executive Director

Vijay Krishnarayan

BA(Hons), PG.Dip, MSc

Vijay is the former Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation and has worked in senior management roles with governments and civil society for over 30 years. Starting as an advice worker in Brixton, supporting community-based organisations, Vijay worked at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in the 1990s. He then focussed on environmental action in the Caribbean where for a decade he worked in participatory natural resource management. During his time at the Commonwealth Foundation, he was a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in development processes. Vijay has considerable experience as a leader and facilitator and has undertaken workplace investigations for a range of educational and public service organisations. He has a special interest and expertise in the use of investigative reviews as a means of identifying and finding ways to overcome cultural issues that are blocking effective organisational working practices and behaviour. In 2022 Vijay was recognised for his lifetime contribution to upholding the human rights of LGBT+ people. The Award, from the Kaleidoscope International Trust recognised Vijay’s work during his two terms as Director General of the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society: the Commonwealth Foundation. During his tenure from 2012-2019, the Trust acknowledged how he had transformed the organisation into one of the Commonwealth’s most respected inter-governmental bodies; and that under his leadership the organisation established a clear programme with an emphasis on inclusion, placing gender equality at the heart of the organisation’s mission. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijaykrishnarayan/

Linda Burke

BA, Dip HR, MCIPD

Linda has worked in Human Resources in the UK for over 30 years, delivering business growth initiatives, performance management, management development (ILM accredited), psychometric assessments, coaching, outplacement projects. In that time Linda has dealt with many difficult employment relations issues, including undertaking investigations. More recently she was the joint MD of a solicitors practice, leading a team of thirty-five. Linda is a long standing member of the CIPD and is qualified to use various psychometric tests & personality profiles including OPQ, WAVE, 16PF and MBTI. Her clients have ranged across all business sectors that include retail, reinsurance, not for profit, B2B, e-commerce, manufacturing and legal companies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-burke-46214615/

Kim Frost

BA, MA, M.Litt, FCIPD,

Kim was Director of HR for the University of London for over 15 years and is a past Chair of the Universities HR network. He is Vice-Chair of Council at the Royal Agricultural University, a member of Council at AECC University College and a non-executive Director of PHES, an organisation providing support services to professional associations in Universities. Kim is an experienced investigator of disciplinaries and grievances involving professional staff and academics, and of student complaints. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbfrost/

Associates

We have a group of Associates who have considerable experience of investigations and dispute resolution in employment and education. This enables B3sixty to provide a timely and comprehensive service, both geographically and across sectors. Our Associates have all been senior managers and professionals and they have experience and expertise across higher and further education, local government, schools, the civil service and agencies, professional services and the voluntary sector. All Associates are trained by B3sixty, and are committed to undertaking investigations in the B3sixty way.

Direct Reports

Direct Reports Ltd. was established in 2010. It is the parent company of B3sixty. Through Direct Reports we provide more general HR consultancy particularly in the area of practical support for organisational change.

Partnerships

We work collaboratively and have good relationships with a number of law firms and other consultancy companies. We have closer and/or more formal partnerships with:

Carrie Birmingham Consult (https://carrieconsult.co.uk/) are specialists in dealing with messy people problems. They offer individuals, teams and organisations ideas, insight and support. They passionately believe in helping people to be the best they can be, encouraging you to bring your whole self to work – not just your work persona – and so they do the same. The team has wide-ranging expertise and experience and will partner with you to safely navigate whatever you are facing.