Pictured above: Phillip Mogg
To be made redundant in your 60s might signal early retirement
for many - but not for one businessman.
Human Resources expert Phillip Mogg, 64, was forced to consider
calling time on his career when his stint at a Coventry-based
Becta, a non-governmental public body, came to an end after the
organisation was recently wound up by the Government.
But he was not ready to wave goodbye to working life and after
he contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, he
thought of another option.
Phil decided to set up his own human resources consultancy,
Hermes HR, after receiving support from the Chamber.
He said: "Prior to my time at Becta I had spent 38 years in
human resources in the NHS, and during that time I spent 10 years
as the executive director for HR at Hereford Hospitals NHS
Trust.
"With the added experience of working for Becta for just over 4
years, I felt I still had something to offer and was not yet ready
to give up work.
"I considered a range of options, but on further investigation
several of these became less attractive or were unlikely to bear
fruit.
"As part of Becta's outplacement arrangements for its redundant
employees, I became aware of the workshops and counselling offered
by the Chamber of Commerce for individuals contemplating starting
up their own business.
"I enrolled for the series of four workshops, which together
with the one-to-one support, provided me with inspiration,
motivation and knowledge to set up my own company.
"It is a new exciting challenge for me, and is something quite
different after years working in the public sector, so I am
enjoying it."
The company is still in its infancy but has already obtained a
commission from another public sector organisation and is in
discussion with another company with a view to helping companies
across the Midlands cope with a wide range of human resource issues
and challenges.
Keely Hancox, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of
Commerce, said: "This is a classic example of someone turning a
potentially negative situation into a positive one.
"During these harsh economic times unemployment figures are
unfortunately high and people have looked at alternative methods of
making a living.
"Very often this includes setting up their own businesses - as
Phillip has done - and here at the Chamber we are able to provide a
wide range of assistance."