About Allison Abbott
I began my lecturing career at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, after qualifying as a teacher in 2012. I returned to the north-east when offered a post as HR Lecturer at Sunderland Business School in 2016 and became a Senior Lecturer in 2022.
Prior to working in higher education, I enjoyed a 27-year career as a practising HR manager, gaining wide experience mainly in the public sector.
My last post was HR Manager for a Fire and Rescue Service in the north-east. As a member of the Senior Management Team there, heading a team of HR professionals, my time was largely spent working on corporate issues, employee relations, employee wellbeing, regional and national initiatives to promote a career in the fire service to women, recruitment and promotion assessment centres and advising managers. Prior to this, I gained experience with probation services, county council departments, another fire service, and a spell in the retail sector, alongside the running of a small business.
I am a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) with qualifications from Teesside, Northumbria, Keele, and Sunderland universities in HR, business management, coaching, and employee relations.
I am currently Vice Chair of the Tees Valley CIPD Branch and a Mentor on the National Mentoring Programme.
Teaching and supervision
I am the Deputy Programme Leader for the Business and Human Resource Management Programme and module leader for:
- MGT307 Professional HR Skills (BA Hons, Business and Management)
- MGTM09 The Employment Relationship (MSc HRM)
- DLMM17 Resourcing and Talent Management (MSc HRM)
- SPPM104 Professional People Management Skills
I supervise management reports on MGTM26 Developing Researching Practitioners (MSc HRM) and teach on the Help to Grow Programme.
Interests
My interests are focused on the employment relationship.
Research
My interests are focused on aspects of employment relationships and the need to prepare HR managers to tackle the more contentious areas of their role.
In both teaching and research, I am especially concerned with identifying the reality of the HR role and developing the skills necessary for successful professional practitioners.
I am currently involved in the Local Government Association (LGA) Research Project to develop a Talent Management Strategy for Local Authorities.
Areas of expertise
- Employee relations
Further information
I have experience of collaborating with Hochschule Hannover University as part of the teaching team delivering an annual student International Cultural Management Programme in Germany.
Following the development of an innovative teaching tool, I presented the concept and student perceptions of its effectiveness in their learning at two university conferences.
- Abbott, A. and Stevenson, A., (2015) Enhancing employability through development and application of skills: The Loch View Hotel. Lots to Learn: Sharing Learning Experiences Conference Presentation, Robert Gordon University.
- Stevenson, A. and Abbott, A., (2014) Enhancing employability through development and application of skills: The 'pop-up' organisation. Innovate to Stimulate Conference Presentation, Robert Gordon University.