“I am so excited.”

Heidi Skirrow may have enjoyed a high-flying career with the world’s largest cruise ship company but she can’t wait to share her 25 years of HR expertise with Dorset’s business community.

And from today. October 12, Heidi is doing just that by officially launching the Dorset franchise of Absolute Works, specialising in outsourced HR and employment law for locally-based SMEs.

For Heidi, who lives in Poole and was formerly Carnival UK’s Senior Vice President, People Services, it’s the realisation of an ambition that first took hold seven years ago.

She said: “I’ve always thought about setting up my own business but either the time wasn’t right or I wasn’t brave enough.

“However, having seen the company I love struggle through these times I thought that I could, perhaps, turn it into an opportunity.

“Also, if I was going to go out on my own then this was the time to do it.

“My role at Carnival UK was due to be merged with another which would have involved a lot more travel.

“My family, and especially my children – Freddie, eight, and Zara, five – are my priority and I just didn’t want to be away from them so I applied for voluntary redundancy.”

Heidi, 45, spent 14 years with Carnival and its world-famous portfolio of cruise brands including Cunard, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises.

As Senior Vice President, People Services, she was responsible for all aspects of operational HR in an organisation with 17,500 employees across more than 60 labour markets, overseeing a multi-disciplinary HR team.

Heidi also led the delivery of a new people services strategy and delivered many high-profile projects, including ensuring that new cruise ships were ready for service.

Before joining Carnival in 2006, initially as HR Business Services Manager, Heidi was Head of HR at Weymouth College for two years.

She has also held senior roles with Phillips Medical Systems, MRS Environmental Services Ltd and Transport for London.

Heidi has a master’s degree in employment law and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development,

Absolute Works Dorset will offer a range of outsourced services to businesses across a wide range of sectors.

Services include employment law, HR and health and safety.

Absolute Works also provides payroll, E-Learning and is an approved apprenticeship provider.

Heidi said she was looking forward to growing the Absolute Works Dorset client base in addition to employing a team of HR and legal professionals, to be based in Poole.

She said: “I am so excited to be launching Absolute Works Dorset.

“I hope to bring my skills and knowledge, built up over the last 25 years, to locally-based SMEs.

“I know how stressful dealing with people issues can be.

“I can help with all aspects of HR to make sure businesses get their foundations absolutely right, including offering a completely outsourced service.

“One of my first clients has already come on board and asked me to be an extension of the company, running all the HR processes for her.

“Our services are absolutely ideal for any SME with staff and means they can have all the HR expertise without the cost of employing someone on their team.

“Partnering with Absolute Works, to launch and own the first Dorset based franchise, seemed like a great fit for me given their company values, commercial thinking and approach to delivering great customer service, which perfectly reflects that of my own.”

Absolute Works was founded by Joy May, CEO, in 2011 with a commitment to taking a fresh approach to HR support for SMEs.

Commenting on the launch of Absolute Works Dorset, Joy said: “We are thrilled to have Heidi on board.

“Heidi is approachable, commercial and has a wealth of expertise working with SMEs and large UK and international businesses.

“Her commercial approach to people solutions is exactly what businesses are looking for.”

• To contact Heidi please email: heidi@absoluteworks.co.uk, tel: 07730 732124 or 01202 241763.