Our Team
t: 01522 719438
“I enjoy being around other people in particular positive, energetic people with a glass half full outlook on life“
About Me
Outside of work I’m busy with family, I’m a runner and gym goer and have completed 21 Great North Runs and 2 Marathons to date, raising funds for St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire) along the way. I love watching live music and am a season ticket holder at Lincoln City FC. I’m also a Trustee for Zest Theatre, a charity that exists to make space for young people to be heard, using creativity to amplify their voices through theatre and cultural experiences
How I contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
When we set up Petaurum HR in 2012, Mark and I had a vision. Whilst we may not have articulated it with such clarity at the time, our vision was all about making better workplaces. It’s why we do what we do and it’s it describes perfectly our brand of HR.
With many years experience from both the public and private sectors, I can use my experience to help organisations of all shapes, sizes and different sectors to set-up their teams for success and get the best out of their people.
I particularly enjoy supporting growing businesses and those facing change by helping them establish solid foundations and putting people at the heart of their operation.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
In my career, I’ve long since held the view that if you look after your people (ensuring their physical, mental and financial wellbeing is all in good shape) and you provide them with meaningful work that they enjoy, there really is only one inevitable outcome and that’s better, sustained performance – which has to be good news all round – for the business and their people!
Mark Dyer
Co-Founder & Director
t: 01728 726501
‘I love being around people who are passionate about making a difference so “ For those about to rock we salute you”‘
About Me
When I am not at work, I spend my time between my various hobbies and interests. I have a keen interest in Football having been a lifelong Wimbledon fan and having previously been the Youth Chairman at my local football club where I support the 16+ teams and 230+ players enjoy the benefits that being part of a football team can provide. I also coached a number of Girls Teams, and I am currently a County Referee so most of my weekends are taken up by football in some shape or form. I also love the outdoors and experience this in our 30-year-old Renault Trafic campervan I have restored so when I can I like to go off-grid and either walk or cycle to explore the area. My cycle trips are shorter than I used to do having ridden both the Lands’ End to John O Groats and the Coast-to-Coast routes in the past.
How I Contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
When we set up Petaurum we had a clear set of principles we wanted to build around and whilst the amount and type of work we do has grown we have always kept to those principles. Doing the right thing, however difficult this may be is something am committed to and most times it’s not only about delivering the right outcome but how you go about it. Being able to build trust with people and demonstrate through experience gained over 30 years in many diverse roles and companies has set me in good stead and it’s not uncommon for me to go to an organisation to undertake a small 3-month piece of work and then being asked to take on more and 3 months turns into a three-year plus relationship.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
Trust and dialogue for me are key. If both parties truly believe in the shared visions and goals then everything else, culture, behaviours performance becomes far easier, employees feel valued and they have a voice and employers the mechanisms to share what they can and cannot do with no hidden agendas.
t: 01522 719438
“I think everything you do should be helpful and done in a way that is beneficial to others.”
About Me
Outside of work, I’m kept very busy coaching junior football with Lincoln United FC and will find any excuse to talk about it. You will often see me with my canine princess, and rarely without an audiobook or music on in the background. I’m a big fan of food (eating it, mostly) and while the gym isn’t for me – football, badminton and my incessant need to move help me burn off the calories.
How I contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
I came to HR through over a decade in retail management, working at the sharp end of leading diverse teams and putting HR and L&D strategy into practice on the ground. That experience gave me something I value hugely, a real understanding of what it’s like to be the person responsible for making it all work in practice, not just on paper. I now bring those operational insights into everything I do at Petaurum, with a particular focus on the role that people managers play in shaping workplace culture. Theory is only ever as good as its application, and I’ve lived enough of both to know the difference.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
It really does come back to something quite simple: ask “how can I help?” and genuinely mean it. In my experience, there are very few situations at work where someone showing up with that question and following through on it isn’t exactly what’s needed.
About Me
I thoroughly enjoy using my downtime to bake and decorate cakes and experiment with different recipes. I also love to walk and going to live shows, particularly music and theatre.
How I contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
Having gained almost 20 years’ valuable experience in generalist HR in the charity and private sectors, I truly believe in building strong professional relationships through excellent customer service. I started in a HR Administration role in Kentucky, USA and whether carrying out the day-to-day running of a HR department or working on various projects, no two days are ever the same. It has been interesting to see how the HR world has evolved over the years.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
Interacting with all employees and improving the HR service across the various businesses I have worked in is something I have always relished. Some of my personal values include being honest and open in my role thereby gaining colleagues’ trust and making HR approachable for everyone.
Jason Matthews
HR Adviser
e: jason@petaurumhr.co.uk
About Me
Before joining Petaurum HR, I worked as an HR Advisor in food processing and held roles in the Petrochemical and Oil & Gas sectors. I also spent 10 years as a Trades Union representative and 6 years as a pension fund director, experiences that pushed me well outside my comfort zone! I came into HR a little later in life, completing my CIPD at 40, and since then, my work has taken me as far as the Philippines, Biarritz, the Shetland Islands and even Barry Island.
Outside of work, I’m a big sports fan and enjoy keeping active through daily Tai Chi, weekly walking football, and long walks with my partner, Mandi. My 3-year-old grandson keeps me on my toes, too. He’s my best pal!
How I contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
I use my wide range of past “shop floor” experiences to build strong, genuine relationships with clients. I believe HR should always feel approachable and straightforward. When people see that you’re there to support them and act with integrity, trust naturally follows, making life much easier.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
My golden rule is simple: be respectful, get on well with colleagues, and always look for common ground. Building positive relationships creates the foundation for a better, more collaborative workplace.
Hayley Crawford
HR Adviser
e: hayleyc@petaurumhr.co.uk
t: 01522 719438
“I enjoy working with people and organisations who are passionate about making the work environment pleasant and supportive for those working there”
About Me
Before joining Petaurum, I spent years as a Police Inspector for Nottinghamshire Police and as a Strategic Lead tackling Sexual Violence before that for the local authority. I also created the Ask for Angela safety scheme in 2016, which has since been adopted by venues and organisations across the UK and internationally.
Those experiences shaped everything about how I approach my work with empathy, integrity, and a genuine belief that how you treat people really matters. I hold a Level 5 CIPD qualification and am passionate about continuing to grow in my HR career.
Outside of work, you’ll find me training for Hyrox or out walking with my dog Harold, who is very much the centre of my world.
How I contribute to ‘Better Workplaces’
My background has given me a real understanding of how people behave under pressure, how to have difficult conversations with care, and how to balance fairness with practicality. I bring all of that into my HR work whether that’s supporting someone through a challenging situation or helping an organisation think about how it looks after its people.
My key to ‘Better Workplaces’
Make people feel safe enough to be honest. When employees trust that they’ll be treated fairly and with respect, everything else, performance, culture, wellbeing follows naturally.
Non-Executive Director
Zac Toumazi
About Me
As I am semi-retired I am fortunate enough to choose the things I do and who I spend time with. Those who know me understand how important my family is to me and irrespective of other demands will always come first. Outside of my “work” commitments, I enjoy travel, keeping fit, golf, music and cooking.
Why Me?
I Joined Petaurum in June 2020 as a Non-Executive Director and thoroughly enjoy helping the team take the business forward and continue to progress and provide the amazing Client services they are quite rightly known for. My focus is one of support and healthy challenge in equal measure.
I have a background of working in the financial services sector having fulfilled senior roles with Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, and then moved into professional cricket administration as Group Commercial Director at Surrey County Cricket Club and then Hampshire Cricket. I then wound up my career in Cricket after four years at Sussex Cricket where I was CEO. I now have a very small and select Non-Exec portfolio of which Petaurum are one.
I am skilled in negotiation, business planning, coaching/mentoring and Integrated marketing. I have a commercial background backed up with extensive experience in strategic business development.
I am hugely motivated by putting something back and helping to develop the next generation of business professionals and leaving a lasting legacy that hopefully will inspire others