Former cop boss launches consultancy to help female talent, thanks to South Tyneside programme
‘Organisations with better gender balance benefit from stronger decision-making, healthier workplace cultures and improved productivity.’
A former Chief Superintendent who spent 30 years breaking barriers in specialist policing has launched a new North East consultancy to help organisations improve how they attract, recruit and retain female talent.
Samantha Rennison, founder of The Experience Effect, is drawing on her leadership experience to support employers in identifying hidden barriers within recruitment processes and workplace culture that can prevent women from joining and progressing within organisations.
Having joined the police at just 20, Samantha became one of only two women in her force's firearms department before rising through the ranks to lead tactical and specialist operations, including firearms, roads policing, dogs, horses and marine units.
After retiring from policing in January, she decided she wanted to continue helping organisations improve through their people.
Recognising what she believed was a gap in the market, Samantha established The Experience Effect to help organisations examine every stage of the employee journey, from recruitment advertising and interview processes, through to onboarding and long-term retention.
Rather than focusing solely on women in leadership positions, the consultancy takes a whole-system approach to understanding why female talent may be discouraged from applying, or choose to leave organisations.
Launching a business was new to Samantha, so for support she turned to North East business support group TEDCO which delivers business support through South Tyneside Council’s Start Up South Tyneside programme, funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
Samantha said: “During my policing career, I saw first-hand the positive impact that better representation can have on behaviours, performance and public confidence, and I wanted to help other sectors experience those same benefits.
“If 50 people apply for a role and only five are women, that's telling you something. The objective should always be to recruit the best candidate, not simply the best male candidate.
“This isn't just about doing the right thing. Organisations with better gender balance benefit from stronger decision-making, healthier workplace cultures and improved productivity.”
Colin Lynch, business advisor at TEDCO, said: “Samantha brought an exceptional depth of leadership experience and a genuine passion for helping organisations improve.
“From our very first conversations, it was clear she had identified an important gap in the market and a business built on real expertise.”