Anita Davies FCIPD, DL, shares her journey during Black History Month. Born and raised in Nottingham, she grew up in a Caribbean household with the mantra that success required “working three times as hard as the white man”. At 18, she decided the world of work could wait, and attended university, using her grant to buy her first car, symbolising her independence.
After a brief stint in the civil service, Anita started her career in Local Government. By 27, she became the Head of HR for a large Nottingham City Council department, a role she held for 11 years. Despite enjoying her influential position, she felt there was more she could do.
Her career took a new direction when she joined CAFCASS, overseeing HR teams across the East and West Midlands, South West England and Wales. Within 18 months she had the opportunity to became HR Director for this national organisation.
In 2005, two pivotal moments changed her life: a conversation about a natural skin care product called Shea Butter and a chance meeting with the founder of the Body Shop the late Dame Anita Roddick. This sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, leading her to create In2Nature, a natural skincare business which she ran for over 10 years. Her products gained nationwide recognition, thanks to her extensive networks.
An avid follower of programmes like Homes under the Hammer, property development became another passion and over the years Anita has acquired a portfolio of rental properties in the Nottingham area.
Anita's passion for empowering young people to be confident in the world of work has yielded significant outcomes. She has facilitated work experience opportunities for more than 500 school leavers from minority backgrounds, fostering collaborations with the City Council, Nottinghamshire Police, Local Colleges and Nottingham City Homes. A noteworthy consequence of her dedication is the substantial number of these young people who have subsequently chosen to pursue careers in public services. This transformation can be largely attributed to the impact of the pioneering "Tap the Gap" programme, an initiative that she personally developed and spearheaded.
In 2008 she founded her HR consultancy In2People and has worked with clients like the NHS, BBC Studios, Cabinet Office, and leading universities, focussing on HR, Leadership and Equity and Inclusion. She describes running a business as being immensely rewarding, offering the chance to make a difference to organisations and to work with great teams.
In March 2023, Anita was honoured to be appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire, assuming the responsibility of executing civic obligations in representation of both the Lord Lieutenant and the Crown. Her duties encompass presiding over citizenship ceremonies and identifying organisations and discerning individuals worthy of receiving Royal recognition for their exceptional contributions to the community.
Anita's journey serves as an inspiration to pursue joy in life, encouraging others to follow their hearts and become the best versions of themselves.
Date published: 10 October 2023
