FAQ's:
Experience & Expertise
I’ve been working in HR since 2001. My first stint working in HR Consultancy was in 2010-2011 working for Park City Consulting based in Essex, giving me multi sector experience with clients based around Essex and London. I’ve been working as a self employed HR Consultant since 2017 growing my business whilst working in house at HR Director level, where I was eventually able to work in my business full time since 2023.
Industries I’ve worked with include: Tech Companies/MSP’s, Charities/CIC’s, Local Government, Professional Bodies; Housing Associations; Renewable Energy; Travel; Architects: Communications Agencies; Car Dealers; Fashion; Construction; Engineering; Childcare; Facilities Management; Hospitality & Leisure; Retail; Healthcare & Further Education.
Yes! you can check them out on our Website, Google Reviews, and LinkedIn testimonies.
I’m a member of the CIPD and have achieved chartered status (FCIPD). I also hold a Level 7 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring and a NEBOSH Level 3 certificate (Health and Safety). I hold current insurance certificates for professional indemnity and public liability and am happy to share copies of these if requested.
- Service LevelNational HR CompaniesSure Betts HR SolutionsPoint of ContactAnyone who is working in the call centre that dayDedicated person who gets to know you, your organisation and your culture and build a partner relationshipResponse timeVariable and via a call centre process/set contact channels.24 hour turn around to helpline queries – can be flexible on method and provide real time supportQuality of adviceInconsistent and transactional– based on feedback received from my clients who switched. Get different answers to the same question by junior HR staffConsistent, practical no nonsense, commercial advice by someone who’s worked at HR Director level and is bespoke to your organisation. Looks at the bigger picture and overall strategy.ProactivityReactive “fire fighting”– waiting for your call to solve problems. Purely advisory.Proactive – wants to work with you and do early intervention to prevent issues happening or escalating in the first place and offering hands on bespoke development/feedback and coaching managers.StrategicBox ticking – will provide standard policy documentsLooks to help your organisation survive, thrive and grow and can recommend strategies to achieve this. Provides bespoke advice and documentation to support it.Length of contractTied in for minimum period and difficult to get out of even if your circumstances changeOngoing support on a monthly retainer with no long notice periods.
The main benefit of outsourced HR is it’s a fraction of the cost of hiring an employee in house, particularly if you don’t need someone all the time.
Here’s a comparison to help you decide
Service LevelNational HR CompaniesSure Betts HR SolutionsPoint of ContactAnyone who is working in the call centre that dayDedicated person who gets to know you, your organisation and your culture and build a partner relationshipResponse timeVariable and via a call centre process/set contact channels.24 hour turn around to helpline queries – can be flexible on method and provide real time supportQuality of adviceInconsistent and transactional– based on feedback received from my clients who switched. Get different answers to the same question by junior HR staffConsistent, practical no nonsense, commercial advice by someone who ’s worked at HR Director level and is bespoke to your organisation. Looks at the bigger picture and overall strategy.ProactivityReactive “fire fighting”– waiting for your call to solve problems. Purely advisory.Proactive – wants to work with you and do early intervention to prevent issues happening or escalating in the first place and offering hands on bespoke development/feedback and coaching managers.StrategicBox ticking – will provide standard policy documentsLooks to help your organisation survive, thrive and grow and can recommend strategies to achieve this. Provides bespoke advice and documentation to support it.Length of contractTied in for minimum period and difficult to get out of even if your circumstances changeOngoing support on a monthly retainer with no long notice periods.
Services Offered
We provide a Retained Service for ongoing HR Admin and Advice and Support which includes issuing your contracts of employment and new starter packs, and processing your leavers and staff changes. We also can attend HR meetings remotely or in person and coach managers beforehand on how to lead them if they’re unsure.
Aside from the day to day things, we also undertake project work which includes Writing your People Strategy that’s aligned with your business goals/mission; Job Evaluation and Pay/Reward Benchmarking. A full list of services we provide can be found here: LINK
We can’t all be experts in everything so there’s certain HR related tasks that I prefer to work with trusted partners on instead such as Recruitment and Mediation, rather than do them myself. However, please be assured that I work closely with and personally know any collaborators I work with to make sure that they give a great service.
Yes. We have over 20 years experience in dealing with complex cases such as the above and offer no nonsense, pragmatic, legally compliant and commercial advice to help you solve them as quickly and as painlessly as possible. This includes writing your letters and making sure there’s a clear audit trail. Unlike some of the larger HR Consultancies that are linked to Insurance companies, we are not averse to helping you take calculated risks. We can also work with you for having protected conversations and exits via settlement agreement if you need to remove someone from your organisation quickly without following a more formal process.
Yes, I will work with you to help you write your people plan/strategy that’s linked to your organisation’s goals and mission. I’ll also help you look at workforce and succession planning and help you identify gaps between your current workforce and what you need in the future.
Absolutely! I am passionate about working with my clients for prevention rather than cure so have a flagship programme for newly promoted, or about to be promoted line managers about to manage their first team which is just 1 hour a week for 10 weeks (LINK) where we cover the whole employee life cycle in easy to digest bitesize chunks of information. It’s about how to get the best out of your team, not policy and process.
We also design and deliver bespoke training on site for clients as required on a variety of people related topics.
I’ve not met some of my clients in person – despite working for them for some years. I find most meetings can be carried out remotely over video call – and that’s more cost effective for you. I am always willing to travel out to clients site for key meetings and events if needed.
No, I have enough experience to be able to advise on cases, and I have contacts in my network who I can go to for advice when required – at no extra cost to you. The only time I would recommend an employment lawyer would be if you needed representation at a complex employment tribunal – but if you work with me I will do all I can to make sure that you don’t do anything that’s likely to result in a successful claim!
Legal & Compliance
We keep up to date with UK employment law by attending both online and in person events run by local employment lawyers as well as reading professional journals. We apply this knowledge to our clients existing policies and procedures as well as run webinars on these. There’s also a monthly newsletter which you can sign up to (LINK) where I will let you know of any up and coming changes.
Whilst I try and help my clients prevent disgruntled employees from putting in Tribunal Claims I do help with these where required. This includes writing the defence statement and liaising and negotiating via ACAS if the client wants to settle. For more complex cases I recommend working alongside an employment lawyer for these.
Yes, I will work with you to help you write your people plan/strategy that’s linked to your organisation’s goals and mission. I’ll also help you look at workforce and succession planning and help you identify gaps between your current workforce and what you need in the future.
Costs & Pricing
All of the above! My retained packages start at £249+VAT per month, but I can also offer Pay as you go for clients who don’t use the service which is billed in 15 minute intervals and is £150+VAT per hour. I also quote fixed fees for projects so you know that you won’t go over budget with what you’re investing in. The cost will depend on urgency, and complexity.
Whilst I will make sure I respond to all requests for help promptly, my retained clients do get priority over pay as you go.
I am transparent in my individual quotes for what is and isn’t included in a service to avoid any hidden costs occurring.
I take a hands on approach in working with my clients. The pricing structure I have is reflecting of the fact that I have reached HR Director level so can advise at this level, whereas there are other independent consultants who have only worked up to HR Manager/Advisor levels or have achieved CIPD at Levels 3 and 5, whereas I have the qualification at Level 7 with the experience to match.
Customisation & Flexibility
Yes absolutely. I have multi sector experience so am used to adapting so I fit in with the size of your organisation and your culture.
With our retained packages, these are offered on a monthly rolling basis to allow for flexibility if you need to change in line with how your organisation changes. Larger HR companies will tie you into water tight contracts that last for some years and are hard to change, I deliberately work on the principle that you’re free to look for another consultant if you’re not happy with the service I provide or your needs change and you want to bring HR in house.
We have a responsive helpline service that can be accessed by phone, WhatsApp or e mail. We aim to turn around queries within 24 hours.
Technology & HR Systems
We are an affiliated Breathe HR partner meaning that we can demo this to you for FREE, give you a FREE 2 week trial and manage the system on your behalf if you sign up to one of our retained packages. We’ve also worked with the other end of the Market and have helped clients implement and improve how they use systems like Zellis Resouce Link.
Yes – if Breathe HR isn’t right for you we can help you research and implement a system that’s right for your organisation.
Added Value & Result
Through positive google reviews and client testimonials; and knowing I can help a client achieve the outcome of the project. It can also be measured with metrics like lower staff turnover, less/no grievances, long term sickness and happier more engaged and productive staff.
Yes. We have over 20 years experience in dealing with complex cases such as the above and offer no nonsense, pragmatic, legally compliant and commercial advice to help you solve them as quickly and as painlessly as possible. This includes writing your letters and making sure there’s a clear audit trail. Unlike some of the larger HR Consultancies that are linked to Insurance companies, we are not averse to helping you take calculated risks. We can also work with you for having protected conversations and exits via settlement agreement if you need to remove someone from your organisation quickly without following a more formal process.