FAQs

If you’re wondering what an HR consultancy can do for your business, you’re in the right place.

We’ve answered some of the questions we’re asked most often, covering topics such as employment contracts, HR policies, employee relations, disciplinary and grievance matters, and managing difficult workplace conversations.

Browse our FAQs to find the information you’re looking for. If you can’t find the answer to your question, or you’d like advice tailored to your business, please get in touch. Our friendly team is always happy to help.

Q1. What HR solutions do you offer?

We provide a full range of HR solutions to small and medium-sized businesses and charities across Wiltshire, Bath and Swindon, including outsourced HR support, employment-related advice, recruitment, workplace policies, and in-house training tailored to your organisation’s needs.

Q2. What do you see as the main HR challenges facing employers at the moment?

The Employment Rights Act is bringing in the biggest raft of changes in a generation, so we are busy supporting local employers to stay up to date and prepare for the changes. Add to that a challenging economic and global environment and the technical advancements with AI and it’s certainly a lot to keep on top of! Ensuring managers are trained and confident in their roles and having open communication channels are vital.

Q3. What makes the training courses you deliver different?

Our in-house training is fully tailored to your business needs – we don’t offer “off-the-shelf” training. We take time to understand your internal processes, scenarios, and company values to deliver bespoke training that’s practical, engaging, and relevant to your organisation. Too small to run an in-house course? No problem – we regularly deliver management masterclasses that are open to all.

Q4. Do you offer advice on Employment Law?

Yes. Our understanding of employment law is woven into the advice we provide on a variety of complex matters including disciplinaries, grievances, redundancies, sickness absence and TUPE processes, as well as drafting contracts which really protect your business. We use our considerable experience to provide practical guidance on how to stay up to date with changes, and what the legislation means in practical terms.

Q5. Do you offer HR support for new businesses?

Absolutely! We love supporting new and growing businesses. We can help you set up the essential HR foundations – from how to recruit and induct your first employee and drafting employee contracts and policies to providing ongoing advice and support as your business grows.

Q6. How can I book an HR consultation?

Booking a consultation is simple! You can contact us via our website, give us a call, or email us. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your needs and how we can support your business.

Q7. Do you offer pay-as-you-go HR support or retainers?

We offer flexible HR solutions to suit your business – whether that’s ad-hoc, pay-as-you-go advice or ongoing HR support packages on a monthly retainer basis. Our retained packages vary in scope from smaller organisations who need the reassurance that expert advice is on hand when they need it, to more hands-on solutions for larger employers where we act as an integrated part of your team providing an all-encompassing HR service. Our expert consultants also act on a fractional basis, as a project leader or interim HR director where you need extra expertise or a people-focused addition to your leadership team or operating board.

Q8. What is fractional HR?

Fractional HR is an arrangement where a business or charity hires a highly experienced HR professional on a part-time, flexible, or project basis. Instead of committing to a full-time in-house HR leader, employers use fractional HR to access senior-level strategic guidance and build foundational people systems at a fraction of the cost. Commitment varies from around a day a month to a couple of days a week, depending on your needs.

Q9. Do you help with recruitment?

Yes, we offer end-to-end recruitment services – including writing job descriptions and advertising roles, benchmarking salaries and benefits, screening candidates and supporting interviews, and then handling offer management, pre-employment checks and onboarding. Our experienced team helps you find the best talent for your business – we have supported local organisations with filling a wide variety of roles from apprentice to CEO. For senior positions or high volume recruitment campaigns, we would recommend an assessment centre approach and can help you to design a process which helps you find the right people and reflects positively on your employer brand.

Q10. Are your HR consultants qualified?

Our consultants are CIPD-qualified (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) with extensive experience across different industries. Kathryn holds Chartered MCIPD status and is a Fellow of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, Kirsteen is an Associate Member of CIPD and holds a degree in HR Management and Rebecca holds Chartered MCIPD status and has a PG Diploma in Human Resource Management – giving you peace of mind that you’re in expert hands.

Q11. How do you stay updated on Employment Law if you are not lawyers?

Our expert consultants stay up to date with the latest legislation changes and case law by attending regular training sessions through recognised professional bodies. This ensures we provide our clients with the most current and accurate advice on employment legislation. As CIPD members, we also have telephone access to the CIPD’s legal team when we need to get a second opinion on complex issues, which does not incur any additional cost for our clients.

Q12. Do you offer an HR Health Check service?

Yes, our HR Health Check provides a comprehensive review of your employment contracts, policies, and procedures. You’ll receive a RAG rated report highlighting urgent actions, areas of concern, and what’s working well. We provide costed options on how to proceed, along with advice on any consultation processes required to implement changes.

Q13. Do you offer an HR software system?

Yes! We offer Breathe, a fantastic, easy-to-use HR system that helps small businesses manage employee records, holidays, absence, performance, and more – all in one secure, cloud-based platform. As a Gold accredited Breathe Partner, our team are on hand to make the set-up process seamless and our HR Projects & Operations Manager, Amandine, is on hand to help you get the best from the system. Contact us for a demo or free trial!

Q14. Do you provide mentoring support for HR teams?

Yes. We recognise that in many small to medium sized organisations, there may be limited in-house capability to support the development and supervision of HR professionals. Junior HR professionals may find themselves reporting to operational or finance leads who don’t have the expertise to guide them through challenging people situations. We often work alongside smaller in-house teams to deliver complex projects and as part of that process, support the in-house team members to upskill, building capability and confidence. In addition, HR professionals regularly encounter situations that are emotionally difficult and to have access to a professional outside of the organisation as a trusted listening ear is vital for their wellbeing and resilience.

Q15. What sectors do you work with?

We love variety! We support clients in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, professional services, education, advertising and creative, social care, architecture and trades. Our team also has considerable experience working with the charity and public sectors and we enjoy working with the many wonderful voluntary sector organisations in the South West that make such a valuable difference to our communities.

Q16. How do you support organisations to become great workplaces?

We get to know our clients and support them to achieve their goals and ambitions through implementing positive people practices – including supporting companies to define and embed their values, conducting employee engagement surveys to identify actions and developing wellbeing initiatives. We have also supported clients in gaining accreditations such as BCorp, Investors in People and Best Workplaces awards.

Q17. I’m recruiting my first employee. What do I need?

Hiring your first team member requires several specific legal and administrative steps to ensure compliance and a smooth onboarding process. Legal and compliance requirements include getting employers liability insurance, registering as an employer with HMRC, setting up a workplace pension scheme, issuing a contract of employment and checking right to work in UK. Think about how you will run your payroll, getting your budgeting right and ensuring you have clearly articulated your expectations in your recruitment advertising. Setting out responsibilities in a job description and planning a structured onboarding process and induction training will help you to get off to a good start. Fortunately, we are on hand to help you get the basics right so you can build a strong foundation for your growing team.