I can provide a wide range of HR services from day to day basics to specialist HR investigations.  Sometimes these are  needed because you do not have the in-house expertise, but at other times it can just be better to have an independent professional involved to maintain the balance and neutrality of your internal teams!

Mainstream services are listed below, but if you do not see what your organisation needs, please contact me to discuss your requirements.

• Giving sound Business and Legal Advice on employment law and other HR management matters.
• Ensuring that you keep Policies, Procedures and other related HR documentation up-to-date and compliant with ever changing legal requirements.
• Dealing with Employee Relations issues, including undertaking investigations, handling complex grievance and disciplinary cases, chairing or supporting hearings as an external/independent panel member, and facilitating mediated meetings between employees.
• Restructure and Reorganization: Helping organizations plan for, manage, and successfully emerge from change with minimal interruption to business, and maximum retention of goodwill from employee, including TUPE transfers.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Helping with HR due diligence, TUPE and related consultations and communications with employees and staff representative groups on all sides of the equation.
• Managing redundancy and potential redundancy consultation projects.
• Providing regular HR management support either in place of an in-house HR Manager to help business keep fixed costs to an absolute minimum, or as an addition to your existing team during busy periods.
• Recruitment and Selection, helping you to draft adverts and manage responses to helping plan and facilitate interview processes.
• Delivering management training and coaching projects.

As a business professional, I will agree fair rates for the particular type of work I undertake with your organisation.

Generally, I charge for ad-hoc work based on a hourly rate (rather than a fixed daily rate) which works well for my clients because they are only paying for the time I am actually working and contributing to their businesses!

Some project work and training can be delivered at fixed prices – I’m happy to talk further about the practicality of this to suit your requirements.

Rest assured that I will be competitive, and will represent value for your business.  I never charge retainers so you will only spend money when you are receiving a service from me.

I am also very happy to personally support the work of registered charities by offering discounts on my normal charge rates.

Extra Costs?  Where travel is involved I do charge for reasonable expenses.  The rates for this are clearly stated in my written terms of business, a copy of which is signed with all new clients before I begin any work.  Any other out-of-pocket expenses or rechargeable costs will always be agreed with you in advance.

I am an independent HR consultant with a strong commercial background in corporate roles. I have over 30 years experience of Human Resources work, and held management roles at various companies.  I spent 3 years as the HR Director of an international telecoms company before pursuing freelance consulting work.

As an HR consultant, I continue to enjoy work in the hi-tech world, but also have significant experience from various other PRIVATE, PUBLIC, NON-PROFIT and CHARITY sector organisations. I undertake freelance work for a wide variety of organisations, and want to work with clients who can see the benefits and value of the contribution I make to their business. – If I’m not adding something positive and tangible to the organisation, I’m not doing my job……. and I always strive to do a great job!

I have an eye for detail which enables me to plan out and implement solutions to deliver specific benefits to my clients.  As well as strategic and advisory work, I still love getting involved at the hands-on level to help resolve organisational and employee relations issues effectively, so I won’t just “talk and talk”, advise you on how to do something and then vanish, I will also “walk the walk” and happily “get stuck in” to deliver the solution for or with you, and will work through the issue or project while you concentrate on your day job and your organisation’s bottom line.

As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development I work within their codes of conduct and ethics at all times, and can draw on the range of resources which the Institute offers its members.

When I decided to expand my horizons and become a freelance HR Consultant 14 years ago I had no idea of the variety and enjoyment it would offer me.  I have worked with a wide range of clients in PRIVATE, PUBLIC, CHARITY and NON-PROFIT organisations and in all sorts of locations and working environments.

Every organisation and business operates within different constraints, and with very differing goals. However, there are common themes in terms of keeping within employment law, and using robust HR practice to ensure efficiency, keeping workforces happy and engaged whatever their size, and making sure that HR activity has a tangible and positive impact on the bottom line and organisational achievements.

Testimonials from a few of my clients are included below.

Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare

“Helen has worked for us on a range of HR projects most notably around organizational restructures. She delivers results effectively and brings a wealth of expertise and a refreshing outlook to public sector change management. Helen is always our first choice when supporting the in-house HR team as she quickly establishes rapport with managers whilst not being afraid to challenge them. Helen excels with any complex issues as she can quickly and clearly grasp the critical success factors and identify the way forward. We always get great results and have a high degree of confidence in Helen. I would recommend her without hesitation.”

Alison Smith, Assistant Director of HR & OD at Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (formerly NHS Richmond and Richmond & Twickenham PCT)

Warburg Associates Limited

“Helen is a highly competent consultant with great wealth of experience. She grasps concepts quickly, thinks strategically but is just as comfortable in resolving issues in a pragmatic, considered way. She builds excellent relationships with those around her and this makes her a real asset to have working in or leading a project team.”

Penni Warburg, Director at Warburg Associates Limited

Embarcadero Technologies Europe Limited

“Helen is the consummate professional. She has ensured that in all HR challenges that she has taken on for us, that she has been well prepared, from being well versed in the pertinent legal status, right through to a complete understanding of all of the human content.

Helen has guided and assisted many managers within our business to a successful conclusion of projects, covering all aspects of Human Resources management, from recruitment to disciplinary to terminations to training and employee incentives to awarding high performers. In all aspects she treats all of the people concerned with respect and a firm but fair hand that earns her respect at all levels within the organization.

Helen has tackled many international projects where without her being the major contributor the project would have failed. These have encompassed territories from China to Australia to Russia to Spain, to give just a few examples. She is not afraid of rolling up her sleeves and getting on with the task in hand, always giving it a focus and dedication that brings a successful conclusion, no matter where the employees are based.

Always willing to contribute fully, Helen thinks outside of tram lines, giving a fresh perspective and alternate solutions to issues such that they frequently disappear as issues and become opportunities.

An asset to any business!”

Julie Stephens, International Finance Director at Embarcadero Technologies Europe Limited

Workforce Window Limited

“Helen is strong HR project manager, with the ability to meet deadlines to a high standard. She is an excellent communicator and is at ease negotiating and dealing with a range of HR topics.

I have called on Helen for a range of projects including, training, investigation meetings, chairing appeal meetings and covering for me when I am on leave, dealing with a range of client issues. When I have returned from leave clients have commented on the high class service and advice they have received from Helen in my absence.

I find it a pleasure to work with Helen and would have no hesitation in recommending her to any client/sector.”

Joanne Harding, Director of Workforce Window Limited