HR Voices Podcast

HR Consultancy - The Interim & Contract Model

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Charlotte Allfrey and Mary Asante of HR Independents Ltd.
Monday 13th November
Episode 11: HR Consultancy - The Interim & Contract Model Guest: Amber Massey of Massey Technical Services
In this episode we chat to Amber about how she moved away from in-house HR roles to a successful career working on Interim and Contract projects, with a mix of independent consultancy too!
Amber shares how she has successfully approached companies advertising permanent roles and challenged them to consider offering the roles on a fixed term basis. She talks about the need for a good accountant if you are going to do a mix of invoicing, umbrella companies and being on a payroll.
As with all our guests, Amber shares her top tips on moving into the Interim and Contract market, including how to find roles. A great episode for anyone thinking about exploring Interim and Contract roles.
Thanks for listening to HR Voices!
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. www.hrindependents.co.uk
Join the HR Independents Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrindies/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-massey-461553149/
 
About our Speaker:
Amber is an experienced Human Resources Professional with a demonstrated history of managing change - TUPE transfers, restructures, redundancies, settlement agreements, flexible working requests - as well as day to day operational HR matters - disciplinaries, grievances, performance and absence management.
She has successfully delivered TUPE projects in the private and public sector and works in contract and interim roles, alongside her HR consultancy business working with small clients.

Growing Your Business Using the Associate Model

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Charlotte Allfrey and Mary Asante of HR Independents Ltd.
DATE: 30th October 2023
Episode 10: Growing Your Business Using the Associate Model
Guest: Claire Watt of Ditton HR
In this episode we chat to Claire about how she has very successfully built her HR consultancy using associates. Claire took on her first associate 5 years ago and now has 18 associates supporting her.
Hear from Claire about how she protects her business with really good consultancy agreements, provides inductions to ensure associates deliver to her standards and ensures they are in control and can say no. She carefully matches associates to projects and spends time mentoring and developing them. 
A great episode for anyone wishing to learn more about an associate model for HR consultants.
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
Join the HR Independents Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrindies/ 
 
www.dittonhr.co.uk
 
https://www.spreaker.com/show/watt-about-hr
 
linkedin.com/in/⭐️claire-watt⭐️-chartered-fcipd-11b77730
About our Speaker:
 
Ditton HR is a Human Resources, Recruitment and Training Consultancy run by Claire Watt (FCIPD), supporting businesses in London and the surrounding areas since 2012. 
 
Ditton HR helps with all aspects of employing and developing employees to bring out the best in people, resulting in high performing employees who drive businesses forward.​​ We support small businesses who do not have any HR function right up to larger organisations who have an HR team but need additional expertise or support. We pride ourselves on our relationships with clients where we very often become the trusted adviser to the CEO/HR Director. 

A L&D Consultant’s Journey

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Charlotte Allfrey and Mary Asante of HR Independents Ltd.
DATE: 16/10/2023
Episode 9: A L&D Consultant’s Journey
Guest: Katy Walton of Make Real Progress
In this episode we chat to Katy about how she moved away from in house learning and development roles to starting her own business.
In this episode, Katy shares:
How she gave herself permission to experiment for the first 12 months of going out on her own, to truly understand what she enjoyed 
The steep learning curve of starting your own business
How making connections on and offline and building those relationships has been the biggest angle factor that has helped her
The importance of making time to allow yourself to think
To expect feast or famine in the first year and tips for managing your finances
Not to rush to create your website until you are sure what you want to offer
How she uses AI as a time saving tool
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
Website: https://makerealprogress.co.uk/
 
The Progress Place: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprogressplace
 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-walton-make-real-progress/
About our Speaker:
With 27 years coaching, leadership and talent development experience, Katy is a specialist in her field. She founded development and coaching business Make Real Progress in 2020. 
Her passion for high-quality development inspired her to develop other Coaches, Human Resources and L&D Professionals in the specialism. Following 2 years organising and hosting local development events for the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, she founded The Progress Place in 2020, with over 2300 global members. A community to develop yourself to develop others.
In response to requests for additional L&D support, she now runs an innovative programme to enable people to design and run training workshops, whilst also sharing best L&D practises. “Build it Quickly” is open for bookings from Sept 2023.

HR Consultancy - A Social Media Journey

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
DATE: 2nd October 2023
Episode 8: HR Consultancy - A Social Media Journey
Guest: Katie Elliott of HR Katie
In this episode Katie shares the inspiring story of how she successfully launched her Consultancy on Instagram.
In this episode, we also cover:
Why Katie chose Instagram over other social platforms
The importance of seeing your socials as a shop window
The need for patience when developing your business on social media
Niching your business
The importance of dedicating time to focus on your content
Plans Katie has for transforming her business further
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
About our Speaker:
With 10+ years working in HR for a variety of different companies, after the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, I realised that I was looking for new motivation and inspiration.
And so, I decided to take the leap into the world of HR consulting, and HR Katie was born!
I am passionate about working with small brands and helping them get the most out of their employees. Based in Hertfordshire, I am available to help your small business with HR in St. Albans, Harpenden, Redbourn, or further into Central London.
 
Connect with Katie...
www.instagram.com/Hr.Katie
https://www.hrkatie.co.uk/

A Journey into HR Consultancy

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
DATE: 17th September 2023
Episode 7: A Journey into HR Consultancy
Guest: Kate Van Der Sluis of Humber HR People
In this episode Kate shares with us her consultancy journey and how she ensures she plays to her strengths of business development and commerciality.
Kate has opted to expand her business by employing people, as using Associates did not suit her, find out more by tuning in.
In this episode, we also cover:
Knowing your skillset - what you enjoy doing and what suits you but being realistic about what SME’s need
Having a clear vision for your business and the courage, guts and faith to keep going
How to make the move from in house to consultancy
The need for mental agility to switch from client to client and different projects
How once you are a consultant you are actually a business advisor and need to change your language and approach
The importance of financial targets to bring you focus
Finding your niche and target audience
The importance of not skimping on marketing spend
The realisation that your sales pipeline will never be ‘done’ it needs to constantly be worked on
Funding your consultancy
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/humberhrpeople/
 
www.humberhrpeople.co.uk 
About our guest:
After 20 years in the UK recruitment sector and interviewing thousands of employees, I know why good employees leave. I have used that insight, my HR knowledge, and my passion for helping people to create an HR consultancy that stimulates growth and motivates leaders and employees to be the best they can be. Humber HR People is now 5 years old, and we have 6 permanent team members with plans to expand further in 2024. We offer:-
A choice of flexible contracts - PAYG, Monthly, or One-off ProjectsOver 50 years combined experience.Bespoke software to streamline HR administration and save time. Clients benefit from monthly workshops, training breakfasts, and networking lunches.

A Consultant’s Journey

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
4th September 2023
Episode 6: A Consultant’s Journey
Guest: Charlie Goodman of Employee Benefits Collective
Episode 6 is the start of our next miniseries where we will be chatting to independent Consultants about their consultancy journey, the decisions they made along the way and lessons they have learnt. 
Charlie has opted for a Partnership approach to his consultant journey, we chat to him about how he got to that point and how it works.
In this episode, we also cover:
How and why Charlie made the move into consultancy
The concerns he had when considering going solo
The value of networking with communities of people who had already made the move into consultancy
The importance of knowing the limits of your expertise and when to engage other experts to support you (finance, marketing, business coaches, virtual assistants)
Pricing and being wary of how much you are giving away for free
Charlie refers to our HR Independent online community, which has 1600 members, we’d love to have you join us, just search for HR Independents on Facebook to find out more.
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/employee-benefits-collective-llp/
 
www.ebc-llp.com
 
https://www.instagram.com/charliegoodmoney
 
About our guest:
Charlie is a Pensions and Financial Wellbeing Partner at the Employee Benefits Collective LLP, a Director of the Institute for Financial Wellbeing leading their workplace wellbeing group, Secretary of the CIPD Central London branch, and a mentor for the NextGen Pensions initiative. He qualified as a financial adviser, is an International Employee Benefits and Reward Specialist, and Certified Money Coach.

Flexible Working Recap & Thoughts

HR Voices
A podcast for independent HR and people professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
DATE: 21/08/2023
Episode 5: Flexible Working Recap & Thoughts
In this episode of HR Voices, Mary and Charlotte discuss the key takeaways from their chats with our guests over the past 4 episodes and offer their thoughts as experienced HR and People Consultants.
In this episode, we cover:
What the key challenges of flexible working are
Key benefits of flexible working to employers and employees
How business leaders may need to change their mindset on measuring performance
How culture play a key part in flexible working
There is no one size fit all approach to flexible working
Flexible working may not be right for every job role 
Flexible working may not be right for every organisation
How HR and People Consultants can support successful implementation of flexible working
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryasante/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-allfrey/

The Legal Side of Flexible Working

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
07/08/2023
Episode 4: The Legal Side of Flexible Working
Guest: Kevin Poulter, Partner, Freeths LLP
In this extended episode of HR Voices, we chat to Kevin from the Employment Team at Freeths LLP about the legal side of flexible working.
In this episode, we cover:
What flexible working is from a legal perspective
The need for consideration on a case by case basis
How you should deal with flexible working requests
Protected characteristics and flexible working  
The upcoming changes to flexible working legislation
Different types of flexible working
Discrimination
How employers can handle the need for more hybrid working/presence in the workplace from a legal perspective
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
https://www.freeths.co.uk/people/kevin-poulter/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpoulter/

Exploring Flexible Working Initiatives

HR Voices
A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
24th July 2023
Episode 3: Exploring Flexible Working Initiatives
Guest: Steve Herbert, Wellbeing & Benefits Director, Partners&
In this episode of HR Voices, Steve joins us to explore different flexible working initiatives, including the recent news about Amazon launching term time and pick and mix style contracts for their employees.
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
linkedin.com/in/steve-herbert-seminars
https://www.partnersand.com/
About Our Guest
Steve Herbert is an award-winning commentator on Human Resources (HR), Employee Benefits, Financial Wellbeing, and Pension issues.  In June 2022 he joined national intermediary Partners& in the role of Wellbeing & Benefits Director.  
Steve is a regular and sought-after speaker at events, with a unique and engaging delivery style that aims to demystify and explain complex issues to his audience.  This same approach is reflected in both his written work and regular commentary for many HR and industry-facing publications.
He is occasionally accused of making Employee Benefits interesting.

4 Day Working Week - Case Study

A podcast for independent HR and people, professionals, and the businesses they support.
Hosted by Mary Asante and Charlotte Allfrey of HR Independents Ltd.
Monday 10th July 2023
Episode 2: 4 Day Working Week - Case Study
Guest: Chris Scott, Founder & Learning Lead at Acceler8 Global
In this episode of HR Voices, we chat to Chris about how he has shifted his organisation from fully office based pre pandemic to a 4 day working week for 100% pay.
In this episode, we cover:
The honest truth about the challenges and the fears that can come up when considering the move to a 4 day working week, particularly for a client facing business 
How to measure if it is successful
Top 5 tips for implementing flexible working in your organisation
Thanks for listening to HR Voices! 
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave us a review. 
www.hrindependents.co.uk
 
Connect with Chris and Acceler8 Global here:
www.acceler8.global
https://www.linkedin.com/company/acceler8global
About Chris: 
Chris Scott, 49, co-founded Acceler8 in 2015, taking a leap of faith that the market needed a vibrant, playful consultancy that focused on people engagement.
His journey to that point had been in customer facing roles, later moving into learning and development, and working with some of the top hospitality businesses in the world.
His career grew into the learning arena and that journey progressed to achieving Head of Learning & Development at Heathrow Express before exploring the agency world.
All those experiences sparked a thought in his mind that everything could be done so much better, with a focus on happy colleagues inspired to do their very best work – and in a way that leaves the planet in better condition than we found it.
He’s passionate about how people learn new things and how behaviours can change to become more helpful. He describes facilitation as his happy space, saying “When I’m working with people, challenging them, and accepting a challenge from them, I’m performing at my best. Seeing first had the rewards of my work will always be what gets me out of bed in the morning.”
Now at Acceler8, Chris has led the business for nearly 8 years and, together with the team, has grown the portfolio of clients to the level where he can confidently claim that in some way, shape or form, Acceler8’s work impacts everyone in the UK – and further afield.
From household names and worldwide brands to the smaller businesses that Acceler8 love to support, he’s proud to inspire workplaces around the world where everyone can #BeHappyBeHuman.