Strategic HR planning

Build your ideal HR department in just 12 months

Our 12-month programme creates a complete HR function for your small business while smoothly managing your day-to-day needs. 

Get full HR support on a small business budget

Get comprehensive HR planning, systems setup, process redesign, and performance frameworks delivered by senior HR advisors without paying the CPO salary. 

You get everything needed to establish and run a professional HR function for one transparent monthly fee.

CIPD-qualified HR team 

A named senior HR advisor plus access to our full fractional HR department.

HR policies and documentation 

Compliant, up-to-date policies and documentation tailored to your business.

What’s included?

Bespoke systems 

Streamlined HR information systems customised to your business practices and needs.

Expert training 

Workshops and coaching for your managers and employee communications for team members.

Proven processes

Smooth HR admin workflows that include recruitment, onboarding, payroll, performance management, and more.

Day one HR support

We will pick up your HR support as is and build out your HR function over 12 months.

Your step-by-step HR transformation 

Our Head of People will work with you to make a personalised implementation plan. Here’s an example of what that could look like. 

While each plan is unique, we’ve honed our proven approach over the past decade of working with business leaders like you. 

What happens after 12 months?

You choose what's next: 

  • Train & Transition: We'll train an internal team member to take over.

  • Recruit In-House: Let us help you find and onboard the right HR hire to work in your business.

  • Extend Our Support: Stay with us on a maintenance plan until you're ready for the next step.

What’s the investment?

Starting from £5,000 per month + VAT (excluding any HR system licence fees)

That’s less than the total cost of hiring an experienced HR manager in-house. Plus, you get the expertise of an experienced team of HR experts for 52 weeks.

Your quote depends on the size of your team and the level of support required.

Why us? 

Because we've been where you are, as small business owners ourselves, we understand the challenges you face every day. We deliver practical solutions honed from over a decade of working with hundreds of start-ups and small businesses. 

What our clients say

“Creative businesses focus on being creative first, then rely on personality skills to manage people. There was nothing wrong with that initially, but with our growing teams, we needed to create a consistent approach. PMP’s knowledge and expertise allowed us to evolve some best practices, and form disciplines that fits with our agency culture.”

Tsz Wu, Co Founder and Technical Director of Pink Squid

Read the full case study here

“Beyond tangible outcomes, the partnership between People Management Partners and Creative Access has strengthened through onsite visits and the time spent working through day-to-day people management queries and project work. Our People Partner has become part of our team and supported us to align our mission and values to our HR practices, serving as a testament to the power of effective teamwork.”

Bibi Hilton, CEO of Creative Access

Read the full case study here

Ready to overhaul your HR processes?
Let’s chat. 

Frequently asked questions

  • We can begin supporting your business within two weeks of our initial consultation. Your named senior HR advisor will start handling day-to-day operations while we develop your strategic implementation plan.

  • Your HR department adapts to your business. Our senior HR team adjusts your strategic HR planning to match business changes, whether that's rapid growth, new locations, or different priorities.

  • No. We work with businesses at any stage, from basic spreadsheets to established HR systems. Our team will assess your current setup and recommend the best strategic HR approach for your situation.

  • Absolutely! We regularly support businesses’s internal HR by helping them strengthen or streamline their HR function. That might mean developing new systems, improving compliance, or embedding better people processes. Once everything’s up and running, your in-house team can take the lead.

  • CIPD stands for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the UK’s professional body for HR and people development. A CIPD-qualified senior HR advisor has completed accredited training and assessments in HR practice, proving they’ve met high standards in employment law, ethics, and strategic HR. It’s widely recognised across the UK as a benchmark of HR expertise.

  • You get a complete HR department for less than the price of one person. Your senior HR advisor leads the strategy while our specialists handle recruitment, policies, training, and compliance, giving you broader expertise than any single hire.

  • A senior HR advisor provides strategic HR planning, manages day-to-day operations, and builds scalable HR processes. They act as your Head of People while developing long-term HR strategies that support business growth.

  • Strategic HR planning aligns your people processes with business goals. Our HR expert team develops recruitment strategies, performance frameworks, and compliance systems that scale with your growth.

  • Strategic HR planning prevents costly hiring mistakes, reduces employee turnover, and creates efficient processes. Our senior HR business partners help you build HR strategies that support sustainable growth.

  • HR consultants typically work on specific projects, while a senior HR advisor becomes part of your leadership team. Our approach provides ongoing strategic HR support plus operational management.

  • Most businesses benefit from strategic HR planning when they reach 15-20 employees or plan significant growth. Our HR expert team can assess your needs and recommend the right timing.

  • Effective HR strategies include structured recruitment processes, performance management systems, and compliance frameworks. Our senior HR business partners develop customised strategic HR plans for each client.

  • Senior HR advisor salaries typically range from £45,000-£70,000 plus benefits. Our programme provides senior HR expertise plus a complete team for £5,000 per month, which is usually 30-40% less than hiring internally.