We work with a variety of businesses in a vast range of industries and sectors whom we are truly proud to support with any HR issues.
Read on to explore how we have helped SMEs around Bristol, Bath and North Somerset grow their businesses and helped guide them through the complex world of employment law.
Home Leisure Direct – A popular games room retailer, Bristol
Games room specialist, Home Leisure Direct was created in 2007 by Andy and Michelle Beresford when Andy realised there was a gap in the market for reputable companies selling high quality games equipment. Now based in the South Gloucestershire countryside, supporting 3 impressive showrooms, and 2 offices for their growing team Home Leisure Direct decided to start working with The HR Dept to give them a helping hand with their HR.
“Having sound robust HR advice is fundamentally important to running a successful business.”
Running the business for a year before it became necessary to recruit a strong team to support the business and its development, Andy decided he needed to look for a way to effectively manage the HR function of their business. Andy acknowledged that “when you are busy running a business that runs at the pace of ours you don’t really have the time to be reading up online on what you should do for this and should do for that to keep up with [HR] legislation that continually changes, it’s just impossible to do.”
Not only is it important for business owners to have the security and assurance of great HR but Andy explains the impact this has on his staff members, “having great HR appeals to new members of staff and their concerns over how they will be supported and offers them the confidence in knowing what we are saying is truthful”, it shows that giving peace of mind to staff is equally beneficial bringing much more value to retaining staff and recruiting new talent.
Working with Home Leisure Direct since 2011 we have been able to support their growth from 4 staff members up to a current employee number of 31. Andy emphasised the importance of choosing a company that matched the needs and business requirements.
“The HR Dept stood out as covering everything we wanted […] it’s like having your own HR Dept within your own small business.”
Initially using our Advice Line service, for contracts of employment, handbooks and letters up until today where The HR Dept provides Home Leisure Direct with Health and Safety support and employee benefits. Andy explains that he finds the ongoing support and help vitally important and that “having sound robust HR advice is fundamentally important to running a successful business” especially when dealing with employment issues that develop as a result of employing more staff.
Would Andy recommend The HR Dept? His answer was yes, explaining “I don’t think any business can run employing staff and do it all properly without professional back up, you are going to make a mistake or do something wrong that could end up causing you a lot of pain and if you ended up in tribunal as a result could have catastrophic financial effect.”
PureComms – An Award Winning Telecoms Company, South West
The HR Dept has been invaluable in helping us to achieve our growth targets.”
Growing PureComms from scratch in 2009, Rob Vivian (CEO) took a huge risk walking away from a highly-paid stable job in London, to set up the business. With all savings ploughed into the business, a laptop and desk at home, PureComms began on the back of a major piece of consultancy work which saw Rob negotiate HSBC’s European mobile contract.
As soon as PureComms began to employ people, Rob sought support from The HR Dept. “Its offer to businesses (including start-ups and SMEs) is invaluable, helping to guide you through all areas which need to be considered when employing people from interviewing, to training, appraisals, benefit packages, through to managing performance. The support PureComms has received from the team at The HR Dept has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the business.”
PureComms has, and continues to access, a full range of services through The HR Dept. This has included assistance with recruitment, provision of contracts and employment documentation, bespoke letters, advice on how to manage situations/performance as and when required, support at various meetings, insurance cover, training courses, and ongoing provision of information, advice and guidance relating to new areas of law and compliance requirements. “The HR Dept has supported us with all areas of HR and is an integral part of the invaluable business support we receive as a business.”
In terms of growth, Pure Comms has engaged a Non-Executive Chairman, Julian Telling, to help with its plans to grow the business to around £5m turnover, supported by another office in the north of the country (around Liverpool) and additional team members to support this growth. “A key part of our business development and growth has been the recruitment of new members of the team, as well as managing and developing existing members of the team, all of which have been supported by The HR Dept. The support we have received has given us confidence to take on new members of staff, which can often be viewed as a challenge and barrier to growth for many businesses.”
Would Rob recommend The HR Dept? His answer was yes, explaining
“PureComms has and will continue to recommend The HR Dept. We think very highly of the team and the service/support that they deliver and as such would not hesitate to recommend them to clients and/or business contacts – we have seen the real value that The HR Dept has brought to the day-to-day running and growth of our business. Thank you.”
Touts Ltd – An Independent Retail Chain, South West
For the past 3 years we have been providing Tout’s Ltd’s HR services through our Advice Line and additional support such as, training, on-site visits and TUPE services.
We talk to Jonathon Tout about his decision to outsource HR and how we have helped the business develop.
When did you decide to get HR support?
After we had one problem employee. We had no confidence in the provider we were with at the time and we wanted proactive support after having on the fence advice.
Why did you decide to get HR support?
We were recommended by others who use the service to the HR Dept, because you offered a pragmatic and different approach that made you stand out as the best. Most importantly you sold a vison to us.
How have you developed since working with The HR Dept?
Aside from saving money, we are now much hotter at dealing with performance and cultural issues. We now have the confidence to make the right decision and follow through with it. We spend less time dealing with and worrying about HR and from all the employees’ point of view they understand we are doing things the right way.
Would you recommend The HR Dept? Why?
Yes – Because you solve a problem and you know things get done properly.
How would you sum up The HR Dept in one sentence?
You give us freedom through confidence.
Independent retail chain Tout’s Ltd began in 2001 with Phillip and Lesley Tout, originally as a forecourt business. Having established 4 convenience stores in 2012 their son, Jonathon Tout, became managing director and developed the business further to now include 3 Subway’s and a pharmacy.
Based in Langford and Nailsea, Tout’s Budgens was the 1st retailer to put a store of all size on a forecourt. And as a result, their continued success has earned them awards such as Forecourt Trader of the Year and Budgens Store of the Year. As Jonathan explains their greatest achievement is “creating a business with a culture that is fun” and notably, successfully developing a pharmacy with no prior experience within that sector.
Tout’s Budgens successes and their work culture for fun will only further their growth in the next few years as they plan to buy more sites, forecourts and Pharmacies, so look out for a the next Tout’s Budgens coming to a town near you soon!
