HR Consultant in Beckenham

A Bit about Beckenham

History

There are references to Beckenham in Saxon charters and the Domesday book, but for much of its history, it was a tiny village. Beckenham Palace was established in 1760 by John Cator, a wealthy timber merchant and MP. The railway arrived in 1857 and combined with the village’s close proximity to London, it became a more sought-after location and home to several landowners’ estates. The town of Beckenham has since turned into a London suburb, but it still maintains its own identity and culture.

Famous people who have lived in the area include Enid Blyton, Bob Monkhouse and Julie Andrews. The town has been referenced in fiction from the novel The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi to being the home of snobbish Victoria in No Commitments, the radio drama by Simon Brett.

Location and Travel

Beckenham is officially in the London Borough of Bromley, in the most south-easterly part of the Capital and in what was once part of Kent. Beckenham Junction is the main railway station, but New Beckenham, Ravensbourne, Clock House and Kent House are all in close proximity. Beckenham Junction and Beckenham Road are both on the Tramlink light rail line. Regular buses link Beckenham to Penge, Bromley, Lewisham, Crystal Palace and other parts of London.

Local Amenities

Travel down Beckenham High Street, which is accessible to both cars and pedestrians, and you will see a mix of shops, cafés and restaurants, including both local independents and nationally recognised brands. Shopping opportunities continue into Beckenham Road, Bromley Road and Croydon Road.

There are several churches and religious buildings in the area, including the originally Medieval St George’s Church, now Grade II listed and home to possibly the oldest lychgate in England. Fans of art and culture may want to visit the cinema, theatre, library or museum. Every November, the town hosts a festival of music and dancing. Open spaces such as Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Beckenham Green and several local parks host various events.

Sporting activities in Beckenham include cricket, non-league football, rugby union, hockey and swimming. Crystal Palace has a training ground in the area. It is quite an important town in the history of grass court tennis, having hosted the Kent Championships for many years.

Providing HR support to Beckenham businesses

The diverse range of businesses in Beckenham means a wide range of HR needs that may divert attention from other important areas of growing your business. This is especially true if you are launching a significant project or period of change.

Outsourcing your HR function means that you can concentrate on the things most important to you whilst ensuring that relationships with your employees are correctly managed. The HR Dept has expertise in all aspects of employment law. We can be there with you when you are just starting out, through periods of growth or downsizing, well aware of the most likely problems you will face and the most effective ways to deal with them. Recruitment, record-keeping, staff appraisals, health and safety, benefits, discipline and grievances, redundancies – we can help you through it all.