Why is it that in some companies, often with multiple locations or having formerly merged there's always just one that doesn't quite "get it" and definitely doesn't "fit"? Working with high growth companies, our job as HR consultants often involves assessing and recommending how a company can keep its culture...

Wow - you've done it! At 2am, you completed that deal and now you're the proud owner of a five person complimentary business, allowing your own to continue its rapid expansion. Or you've opened that second branch in a different location and you're ready to rock and roll!

However your...

Problems with recruitment: Part 2

SMEs are often the businesses struggling the most with recruitment as they don't have the mass brand appeal of the big players and also don't have the big budgets to throw at recruitment advertising campaigns.

Many are therefore using high pay...

Problems with Recruitment: Part 1

With almost 2.5m unemployed, why are businesses struggling with recruitment?

February is one of the busiest times of the year for recruitment. But I am hearing time and again at the moment that businesses are struggling to recruit the right people. With almost

With New Year out of the way, it's back to business. And for most organisations, this means priority planning for the next financial year.

What are your priorities and goals for 2013?

At the end of last year, I informally surveyed a number of businesspeople about what they had...

Apparently a quarter of Brits will kiss at the Christmas party, with 55% of us cheeky HR professionals admitting to a festive clinch with a colleague!

These types of statistics don't surprise me. Many of our new business enquiries...

This week is 'Cyber Week', the week after Thanksgiving, when online retailers see a large increase in their e-commerce website traffic. Coupled with Christmas parties and other festive frivolities, this time of year is notorious for wandering attention among your usually dedicated staff, as they sneak...

Well, yes. Is the short answer!

You've probably heard that the government is now bringing in compulsory pensions for all employees. But just from the kinds of queries I am now getting since auto-enrolment media coverage started, it is clear that many SMEs aren't sure what their current...

Coming from a family where my mum has always the breadwinner, it is perhaps not surprising that I automatically see the role of women in the workplace as critical. I cringe in horror that she was once told she couldn't make a purchase without my Dad's authority and yet, in...

Whilst we're all still in the Olympic spirit and celebrating the success of team GB's inspirational performance, now is a good time for Great British SME owners to think about how to inspire their teams.

Inspiration comes from example

Public confidence in the London 2012 Olympics and our Team GB...

At the recent launch of new guidance on mental health at work, Health Minister Earl Howe said: "A good working environment is crucial for our wellbeing."

But, with three or four generations of people in the workplace - all with different needs and working styles - how can employers create...

Since 6 April 2012, employees can now only contest being struck off on the grounds of unfair dismissal after two years' continuous employment. It is part of a range of measures by the Government to help boost recruitment in tough times and get the jobs market moving.

Some are arguing...

The debate about the government's work experience scheme has been raging for a couple of weeks now - and it has mainly been about the role of big corporates like Tesco.

My view on all of this is that the possibly unintended result of employment benefits is that someone is...

Unfortunately, as much as the control freaks want to - you can't do everything on your own! Sometimes, no matter how much energy or talent you have, you reach a certain point where, in order to continue growth you need additional people. Mindset is an important part of this.

In...

There are times when both we and our clients suspect that HR has turned into both a police force and social services at the same time! Unfortunately, whilst HR can often add a great deal of value strategically to a business, investigations are re-active instead of pro-active and usually come...