HR and People Services

Our HR Advisory Service provides schools and multi‑academy trusts with expert, practical support to manage people matters confidently, fairly, and in line with employment law and best practice.

Managing staff effectively is critical to organisational performance, wellbeing, and stability. Education leaders are required to navigate complex employment legislation, employee relations issues, and strategic workforce challenges, often alongside significant operational pressures. Our HR Advisory Service is designed to provide both day‑to‑day guidance and strategic support, tailored to the education sector.

What do we offer?

Our HR Advisory Service is flexible and proportionate, supporting organisations with routine HR queries through to complex and sensitive cases. We work alongside leaders and managers to provide clear, timely, and legally informed advice.

Our service includes:

• Strategic HR advice, supporting workforce planning, organisational change, and people‑related decision‑making
• Access to a responsive HR help desk, providing advice on day‑to‑day people management queries
• Case support for employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence management, and performance issues
• Advice on managing difficult conversations and complex situations
• Support to ensure policies, procedures, and practices are applied consistently and fairly
• Professional guidance to reduce risk and support compliance with employment law

We focus on providing practical solutions that reflect the realities of school and trust environments.

A trusted, education‑focused approach

Our HR Advisory Service is delivered by experienced professionals who understand the education sector and the challenges faced by school leaders. We take a calm, balanced approach, supporting leaders to make informed decisions while maintaining fairness, consistency, and dignity for all parties.

With our HR Advisory Service, you can:

• Gain confidence in handling people issues appropriately
• Reduce risk and avoid unnecessary escalation
• Support managers with consistent, defensible decision‑making
• Strengthen workforce stability and wellbeing
• Ensure senior leaders and trustees have appropriate assurance

Whether you need ongoing advisory support or assistance with specific cases, our HR Advisory Service provides the expertise and reassurance you need to manage your workforce effectively.

Our Independent Investigating Officer Service provides unbiased and comprehensive investigations into workplace allegations, ensuring due process and integrity throughout the investigative process. Drawing on best practices and adhering to legal and ethical standards, our service is designed to support organisations in resolving disputes and maintaining a fair and respectful work environment.

Service Offerings:

• Thorough Investigation: Conducting detailed investigations into allegations of misconduct, ensuring all relevant facts and evidence are considered.
• Impartiality: Maintaining neutrality and objectivity to ensure fair treatment for all parties involved.
• Expertise: Leveraging extensive experience in investigative procedures and employment law.
• Confidentiality: Ensuring sensitive information is handled with the utmost discretion.
• Recommendations: Providing clear and actionable recommendations based on the findings of the investigation.
• Support and Guidance: Offering support and procedural guidance to HR teams and management throughout the investigation process.

Our service is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality, ensuring that your organisation can address and resolve issues with confidence and clarity.

Our independent HR mediation service provides a confidential and voluntary process for resolving workplace conflicts.  Led by an impartial, ACAS trained professional, mediation assists individuals in working through disagreements and reaching mutually acceptable solutions.  Our outcome-focused approach helps prevent escalation and fosters positive working relationships.

Key features:

• Informal and Voluntary: Mediation is a non-adversarial process where parties voluntarily participate to find common ground.
• Impartial Third Party: Our skilled mediators guide discussions, ensuring fairness and neutrality.
• Conflict Resolution: We address various workplace issues, from communication breakdowns to interpersonal disputes.
• Early Intervention: Mediation prevents formal grievance procedures or costly legal routes.
• Outcome-Oriented: Participants collaborate to reach their own resolution.