Thompson Smith and Puxon & BCMGlobal - local excellence, global reach

BCMGlobal is an Ipswich-based business and part of a UK group whose investors and clients are located in the USA and across Europe. A local firm with global reach, BCMGlobal employs 180 in their Ipswich office who come from a catchment area which extends through Suffolk, North Essex and South Norfolk.

Until very recently when the company was acquired by a privately-owned UK Group, the company’s HR services were provided through a large, centralised HR team based in London and Leeds, that were resourced by staff located as far apart as Southend, Reading, Slough and Yorkshire. The move to private ownership coincided with the opportunity for the business to instruct more local lawyers; Thompson Smith and Puxon.

I wanted to investigate the reasons why CEO, Mark Davies, sought a more locally centric service.

As one of the employment lawyers at Thompson Smith and Puxon, I regularly encounter clients who seek the commercial and practical advice that comes with instructing commercial lawyers with genuine expertise and experience in employment disputes, ie we work with clients who prefer dealing with solutions as opposed to being only reminded of where risk can be found.

It became very clear to me during my conversation with Mark that he valued our suggestions and ideas about problem solving and the opportunity for him and the HR team at BCMGlobal to be able to speak with their legal advisors in real-time because it is likely that the matter under discussion is both urgent and important. It is also the case that only so much can be done remotely, as opposed to face to face, in-person; there is little doubt that the impersonal nature of some remote services can be frustrating for clients whose only option is to speak remotely to a different HR advisor about an issue every time they ‘raise a ticket’.

Choosing accessibility over bureaucracy appeared to be a theme. An example was the recent visit by Jolyon Berry, TSP’s Head of Employment, to BCMGlobal to deliver a training session directly to the management team in the business. This informal ‘coffee and chat’ between Jolyon, Sarah Cooper, Head of HR and the key people managers illustrates the value a local firm can deliver as part of its service, and the ability of Thompson Smith and Puxon to do this was seen as a particular selling point. It was clear to me from my conversation with Mark that BCMGlobal puts great emphasis on this more personal, tailored and local service than that which may be available from a larger regional or ‘City’ firm.

For his part, Jolyon has again been ranked as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 this year and overall the firm retains its ‘award-winning footprint’ which Mark names as something he values.

The Employment Team at Thompson Smith and Puxon is at the end of the first year of working with the BCMGlobal team, a relationship we hope will be long, worthwhile but above all efficient and effective. It was both rewarding and refreshing to hear of Mark’s satisfaction at having instructed a smaller local practice; ‘you, Jolyon and the firm have vindicated my decision to go off piste!’.

At Thompson Smith and Puxon, we advise employers on HR matters and issues arising from the workplace both in order to prevent litigation and to resolve issues that have become litigious.?One fantastic way that we help our clients is by making available online a fully maintained library of continually updated templates and guidance for HR professionals, known as our ‘HR Buddy’ service. We also deliver in-house training for directors, managers or staff on any range of workplace issues (from managing performance to de-escalating conflict).

Please be in touch with me directly to ask about the way we could work for you or your business.