Why HR by Tara?

As we approach 3 years of HR by Tara as a business, it's a good time to re-introduce ourselves, explain what we do and why we do it, and share why you might want to work with us.

Our team started as just one person, Tara Hopkins, who wanted to support local small businesses to navigate the complexity of engaging staff and to be good employers. Before starting the company, Tara had a long career in HR management roles within large global corporate, mid-sized privately owned?businesses and the not-for-profit sector. Alongside running HR by Tara, she also hosts the High Wycombe Business Buzz networking event and is Co-Chair of the CIPD* Branch in the Chilterns.

We're now a team of five HR professionals (Tara, Stacy, Alison, Vicky and Mia) working together to support our many clients. We also have three students (Zach, Hanna and Harry) who help us run the business, when they're not focused on their studies. We work in an informal, flexible and collaborative way - with each person playing to their strengths and enabled to be themselves at work.

From our office on Princes Risborough High Street, we work with businesses throughout Buckinghamshire and across the borders into Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Our clients are generally organisations with 1-60 people, and we help with both employees and self-employed contractors/freelancers, supporting you with managing your whole workforce.

We work with business owners and managers throughout the full employment lifecycle - recruitment, selection, offers, contracts, onboarding, induction, employment records and HR information systems, payroll, pay and benefits, team handbooks, policies, managing holiday and other leave, changes to terms and conditions, requests for flexible working, managing performance, employee complaints, misconduct, poor performance, absence from work, ill health situations, redundancy, dismissal, settlements, and much, much more.

We work with you in the way that's right for you: fixed fee projects, PAYG, pre-purchase of hours, or monthly retainer. We can help just when you need us or regularly throughout each month. You can outsource all your HR to us or just seek advice when something challenging comes up. Over the next few months, we'll be sharing more about our packages to support specific situations including: Employer Set Up; Employer Check Up; Recruitment, Selection and Onboarding; Employment Essentials Retainer; Employee Survey, etc.

So why work with us?

We help you save time and reduce stress - feel reassured that you're keeping out of hot?water and let yourself focus on doing what you do best.

We actively care about the success of your business and bear that in mind whenever we work with you.

We're friendly and approachable,?willing to offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on - not just policy and procedure.

We understand that employing people can be stressful and confusing at?times - we give you pragmatic advice to help you make well informed decisions in complex situations.

We don't have a box ticking, one-size fits all approach - you and your business are unique, and we're curious to find out all about it so we can help in the best way.

We're generalists - we cover all areas of employing and managing people, bringing it all together in an effective way.

We're all either CIPD* qualified or working towards?it and we regularly focus on our learning and development.?

We're well connected - working with lots of great local partners who also provide services to small businesses.

If you'd like us to make it easier for you to be a good employer then just get in touch for an initial conversation and explore all the ways in which we can help.

* The CIPD is the Chartered Institute?of Personnel and Development?and is the professional body for human resources (HR), learning and development (L&D), organisation development (OD) and all people professionals – experts in people, work and change. They champion?better work and working lives.