Run
Keep the everyday people side of the business working properly.
Employee relations, absence, performance, contracts, policies, manager advice and practical support when something goes wrong.
Your people team. Without having to build one.
Experienced HR for growing businesses. From everyday people issues to the bigger decisions that come with growth, we help you look after your people, support your managers and build a business that is ready for what comes next.
For founders and leadership teams who want proper people expertise, without adding another layer of management.
The rules are changing
Employment law is changing. Is your business ready?
Running a growing business is demanding enough without having to keep track of every change in employment law. Yet the decisions you make about hiring, absence, performance, contracts and dismissal carry increasing consequences.
Some reforms are already in force. More are due in late 2026 and 2027.
What matters is not just knowing what has changed. It is making sure your policies, processes and managers are ready to act on it.
We help you understand what matters for your business, put the right foundations in place and handle difficult situations with confidence.
Statutory Sick Pay and family leave rules changed in April 2026.
Unfair dismissal qualifying-period protections change from 1 January 2027.
Employer duties to prevent workplace harassment strengthen from 30 October 2026.
Run. Build. Grow.
The support changes as your business changes.
Build
Put stronger foundations in place.
Recruitment and onboarding, manager capability, reward, structure, systems and people data that can keep pace with your ambitions.
Grow
Access deeper expertise when the stakes rise.
Restructuring, acquisitions, organisation design, leadership, workforce planning and transformation, drawing on the wider Wild Owl Consulting team when needed.
Where to begin
Two clear ways to start.
Ongoing HR Support
A named people partner who gets to know your business, supports your managers and helps you stay on top of the decisions that matter.
Practical advice and support within an agreed service arrangement, with regular reviews to identify priorities and address issues before they become bigger problems.
You receive
- Ongoing advice and case support
- Policies and documentation support
- Manager guidance
- Quarterly People Review
- Access to specialist expertise when separately scoped
People Health Check
Not sure where your people risks or priorities sit? Start with a clear picture.
We review the foundations beneath your business, identify immediate exposures and show you what deserves attention first.
Available as a standalone review or as the starting point for an ongoing HR partnership.
See what the Health Check includes
We look at
- Contracts and policies
- Employee relations risk
- Workforce and retention
- Roles and accountability
- Recruitment
- Performance
- Management capability
- Reward
- Systems
- People data
- Culture
You receive
- Executive summary
- Priority risks
- Current maturity view
- Practical 90-day People Priorities Plan
Why Wild Owl HR
Senior experience. Straightforward support. No unnecessary layers.
You work with people who understand that HR decisions are business decisions.
We get close enough to understand how your organisation actually operates, then bring the right expertise to the work.
- A dependable people partner for everyday questions.
- Commercial judgement for difficult decisions.
- And access to wider Wild Owl expertise in organisation design, reward, leadership, technology and transformation when your business needs more.
We do not sell complexity. We help you build the people capability your business actually needs.
Pricing
Clear support. Sensible boundaries.
From £750 per month
Retained HR support starts from £750 per month, with final scope shaped by organisation size, complexity and the support required.
It is a managed service, not an hours bank.
Find the right level of supportAgreed separately
Major restructuring programmes, TUPE, complex investigations, organisation design, reward benchmarking, HR-system implementations and other significant projects are separately agreed and priced before work begins.
How we work
We get to know the business, not just the issue.
- 01
First, we understand what is happening and where you want to take the business.
- 02
Then we agree the support that will make the greatest difference.
- 03
You have a clear point of contact, practical advice and access to additional expertise when the work calls for it.
- 04
We review priorities regularly, helping you move from reacting to people problems towards building stronger foundations for growth.
FAQs
Questions about Wild Owl HR.
Is this the same as an HR advice line?
No. You work with a named people partner who gets to know your organisation and helps you make decisions in context.
Do we buy a fixed number of hours?
No. Our retained service is managed around an agreed scope and level of support, rather than an hours bank.
Can you replace an internal HR role?
Sometimes. We can act as your people team or work alongside an existing HR lead.
Who is this for?
Primarily founders and leadership teams in growing organisations of around 25 to 150 employees. Larger organisations can also use us for specialist support or extra capacity.
Can you help us prepare for employment law changes?
Yes. We can review relevant policies, contracts, management practices and areas of risk, then help you prioritise practical changes.
Formal legal advice or representation is referred to employment counsel where required.
Can we start with a Health Check?
Yes. The People Health Check can be a standalone starting point or help shape an ongoing support arrangement.
What happens if we need more specialist help?
We bring in the right experts from the wider Wild Owl Consulting network and agree any additional scope with you first.
Talk to us
You run the business. We’ll help you look after the people side.
Whether you need dependable HR support, want to check your foundations or are concerned about the changes ahead, tell us what is happening.
We’ll help you work out the sensible next step.