Karen Pilkington from The HR Dept explains a typical day for herself as a HR Expert!

I’ve been in business since Feb 2016 so less than a year. I provided outsourced HR services for SMEs in the local area, everything you would expect from an in house HR dept but at a fraction of the cost. Most small businesses don’t need someone full time looking after HR in their business but need to tap into expertise when required.

This is where the HR Dept can assist, from one off pieces of work to ensure you are compliant with contracts and handbooks to ongoing support via our Adviceline product which comes with tribunal insurance to protect your business in the event of a employment claim.

I can even assist you on site with meetings with your staff if required. I am a fully CIPD qualified HR professional with over 15 years’ experience and The HR Dept Bolton is part of a franchise network with over 60 franchisees across the country giving you piece of mind that you are buying services and advice from a reputable, reliable source.

A typical day;

- I’m up early today and out of the house just as my 1 year old is waking up about 6.30 as I have my fortnightly Business for Breakfast meeting at Bolton Whites. I love going to the meetings and look forward to finding out what the other members have been up to as well as hopefully being able to pass a referral or receive one! After a lovely fry up I leave there about 9am ready for the day ahead.

- I’ve got a meeting with a networking contact this morning which I try to do as much of as I can. I firmly believe that building up great business contacts is the way to grow awareness of my business locally and I try to help others out where I can. Givers gain is something I am already seeing work in my business so far.

- After this I am at a lunch meeting with a potential client and try to give as much information as possible to them about how I can assist their business in a cost effective way. Sometimes HR is overlooked but spending getting things right at the outset can save time and money later on!

- I then take a call from a retained client to answer a query on overtime payments for her staff and also advise her on dealing with a lateness issue for a member of staff who is still in probation. She’s then fully equipped to move forward and I advise to call back for any further questions or problems. The Adviceline gives access to phone advice 8am to 6pm.

- After lunch I am back home to catch up on some admin before the school run. I’m lucky to be able to collect my 6 year old daughter most days which is a benefit of being self-employed but I log on again later in the evening to finish some client work so it’s just all about juggling the day.

Every day is different and varied for me which is another benefit of being self-employed, I can either be mostly at home doing admin or client work or out and about at meetings or some days are spent at client premises as I have some retained clients who want regular support and a HR person on site to deal with their staff.

The most challenging area for me is diary management and I would love to have a PA eventually but for now I sort my diary out myself and catch up on emails in the evenings or whilst watching my daughter at her dance class!

If you would like to find out any more information about The HR Dept Bolton, give Karen a call on 0345 208 6340