HR Manager
Strategic HR Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost
In today’s competitive business environment, you need more than just HR administration – you need strategic people leadership that builds strong teams and creates lasting value. You’re building something exceptional, but without HR expertise, the people infrastructure that drives success simply isn’t there. Gibson Watts delivers senior HR expertise to ambitious companies navigating growth and critical transitions, giving you professional HR leadership exactly when you need it, without the permanent overhead, scaled to your stage.
the HR gap.
Most growing businesses need sophisticated HR leadership but can’t justify £60K-£100K+ for a full-time HR Manager. Without this expertise, they face critical challenges:
People Management Blindspots Owners make major decisions on hiring, culture, and performance without HR expertise to assess risks or identify opportunities, leading to costly mistakes and turnover.
Compliance Crises Growing businesses face employment law complexities. Without expert oversight, companies miss legal requirements and face tribunal risks that threaten operations.
Talent Acquisition Roadblocks Without HR expertise, businesses struggle to attract and retain top talent, lack structured recruitment processes, and lose candidates to competitors with stronger employer brands.
Cultural Inconsistency Disconnected policies and inconsistent people practices create employee dissatisfaction, engagement issues, and retention problems. Leadership reacts to crises instead of building proactive culture.
The choice has been binary: hire an expensive full-time HR Manager or go without. Neither works for growing companies.
professional HR foundations.
Talent Management We guide you through recruitment, helping identify and attract the right talent with psychometric testing, employer branding, and diversity strategies that build strong teams.
Employment Contracts & Policies We draft compliant employment contracts and comprehensive HR policies tailored to your business, ensuring legal protection and clear employee expectations.
Employee Records Management We implement systems for managing payroll, pensions, holidays, and absence tracking, ensuring accurate records and timely payments that keep your workforce running smoothly.
Performance Management We establish frameworks for performance appraisals, managing underperformance, and driving continuous improvement that aligns employee behavior with business objectives.
Training & Development We design training programs and career development pathways that keep employees engaged, build capability, and support your growth trajectory.
Employee Relations We provide expert guidance on managing grievances, disciplinary actions, and employment disputes, ensuring fair processes that protect your business and maintain positive relationships.
Company Culture & Wellbeing We help build and maintain organizational culture that aligns with your values, prioritizing health, wellbeing, and engagement to create a workplace where people thrive.
Global Mobility & Expansion We offer expert advice on relocation and expanding to new jurisdictions, ensuring your international growth plans are seamless and compliant with local regulations.
Expert HR Professionals
A carefully selected network of HR professionals with deep expertise across industries and growth stages.
Successful Cases
We have a proven track record of delivering results across a wide range of people challenges.
Industries Served
We understand the unique HR dynamics of your industry and deliver tailored solutions that drive results.
Client Satisfaction
Our clients consistently choose to work with us again and refer us to their networks.
why fractional makes sense
Access Expertise at Your Stage Get seasoned HR leadership calibrated to your growth phase – whether you’re scaling from 10 to 50 employees or preparing for international expansion. You wouldn’t hire a full-time specialist before you need one; apply the same logic to your HR function.
Cost-Effective Excellence Secure professional HR strategy for a fraction of a full-time salary. Starting at just £249 per month, redirect those savings toward product development, customer acquisition, or extending your runway.
Flexibility That Scales Ramp services up during rapid hiring phases, down during steady-state operations. Need intensive support for three months during organizational restructuring? We’re there. Lighter touch once stabilized? We adjust.
Speed to Impact Skip the 3-6 month hiring process. We onboard in weeks, not months, bringing battle-tested frameworks that have supported hundreds of successful growing businesses.
Human-Centric Approach While AI can assist in certain HR functions, nothing replaces the personal touch. Your employees are individuals who require support and understanding from real people, not just algorithms.
Comprehensive Support From recruitment and contracts to culture and compliance. This comprehensive support allows you to focus on your business while we handle the complexities of HR.
what working together looks like.
Discovery & Roadmapping (Week 1-2) We audit your current HR function, identify gaps against best practice, and build a prioritized roadmap for building professional people infrastructure.
Foundation Building (Month 1-3) We implement core HR infrastructure: contracts, policies, employee handbooks, performance frameworks, and compliance systems that demonstrate organizational maturity.
Strategic Partnership (Ongoing) Your fractional HR Manager becomes an integral part of your leadership team – advising on strategic people decisions, managing employee relations, and guiding you through critical growth moments.
Scaling Support (As Needed) When it’s time to scale rapidly, we intensify our support: building recruitment processes, enhancing benefits packages, and ensuring your people infrastructure grows with your business.
proven expertise, measurable results.
Our fractional HR professionals bring proven experience from leading organisations across multiple sectors. They’ve navigated the challenges you’re facing and delivered transformational outcomes for businesses at every stage of growth.
Our fractional HR professionals have:
- Led HR functions through multiple growth phases and organizational changes
- Built employee engagement programs across diverse industries
- Managed complex employment law matters and tribunal cases
- Developed HR strategies for businesses from 5 to 500+ employees
The Results:
- 92% of our clients report improved employee retention within 6 months
- Average reduction of 40% in HR-related compliance risks
- Companies consistently receive positive employee feedback on HR processes and support
- Clients successfully navigate complex organisational changes with minimal disruption
Trusted by PE-backed companies, high-growth businesses, and organisations navigating critical transitions across the UK.
engagement options.
Foundation
£249/month
- Monthly HR compliance updates
- Employee handbook & policies
- Strategic advisory (4 hours/month)
- Contract review support
- Up to 10 employees
Growth
Everything in Foundation
Recruitment & talent management
Performance management frameworks
Weekly strategic advisory (8 hours/month)
Employee relations support
11-50 employees
Transformation
- Everything in Growth
- Intensive strategic partnership (16+ hours/month)
- Training & development programs
- Culture transformation initiatives
- Global expansion support
- 50+ employees
Custom
- Organisational restructuring
- TUPE transfers
- Interim full-time HR coverage
- Crisis management
- Employment tribunal support
- Special situations
Next Steps
Ready to build professional HR foundations?
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation where we’ll evaluate your current HR infrastructure, identify gaps that could create people risks, outline a pathway to professional HR maturity, and discuss how fractional HR support could accelerate your growth.
To schedule your consultation, please feel free to contact us via the form or on:
(+44) 20 3880 0894