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The Business Exchange speaks to Kathryn Roynon to find out more about KR HR and the ever-changing world of human resources .
How did you get into HR ? By accident ! Having studied languages , my first job involved sourcing engineers for projects across the world . This led to joining a large recruitment and training provider where I became chartered and gained experience in different business areas before moving into senior HR roles in education and charity .
I enjoyed seeing the impact that the right people-practices have on organisational success and created my consultancy to give smaller businesses the same access to high-quality , strategic HR support .
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Who is a typical KR HR client ? We tend to work mainly with SMEs , so anything from sole traders hiring their first employee to well-established businesses . I love variety , so working across sectors from manufacturing to social care keeps things interesting , with each bringing unique challenges .
What do you love most about what you do ? Making a difference . Whether that is taking the stress out of a complex situation and finding a way forwards or recruiting and developing teams to achieve success .
What have been your highlights over the past five years ? One of the main highlights has been forging great connections , especially through the CIPD Self-Employed Network and the Melksham-based Business Growth Group . Recruiting an additional consultant ,
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Kirsteen Pearce , has also been a game changer . Our favourite project has been recruiting the SWLEP Growth Hub team to provide business support during the pandemic and beyond . We ’ re proud of our contribution and the positive feedback received .
How are you going to celebrate this business milestone ? As socialising is a no-go , with cake and something sparkling !
What are you looking forward to this year ? The next step for 2021 is to grow the team further by creating new career opportunities through the Kickstart Scheme , which helps young people at risk of long-term unemployment . The scheme gives people opportunities to get on the career ladder , providing funded placements along with contributions towards set-up and training costs .
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We will be looking to share our experiences and encourage other local employers to create funded Kickstart placements .
What are you advising on most at the moment ? Aside from company restructuring and furlough , there is an increased focus on mental wellbeing . Employers are realising the importance of taking care of their staff ’ s mental , as well as physical , health . For some businesses it can be a daunting prospect and a difficult issue to address . We help to guide them through the process , offering advice and support every step of the way .
Finally , what is your HR top tip ? Be human . Policies and procedures provide a useful framework , but the person in front of you is an individual .
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2021 13 |