0345 646 5201
HR Consultancy East Midlands
From ambitious manufacturers to fast-growing renewables and emerging tech businesses, our Fractional People Directors bring senior-level HR expertise into the heart of East Midlands businesses – delivering transformational change in just a few days a month, without the cost of a full-time hire. By embedding at senior level, they align people strategy with commercial goals – helping you shape a strong structure, put the right people in the right roles, and scale with clarity and purpose.
Strategic HR Consultancy in the East Midlands
We deliver strategic, high-impact HR consultancy to ambitious businesses across the East Midlands – combining local understanding with the depth and scale of a national team.
Our regional People Directors bring hands-on experience from across the East Midlands’ diverse economy – from manufacturing, logistics and renewables to emerging tech, construction and professional services. Many have led change in complex, fast-growth environments and understand the unique pressures facing businesses in this part of the country.
Whether you’re navigating the challenges of rapid expansion, struggling to attract and retain the right people, or reshaping your leadership and structure following an MBO, merger or acquisition, our East Midlands-based strategic HR consultants will quickly get to grips with your current structure, culture and vision, and develop a transformational strategy to get you where you want to be.
We support ambitious businesses in Derby, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Northampton, Peterborough and a variety of surrounding towns and cities across the whole of the East Midlands:
- Northamptonshire
- Leicestershire
- Rutland
- Derbyshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Lincolnshire
Talk to a People Puzzles HR Consultant in the East Midlands Today
Meet our East Midlands HR consultancy team
Our East Midlands People Directors are more than traditional HR consultants – they’re business leaders, board advisers and commercial strategists who specialise in driving transformation through people.
They’ve held senior roles at organisations like Rolls-Royce, Vodafone, Northern Foods, and led transformation across aerospace, property, construction, tech, charity and manufacturing – delivering everything from major restructures and hands-on leadership coaching to growth strategies that more than doubled headcount and boosted profits by 20%.
With experience spanning global corporates, family-run firms, public bodies and private equity-backed businesses, they know how to shape people strategy that delivers measurable commercial results. From redefining workplace culture to improving leadership capability, they bring calm, clarity and impact at every stage of the journey.
From chairing senior leadership reviews and developing international HR functions to delivering award-winning employee engagement strategies, our East Midlands People Directors maintain a clear focus on what really matters – understanding your business, building trust, and unlocking the full potential of your people.
Strategic HR Consultancy in the East Midlands – Supporting Growth Through People-First Strategy
200 Degrees Coffee – Brewing a People Strategy to Match Bold Ambitions
Challenge: With 20 coffee shops, seven barista schools, and a customer-centric culture fuelling rapid growth, Nottingham-based 200 Degrees Coffee had a clear vision – but no dedicated HR function to support it. As growth accelerated, leaders needed strategic support to embed a people-first structure without losing the culture that made the brand thrive.
Solution: East Midlands People Director Ben Birchall led a Discovery process to capture employee insight and identify priorities. He then recruited a Head of People, co-created a people strategy, built a dedicated People function, and ran leadership workshops to restructure and redefine senior roles – laying the groundwork for sustainable, people-focused growth.
Results: 200 Degrees Coffee now has a solid Employee Value Proposition in place, a well-structured internal communications strategy, a formal Performance and Development Review framework, and a more aligned and driven senior team – and is primed to grow sustainably, without losing what makes it special.
Strategic HR support tailored to ambitious East Midlands businesses
From family-run manufacturers and logistics firms to fast-growing tech and renewable energy scale-ups, our East Midlands-based People Directors bring board-level HR expertise that drives transformational, lasting change.
We work with businesses where founders are still hands-on – firefighting instead of leading. Where teams are growing quickly but lack the right structure. Where talented people are in the wrong roles, leadership potential goes undeveloped, and recruitment struggles against big city pay packets.
Our locally-based Strategic HR Consultants work on-site as part of your team to reshape structure, build strong leaders and get the right people in the right seats – giving your business the focus, confidence and capability to scale with purpose.
Here are some of the most in-demand strategic HR services we provide for clients across the East Midlands.
People Processes
Disjointed or outdated people processes can slow down even the most ambitious business. Our East Midlands-based People Directors help put the right foundations in place – from hiring and onboarding to performance reviews and day-to-day compliance. We create clear, fit-for-purpose HR systems that reduce risk, boost efficiency and free up your leadership team to focus on growth.
Strategic HR
In a region known for resilience, innovation and strong manufacturing roots, a people strategy that matches your growth ambitions is essential. Our East Midlands-based People Directors embed within your business to align structure, leadership, and culture with your commercial goals. We deliver practical, hands-on support – not advice from afar – helping you build future-ready teams, strengthen leadership and unlock sustainable growth.
Leadership Development & Executive Coaching
In the East Midlands, many ambitious businesses are powered by talented people with exceptional knowledge – but not all of them have developed as leaders. Our People Directors work within your senior team to build leadership confidence, sharpen commercial thinking, and develop the people skills needed to inspire, manage, and scale with success.
Organisational Structure
Many East Midlands businesses start out with informal setups that work well early on – until growth highlights the need for change. Our local People Directors help restructure your business so every role has purpose, every leader knows what they’re driving, and founders can step back from day-to-day firefighting. We create clarity, accountability and future-ready teams that support scale and succession.
Talent Management & Retention
Competing with bigger salaries and city-based perks? In the East Midlands, attracting and keeping great people takes more than a pay rise. Our People Directors help you build a compelling employee value proposition – from clear progression paths to strong leadership and culture. We turn your business into the kind of place people want to join, stay, and grow with.
Culture Development
Company culture is more than buzzwords on a poster – it shapes how people lead, work and grow together. Our East Midlands Strategic HR Consultants work closely with your senior team to embed values into everyday behaviours, decision-making and team dynamics. We help build purposeful cultures that improve retention, support well-being and create the clarity and accountability needed to scale sustainably.
Business Strategy
Big ambitions need the right people strategy behind them. Whether you’re entering new markets, restructuring for growth or preparing for investment, our East Midlands-based Fractional HR Directors ensure your team, structure and leadership are aligned with your commercial goals. We work within your business to embed the clarity, capability and focus needed to turn strategy into action.
Why choose People Puzzles for strategic HR consultancy in the East Midlands?
From the manufacturing and logistics centres of Derbyshire and Northamptonshire to the fast-growing tech, renewables and finance businesses of Nottingham and Leicester, the East Midlands is a region shaped by industry – and now redefined by innovation.
But with big cities like Birmingham and London drawing talent away, and many businesses scaling faster than their people infrastructure can support, the growing pains become harder to ignore. Founders remain too close to the day-to-day. Teams lack clarity, leadership and structure. And without the right people in the right roles, growth becomes a grind.
At People Puzzles, we understand what East Midlands businesses are up against – and we do things differently to traditional HR consultants.
Unlocking tangible commercial impact
Our locally based Fractional People Directors do more than issue advice and design forms. They are strategic mentors and former board executives, operational directors and business leaders who embed in your team and work hands-on to shape culture, structure and leadership.
With experience across manufacturing, logistics, construction, tech, professional services and more, they deliver fast, focused change that aligns your people plan with your growth plan – unlocking real commercial impact – from cost savings and culture shifts to stronger succession plans and sharper performance. All without the need to commit to a full-time hire.
HR strategy – with measurable impact
Our Fractional People Directors work across the East Midlands to build leadership strength, shape effective structures, and ensure every person is in the right seat to drive your business forward – not just keep it afloat.
And with over 90 People Directors nationwide, you benefit from deep local understanding backed by the strength, scale and shared knowledge of a national team.
“People Director Ben quickly grasped the vision of the business, and our desire to put people at its heart.”
Stephen Fern, Managing Director – 200 Degrees Coffee (Nottingham)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Fractional HR means bringing in senior-level HR leadership on a flexible, part-time basis – without the overheads of a full-time hire. Our East Midlands People Directors embed directly into your business, gaining a real understanding of your goals, teams and challenges, and driving people strategies that evolve as you grow. Because of their high calibre backgrounds and in-depth board-level experience, they are able to drive results quickly, so you’re more likely to see transformation happening faster than originally anticipated.
A People Director is not just an adviser – they’re a commercially focused leader with experience at board level. Our East Midlands People Directors bring decades of senior experience across sectors like engineering, tech, and retail. They’re here to deliver transformation, not just tick compliance boxes.
Yes. We believe in working hands-on with our clients – and our East Midlands People Directors typically spend one day a week on-site with each business. This in-person support allows us to understand your culture and challenges quickly – and to deliver meaningful change from within.
Operational HR keeps the wheels turning – it handles processes, compliance and day-to-day tasks. Strategic HR is about futureproofing – aligning your people with your business goals, growing leadership capability, and building long-term resilience. That’s the focus of our East Midlands People Directors.
Absolutely. It’s common for fast-growing East Midlands businesses to hit a point where informal setups no longer work. We help you restructure, define roles clearly, and build leadership confidence – all the time preserving your core values – so your business can keep growing without losing control.
Yes. While you might not be able to match big city salaries, you can still be highly competitive. Our East Midlands HR consultancy team helps you develop a compelling employee offer – from clear progression to purpose-led leadership – so people want to join and stay for the long term.
We support ambitious businesses across Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and beyond – from scale-ups and family-run firms to regional leaders in manufacturing, tech, services and more. Whatever your growth story, we’ll match you with a People Director who understands your sector, and your specific challenges.
Yes – as well as emergency firefighting issues, we support specific projects like restructures, acquisitions, succession planning and cultural change. However, many East Midlands clients benefit most from longer-term support that ties in with their wider business growth goals, with a fractional People Director driving lasting improvement rather than short-term fixes.
Proven Impact. Tangible Results. HR with ROI.
Our work delivers measurable outcomes – from improved retention and stronger leadership to sustained growth.
Call us on: 0345 646 5201 or email [email protected]
Talk to a People Puzzles HR Consultant in the East Midlands Today
Whether you’re navigating complex change, planning for growth or tackling persistent people challenges, our Midlands-based Fractional HR Directors are here to help. We work hands-on as part of your senior team – bringing high-calibre strategic HR support that delivers commercial results and lasting change.
See what our clients say!
Clyde has been instrumental in taking BEAR Scotland from 'good to great'
Iain Murray, Managing Director, BEAR Scotland
Working closely with Clyde Marwick we developed a five-pillar framework addressing our goal for a high performing HR function including employer branding, recruitment innovation, and reward enhancement. We have navigated complex employee relations challenges while building strategic capability across our HR team. We now have the people infrastructure to match our operational excellence.
Liz's support was instrumental in us delivering a successful consultation
Director of Finance, National Hair & Beauty Federation
Following the completion of our restructure, I wanted to get in touch to say thank you. Liz's support was instrumental in us delivering a successful consultation. We are extremely grateful for her measured and sound advice, helping us to navigate such a sensitive situation, and we look forward to working with her again in future .
Lynn guided me out of my comfort zone to help me achieve my goals
Samantha Freeman, Management Accountant, Wirtgen Group
I could not recommend Lynn more, she guided me out of my comfort zone to help me achieve my goals and to think about things from an alternative perspective. I have also had a few people comment on the positive changes they can see in me which is a result of our sessions.
Sarah is a trusted advisor and sounding board to both me and my team.
Claire Watkin, Managing Director, Trendsetter
Working with People Puzzles has enabled me to step out of the day to day running of the business and concentrate on our future strategic direction. Sarah has helped us focus on how we develop our future leaders, cross team collaboration, and enhance overall business performance, as well as supporting the achievement of B Corp status.
The achievements of the People Strategy made a measurable difference.
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, Sigma
I can't thank Paula enough for all her support over the last 3 years. Her time with us turned out to be much longer than any of us expected but I guess this reflects the extraordinary events and circumstances we’ve encountered since 2019. The achievements over this period made a measurable difference to engagement and has helped Sigma transition our people policies from that of an SME into market leading large corporate. Thank you.
Lynn was always positive and listened when it mattered
Coaching Client – Wirtgen Limited
I cannot give Lynn enough thanks for the help that she gave me to better understand myself and help me find the answers to some tough questions. Lynn was always positive and listened when it mattered, Thanks again Lynn.
I have been able to build a proactive relationship with Pauline
Amy Fisher, MD, Doby Verrolec
I have been able to build a proactive relationship with Pauline. I came into this role last year with an agenda for growth and we have been working together across employee engagement, contacts and policies.
Pauline developed our people strategy with a robust methodology
Jeremy Royle, MD, YourNRG
Pauline’s hands on approach helped us to build on the work we have already taken and develop our people strategy with a robust methodology to meet the current needs and future growth of the business.
Working closely with one local and very knowledgeable person
Amy Fisher, MD, Doby Verrolec
The real benefit of People Puzzles is that your business and industry sector needs are matched with one of the People Puzzles Directors. This means you work closely with one local and very knowledgeable person who can quickly understand the people needs of the business.
Working with Sarah has been a rewarding, productive and an educational experience
Chief Operating Officer, Salford Primary Care Together
We wanted to understand more about what was driving our organisational culture, key risks and issues, what our priorities should be, and to understand what we could achieve with our limited resources. Sarah brought commitment, pragmatism, and positivity to our challenges which helped us achieve many of our goals including organisational restructures, re-design of several key HR processes and upskilling of our teams.
Pauline has very quickly gotten to grips with Your NRG.
Managing Director, Your NRG
Pauline has very quickly gotten to grips with Your NRG, and has brought to our attention some processes that need our focus as a result of our recent rapid growth. We are pushing on with the more pressing operational day-to-day strategies and initiatives whilst also educating the SMT on their overall understanding of ‘cradle to grave’ employment. Pauline continues to work diligently and tirelessly for Your NRG and I am delighted to have her ongoing support alongside us as we continue on our journey to realise our levels of ambition.
Changed the way we approach our senior meetings and develop our strategy.
Chair, Regular Cleaning
Shaun worked closely with me and the senior team and taught us a lot. Shaun dedicated time for each team member and encouraged, educated and guided them to be the best they can be. We achieved so much in the time we worked with Shaun and he has helped to change our focus from working in the business to working on the business giving us time to dedicate to the progression of the teams that make up the rest of our family.
Jill has worked on many projects as our part time HR Director.
Founder, Aura
One was around sick days which she has now reduced by 75%. This has significantly minimised the disruption it was causing.
Stewart's work has been a major factor in helping us achieve our ambitious targets.
Gerry Simmonds, Safpro
Stewart helped to align our senior team around business goals and implemented clear people plan has been a major factor in helping us achieve our ambitious targets. We have grown 20% over the past two years and with the team we now have in place this growth is set to continue.
Lynn's work as our trusted HR consultant and my mentor has been absolutely invaluable.
Oktawia Ellis, HR Manager, We Seal
I have the distinct pleasure of working with Lynn at People Puzzles. Her work over the last few years as our trusted HR consultant and my mentor has been absolutely invaluable. Lynn is an expert in her field, she is very knowledgeable, encourageing, supportive, and an effective leader. She is also really funny and a pleasure to be around! I learned a lot from Lynn and I would strongly recommend her.
The impact Lynn has had on our challenges are beyond my expectations
James Laxton, Managing Director, Laxtons
She has engaged with all our staff and her approach is a breath of fresh air for the business. The support she has given me has made some difficult issues appear straight forward and she has given a new lease of life in the business. We would not have been able to get to where we are now without her wealth of experience and hands on people approach and I am excited to see what the future brings working with Lynn.
Every team leader can now make decisions in line with the vision
Roy Bowie, Managing Director, GreenBlue Urban
I used to have the view that HR was managing difficult cases and moving people on with occasional recruitment support. But what People Puzzles does is so much more than that. It’s about the development of the business and its people as a whole which has been the biggest eye opener for me.
Working with Gill has helped us develop a People Plan which goes beyond compliance
Bernard Sellars, Managing Director, Lindum Packaging
Working with Gill from People Puzzles has helped us develop a People Plan which goes beyond compliance – it has helped us as a team to achieve greater alignment and engagement with the business strategy and goals.
I found the personal development coaching I received from Lynn to be very beneficial.
Alex Calvert, Marketing and PR Account Manager, Intandem Communications Ltd
I found the personal development coaching I received from Lynn to be very beneficial. Lynn helped me to work on some very clear objectives with a good balance of supportiveness and knowing when to challenge and push me out of my comfort zone!
We are now in a strong position from a people perspective, to leverage the future
Craig Bennett, CEO, Sigma Group
Paula developed a clear People plan and road map, which has significantly moved us on. She has developed the existing HR team, and ensured that we progressed quickly on all the initiatives that we identified. I’m confident that based on the last 6 months, with Paula’s input and contribution, we are now in a strong position from a people perspective, to leverage the next 6 months and beyond.
A very professional team
Chris Morling, Founder & CEO, Money.co.uk
It’s been brilliant to have such knowledgeable consultants help us to empower our people. Stuart and Sophie were incredibly flexible, adapting their services to our business and existing culture. I’d highly recommend People Puzzles.
Shifted my view of HR!
Gavin Pooley, Managing Director, Liquidline
I used to think that HR was all about employment law compliance and managing the administration basics. I didn’t get the hugely positive impact strategic HR could make to the business – I do now!’
Transformed my understanding
Managing Director, B2B Supplies and Support Services
Having Alison on the team is like having another MD/MBA in the business. She has totally transformed my understanding of HR.
Fantastic support!
Kerry Berry, Director, S&K Berry Associates LLP
Lynn has been a fantastic support to us and an ongoing fountain of knowledge. If you have a business and/or staff you need to take care of, you need a Lynn on your team!
Such a detailed process
Sue Ford, Director, Bridge Case Management
Lynn ran a detailed process and I wasn’t allowed to get away with anything – All relevant issues were included and dealt with objectively.
We’ve accomplished a lot!
Joseph Carr, Managing Director, Carrs Pasties
This is an inspiring story and it’s all true. I can’t believe it’s about us! We’ve accomplished a lot over the last 18 months.
Helping us shape the business
Stuart Hill, CEO, WNDirect
Carole has helped me and the business massively and added real value while helping us shape the business.
Vee has delivered a huge amount for the company
Bertie Kerr, Managing Director, Albany Associates Ltd
Vee started with a baseline study of where we were. She then presented a work plan to deliver over the coming months and while some priorities have changed it is impressive to look back and see how much has been achieved. She has become a trusted member of the senior team, providing advice and guidance on difficult topics and is regularly consulted by staff for her input.
Alison joined Valleys to Coast on an interim basis and 18 months later is still with us!
Joanne Oak, Chief Executive Officer, Valleys to Coast Housing
Alison has been instrumental working with me to recruit to a permanent role. Alison’s approach has been one of partnership, contributing as part of the strategic leadership team, which has been critically important given the turbulence the organisation has been through. Alison is always available, responsive and I would highly recommend her for expert HR support
Over the last 3 years, People Puzzles has helped build a very strong people culture
Phil Dupont, Director, RVT Group
We now have a clear Vision for the Companies 5 Pillars, In-house manager, leadership ‘Power 90’ Training and a rhythm of key meetings throughout each year. This has had a direct contribution to the significant growth of the company in the last 3 years… With this support from People Puzzles continuing, the company continues to grow both financially and culturally for the benefit of all.