HR on Request

12,500 steps later… and what a great day at the CIPD Festival of Work at ExCeL London.

One of the things I love most about the HR profession is the people. Today was a reminder of just how many brilliant, generous and knowledgeable individuals there are in our community.

It was fantastic to catch up with Claire Cathcart from Elevate Hub, Jess Pressland of The JP Group, wellbeing expert Jack Butler, (Traitors Season 4 star 👀), Sarah Hamilton-Gill and Kim Hall at Leap Into HR Consulting, Leanne Hayward from Hireful, and many others throughout the day.

The talks, insights and innovations were inspiring, but as always, the conversations between sessions were where the real magic happened.

New ideas, shared challenges, different perspectives, and plenty of laughs along the way.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to chat today. Looking forward to continuing the conversations over the coming weeks.

Now for a well-earned rest for the feet!
Lee Goreham

I didn’t set out to “work in HR" 25 years ago...

I was managed out of a job, because I refused to sack an employee who needed training and support, rather than to lose his job.

The unfairness of the situation really upset me, so I went back to Uni to study on the postgrad CIPD (level 7 now) with employment law... the whole experience awakened a burning desire to help employees and make people managers better at looking after the people they manage.

Somewhere along the way, I realised something…

The people who need the most support aren’t in big corporations with layers of resources and policy.

They’re the founders.
The owner-managers.
The people lying awake at 3am wondering if they’ve handled something “right.”

I’ve seen the reality behind the scenes:
* The difficult conversations avoided because no one wants to get it wrong
* The good people leaving because issues weren’t tackled early enough
* The stress that comes from trying to wear every hat in the business

And here’s the truth…

Most small business leaders don’t need “HR”
They need someone in their corner.
Someone who gets the commercial pressure and the people side.

That’s why I do what I do.

Not to add process for the sake of it.

Not to quote policies.

But to make things simpler, clearer, and a lot less stressful.
If you’re growing a business and quietly wondering if you’re handling the people side as well as you could…

You’re not alone.

And you don’t have to figure it all out yourself.

Lee
HR on Request

There are some pretty big changes happening in employment law right now, and if you employ people (or are planning to), they’re worth being aware of.

The updates coming through the Employment Rights Act are going to affect things like payroll, policies, and how you manage your team day-to-day.

In simple terms, here’s what’s changing:

- More people will qualify for sick pay, and it kicks in sooner
- Some types of leave (like paternity and parental leave) are now available from day one
- Employers may face risks earlier in the employment relationship
- There’s a stronger expectation on businesses to actively prevent things like harassment

For larger businesses, this is a shift.
For smaller businesses or start-ups, it can feel like a lot to take in alongside everything else.

The key thing is - getting the basics right early makes a huge difference.

If you’re not sure what you need to update (or even where to start), I’m always happy to have a chat and point you in the right direction.

You can message me directly or reach out via HR on Request no pressure, just practical support.

Feel free to share this with anyone running a business who might find it useful

I’m incredibly grateful to the fantastic people below who volunteered as models for the HR on Request Limited website photos 🥰

You brought great energy, plenty of laughs, and helped turn an idea into something I’m really proud of 😊

Thanks also to Liam Stamp at Pixel 86 who's been working hard on the HR on Request website - great job 😍

And a special thank you to Ruben Simoes and Lauren Lemmer at Lemon Tree Digital Marketing Ltd for bringing it all to life so beautifully 🤩

You made the whole thing fun, easy, and far better than I imagined - hugely grateful 🙏

One thing I see often in SMEs:
“We’ll deal with it if it becomes a problem.”

Most HR problems don’t start big…
They grow when ignored.

HR on Request exists for one simple reason:

Small businesses deserve clear, practical HR support without the corporate nonsense.

Putting your people first. Business always in mind.

Introducing…

HR on Request
Practical HR support when you need it

After 20+ years working at senior HR level, I’m excited to officially launch HR on Request Ltd — providing practical, people-first HR support for Small/Medium-sized Enterprises with 1–50 employees.

I work with business owners and directors who need:
✔ Clear, compliant HR foundations
✔ Calm advice on day-to-day people issues
✔ Support with employee relations and growth
✔ HR expertise — without employing a full-time HR team

My approach is straightforward and practical. I help businesses look after their people, reduce risk, so that you can focus on running and growing your business.

If you’re a small business owner and want a sounding board for people matters, I offer a free HR health check to help you understand where you are and what support might help.

👉 Message Lee or comment below to find out more.