7 months on from winning 2 local business awards and nearly 3 years since starting out, we’re proud of what we’ve built: a down-to-earth HR consultancy offering real HR support for small businesses and charities; support that’s friendly, practical and actually useful day-to-day.
Safe to say we didn’t expect to win anything at all on the evening of the Herefordshire Means Business Awards. So when our name was called out the first time for Professional Services Business of the Year, it took a few moments to sink in. Then, when it was called out a second time for Outstanding Achievement, we’d already snuck out to get in our taxi… classic rookie move. Turns out we’re much better at HR than we are at award ceremonies!
We’re still pretty chuffed about it, not least because the awards were a nod to everything we’ve been working hard to build: a genuinely personal, no-fuss consultancy providing HR support for small businesses and charities in a way that actually works for them. The awards felt extra special because we’re based in Herefordshire ourselves, so to be recognised by our own local business community means a lot to us.
And as it happens, this week marks another milestone – it’ll be 3 years since our Director, Lorna, handed in her notice, said goodbye to a secure job (and pay check!) and officially incorporated Marches HR. No nest egg, no big investors, no franchise backing and no grand plan. Just a solid idea, a lot of HR experience to build on and a decision to ‘go for it’.
What’s happened since?
We’ve grown steadily, added some fantastic colleagues to the team, moved into a new office and worked with some brilliant clients (many of whom share our values around people, purpose and doing business the right way) who are doing great things in their own sectors. The majority of our business still comes through word of mouth, which we really value as it means people like and trust what we do and how we do it.
We’ve also kept things intentionally simple: no jargon, no fluff and a strong belief that HR doesn’t need to be complicated or scary.
And now… we’ve launched HR Sorted!
Last week, we launched HR Sorted – our new affordable membership service that brings together everything we’ve learned from providing HR support for small businesses and charities over the past few years.
It’s designed to make HR simpler, more accessible and more proactive for time-poor business owners and charity leaders. There’s a growing bank of plain-English templates (including HR policies and contracts), how-to guides, quick video explainers, regular webinars and the option to get 1:1 advice when you need it.
If you want to take a look, you can learn more and book a no-strings demo over at www.marcheshr.co.uk/hr-sorted
Thank you
So if you’ve worked with us, referred us or even just followed our progress – thank you.
We still get that feeling of awkwardness when we shout about ourselves (though we’ve learned it’s a necessity), but moments like this are a good reminder to pause, look back and appreciate how far things have come in our quest to provide personal, no-fuss HR support for small businesses and charities.
And now… we get our heads down and carry on doing what we love: helping small businesses and charities sort their HR in a way that’s warm, personal, practical and refreshingly simple.
P.S. The 2025 Herefordshire Means Business Awards are now open for entries and nominations, so if you know a brilliant local organisation or business leader doing great things, why not put their name forward?
we’re here to help.
We offer a variety of competitively priced HR services, tailored to the needs of your organisation, your people and ultimately your customers. We work with you in a way that’s underpinned by professionalism, fairness and warmth.
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