Breathing Space HR

Three levels of HR support for growing employers

Breathing Space HR is a Yorkshire consultancy, founded in 2006, that sells people-management help as packages instead of open-ended consulting. On its site it says it is the only HR consultancy to set out a clear pricing structure, while leaving room to adjust a package to the business. Prospective clients are asked to fill in a short questionnaire so the firm can suggest which level fits, and it also offers a free HR audit and a gap analysis.

Flexi, for small firms and stretched HR teams

The Flexi package is a 12-month subscription. It is aimed at start-ups and small companies with fewer than five employees, and at larger companies that want senior strategic backup or extra administrative support for an in-house HR team. It covers a contract template, a basic employee handbook and the mandatory policies needed to stay compliant. The client decides how much support to buy, choosing from 6, 12 or 24 hours a year, and anyone in the team can be reached by phone or email.

Essentials and the strategic tier

Essentials goes further, with employment contracts written to the company's own specification, a bespoke handbook that covers the policies a business needs, templates, letters and forms, and continuing phone and email advice. The firm says it passes on policy changes as they happen and offers manager coaching and help with performance improvement plans. A consultant can also sit in on meetings on site, take notes and write the letters that follow. The strategic tier adds work on HR infrastructure, employee experience, employer brand, attraction, engagement and retention.

Taking over the whole function

For employers that would rather not run HR at all, the firm describes a model in which it advises owners, managers and employees, writes the letters and contracts, and keeps personnel files in a secure cloud vault that both sides can open. It builds links with several members of the management team so the load does not rest on one person. Its programme is split into steps of six to twelve months, and it assesses a business first to decide which step to join.

Software, pay data and learning

Alongside advice, the firm offers Sense Workplace, an HR and workforce platform that holds employee records, absence, onboarding, performance and documents, with mobile access and automation for deskless teams. It has also invested in Cendex, a salary benchmarking service used to build reward structures that follow a client's goals. Smaller resources include DevelopME, a learning and development platform, and How to HR, a free set of guides and templates.

Sectors the firm names

The clients it names range from landed estates and charities to property and construction, manufacturing and retail, and it lists scientific and healthcare businesses among its sectors.

Breathing Space HR is an independent HR consultancy in Yorkshire, founded in 2006 by Suzie Bogle after a career in corporate HR. It takes on the people-management work of growing firms so owners can focus on the business, from employment contracts to full outsourcing of the HR function. Support is sold as packages that can be tailored to each client.

Products and services

• Flexi package: a 12-month subscription with template contracts, a basic handbook, mandatory policies and a chosen number of support hours.
• Essentials package: bespoke contracts, an employee handbook and policies, templates and letters, and unlimited phone and email advice.
• Strategic HR support: HR infrastructure, employer brand, engagement and retention work in addition to the essentials.
• Outsourced HR: the team runs the whole HR function, attends meetings with staff, writes letters and keeps files in a secure cloud vault.
• HR software and reward data: the Sense Workplace platform and Cendex pay benchmarking.
• Learning and resources: the DevelopME learning platform and How to HR templates and guides.

Clients

Start-ups and SMEs, including firms with fewer than five employees, and larger companies wanting senior HR backup; scientific and healthcare businesses are named among its sectors.

Key facts

• Based in: Yorkshire
• Founded: 2006
• Founder: Suzie Bogle