Make confident decisions
Get clear, considered guidance for everyday questions and sensitive employee situations.
Fractional HR for growing UK businesses
More people. Less people admin.
The people side of business matters. We bring you a team of HR specialists to handle the tricky bits, build better foundations and give you more room to focus on the big stuff.
190+ businesses supported with people-first HR
Sound familiar?
Too big for winging it. Too small for a full HR department.
Most growing businesses reach a point where ad-hoc HR no longer feels enough, but employing a full-time HR manager can feel like too much. People questions, paperwork and sensitive decisions start taking more time than they should.
There is another way: access the right HR expertise when you need it, with support that can grow as your team does.
What good HR changes
People support that helps you move forward
Build a better workplace
Create fair, practical people processes that suit the team you actually have.
Grow without the guesswork
Build the foundations and capability your business needs for its next stage.
Choose the support that fits
HR that grows with your business
Start with occasional advice, add regular support or build towards a complete HR function.
HR As You Go
£65
per year
For businesses needing occasional HR advice without a long-term commitment.
Sign up, book the support you need and pay for extra HR hours when you use them. Project work can be quoted separately.
The live service page lists top-up support at £190 + VAT per hour. First calls are one hour; follow-up support is billed in 30-minute blocks.
Explore flexible supportHR Advisor
From £195
per month
For businesses wanting regular HR support and a predictable monthly fee.
A practical HR advice line, compliance monitoring and document updates, with clear service boundaries.
The existing homepage gives this price anchor; the detailed page describes a bespoke monthly fee and current waitlist.
See the HR AdvisorHR Partner
From £1,200
per month
For businesses needing flexible, consistent HR support without hiring in-house.
A named senior People Partner backed by a wider HR team, with strategic planning and practical delivery.
The live service page says the retainer scales with headcount and business needs.
Meet your HR PartnerHR in a Year
From £5,000
per month + VAT
For businesses ready to transform HR and build internal capability.
A 12-month roadmap to a functioning HR department, while day-to-day support continues.
HR system licence fees are excluded. Handover or continued support options follow the programme.
Explore the 12-month planTrusted people support, built over time
2015Established
10+Years of HR leadership
190+Businesses supported
Good people. Solid experience.
Your team, backed by our team
Sarah Ropek founded The Fractional HR Department in 2015 after more than a decade working in larger organisations. Today, a wider team of HR professionals supports founders and growing businesses with practical, human HR.
From a quick question to a strategic people plan, you get the people expertise that makes sense for where your business is now.
Clients who keep coming back
Good HR is personal
Quickly, efficiently, with current thinking. No task was too onerous.
Amazing value for money and worth every penny.
The service is always excellent. You really understand small businesses.
Real businesses. Real people challenges.
See how the support works
Pay, progression and retention
A career progression and salary framework helped an award-winning charity formalise development as it grew.
Read the case studyPeople foundations for a social enterprise
HR documentation, onboarding and practical support for managers and a growing team.
Read the case studyHR that can grow with a creative agency
Competency frameworks, performance processes and policies shaped around agency culture.
Read the case studyA clear place to start
How healthy are your HR foundations?
Take the free HR Health Check. It takes a few minutes and gives you a personalised picture of where to focus first.
Ideas for the day-to-day
HR insights for growing businesses
How to Build an HR Function in a Small Business
A practical look at the people foundations that can grow with a small business.
Read the articleThe First 90 Days: What Good Onboarding Actually Requires
Explore the processes and conversations that help new starters settle in well.
Read the articlePay, Policies and Keeping People in the Loop
Clear communication and fair processes make day-to-day people management easier.
Read the articleNo need to prep—just jump on
Let’s find out if we’re a good match.
Book a friendly discovery call to talk through what is happening in your business and what kind of support would help.