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HR Foundations

Getting the essentials right

Strong organisations are built on solid foundations. Getting the basics right creates consistency, reduces risk and gives leaders confidence that they’re supporting their people fairly and effectively.

Whether you’re dealing with day-to-day employee matters or reviewing your wider HR framework, having the right policies, processes and documentation in place is essential.

We provide practical HR support that protects your business while helping your people succeed.

The 1850 Way

Clear, practical HR support

HR doesn’t need to be complicated.

We focus on providing straightforward advice and pragmatic solutions that work in the real world.

From compliance and documentation through to employee relations and workplace challenges, we’ll help you navigate issues confidently and ensure your business is built on strong foundations.

How we can help

Ways of working together

Support that fits your organisation

Every organisation is different, which is why we offer flexible ways to work together.

Whether you need ongoing strategic support, additional capacity during a busy period or expertise for a specific project, we’ll shape our involvement around your needs.

Ongoing Partnership

A retained relationship that gives you access to trusted HR and people expertise as your organisation grows.

Fractional People Leadership

Senior people expertise when you need it, from one day a week through to a more embedded leadership role.

Project Support

Specialist support for defined pieces of work, from organisational change and culture projects to policy reviews and leadership development.

Interim Support

Experienced cover during periods of transition, including maternity leave, HR vacancies, transformation programmes or significant organisational change.

Need support with HR foundations? We can help!

But first, we’ll need to have a chat. This won’t be a quick fact-finding call. We want to have a proper conversation with you to really understand your requirements. Complete the form below to request a call back. 

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Average annual sickness absence per worker in the UK
0 %
Of employers identify mental ill health as a leading cause of long-term absence
0 M
Working days lost to sickness and injury across the UK workforce each year

* Sources: Office for National Statistics, Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2023 and 2024, published 4 June 2025 and CIPD, Health and Wellbeing at Work Report 2025, published 9 September 2025

Testimonials

I would highly recommend the services of 1850. They were a delight to work with, professional yet approachable, they made the whole process of reviewing our HR policies and documentation straight forward. A task I had been putting off for sometime was not the headache I had envisaged once they reviewed our processes and provided advice on the best way forward. We look forward to continuing to work with Claire and the team on future projects.
Rachael Battersby
STAUNTON ROOK - ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Claire is amazing! Very helpful and knowledgeable. Always thinks outside the box and has helped me to relax a little whilst taking on my new role in HR. Would definitely recommend to anyone needing support from a professional.
Zoe Furzey
HARMONY - HR ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
Claire has been providing out-sourced HR support for my business, supporting everything from contract and policy development (definitely not a handbook!) to consulting on working environment, team structure and culture. She combines her in-depth knowledge of the legal requirements for employers with a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a people-focused business, and how to put that vision into action. If you truly want to put people at the heart of what you do, I would thoroughly recommend working with Claire and her team.
Nich Leach
RED THREAD MARKET ACCESS - MANAGING DIRECTOR
We have been working with Claire since early 2020. Claire's support has been instrumental in providing clarity in our business over employee policies. We have found this has enormously improved confidence and morale through the COVID pandemic. Claire has a great approach to HR and it is refreshing to be working with a company that is passionate about their product. I couldn't recommend Claire enough. We are looking forward to working together into the future.
Edward White
CHALK COFFEE - DIRECTOR
It’s been a really positive experience working with 1850, both in terms of their approach and how they work. As a growing company, we’ve really valued their support around compliance and keeping on top of HR updates, as well as helping us improve our processes and approach. Their team is knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic, which has made a real difference and kept us well supported. Their experience has helped us deal with more complex HR issues with confidence, while also keeping us on top of regulatory changes.
Mel Hunter
Head of People - Hable
When we faced an urgent and unforeseen need for HR support, 1850 responded quickly and effectively. After a short discussion to understand our requirements, they deployed an experienced People Partner at pace. Over a six-month period, they provided high-quality support across both strategic and operational HR, including successfully navigating complex employee relations matters, supporting TUPE and restructuring activity, and partnering closely with business leaders. Their professionalism and expertise ensured continuity for the business, with a smooth handover once permanent resource was in place.
Stephanie Johnson
People Director - Amey
1850 have been a brilliant partner for our business. As a growing company, we didn’t have the team size or budget to justify a full-time HR hire, but they stepped in and completely steadied the ship. They brought much-needed structure, process and clarity to our HR function, while also helping shape our wider People & Culture strategy. Their experience and depth of knowledge gave us confidence from day one, and they’ve become a trusted extension of our team.
Joe Harper
CEO - Just Bee
The 1850 team understands our industry, our business and, crucially, our people. They bring commercial insight to the conversations we have at board level, while recognising that our culture and the commitment of our employees are central to ITS success. That combination makes them a valuable partner as we grow and navigate a changing market.
Daren Baythorpe
CEO - ITS

SME HR Policies

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