Bitesize HR Consultancy

15/07/2026

Have you seen...

HMRC have uplifted the mileage rate for the first time in 15 years!!

You can now claim 55p per mile (up to 10,000)

As an employer you can:
Pay your team 55p per business mile if you want to - if you do, shout about it as this is a big win with employees! Or
Pay less than 55p but let your team know as long as they keep records of journeys and mileage that they can claim tax relief from HMRC. This can be done as a specific claim or part of a self assessment tax return if they already plan to do one.

Based in Solihull, West Midlands, offering face to face and virtual HR support across the UK

06/11/2025

Is your HR support feeling more like a call centre than a strategic partner?

Since September, nearly every new enquiry we've had at Bitesize HR has come from businesses fed up with the big-brand HR providers.

They’re tired of:

Long contracts with no flexibility

Generic advice from faceless teams

Slow responses that don’t reflect the urgency of real business needs

What they really want is:
✅ Personalised, pragmatic support
✅ Consistent advice from someone who knows their business
✅ Commercially-minded HR that gets results — fast

That’s exactly what we do at Bitesize HR Consulting. We help you make confident decisions, solve problems quickly, and keep your business moving.

We take time to get to know your business, what your aims are and how HR can get you there quickly and pain-free.

If you’re ready for HR that actually works for you, let’s talk.

DM me or email at [email protected]

13/01/2025

This Wednesday! Get Connected Networking is back!

If you're a business based in or around Shirley, West Midlands this is for you.

We are a straightforward, not for profit group of 14 members who meet fortnightly at Hillfield Farm, Monkspath. Our aim is to connect businesses in the local area to create opportunities.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 15th January and tickets are available at www.getconnectednetworking.com

Paul McGrory our expert Insurance Broker will be the host to kick off our 2025 meetings, and the fantastic Kingsley Johnson will be sharing his insights into people development.

Open to businesses, sole traders, hobby businesses and those looking for suppliers.

No pressure to join or trade. Come and see what it's all about, meet local business owners and build a supportive network. And, as if that isn't enough, you'll get a full English and cuppa as well!

13/01/2025

A 2024 report by Gallup estimates that only 23% of employees are engaged. Less than a quarter.

Further, their research showed that 15% of employees were actively DISengaged from their jobs, their manager or their organisation. That means 15% of employees who are unhappy at work, likely to be going through the motions and doing the minimum. In this case, the organisation can only hope they are actively looking for a new job, otherwise they are in prime position to drive a negative culture across your business.

Use the below as a checklist to see how well you are engaging your employees. Engaged employees:

1. Feel heard. Employees can approach someone with seniority who can do something about their problem. Actions are taken as a direct result of them raising concerns.

2. Are looked after. Their manager knows what is happening outside of work and puts measures in place to support them. Doing the school run and can't get in til 9.15 / needing to work flexibly to attend hospital appointments

3. Are trusted. They are set clear targets and left to achieve them, safe in the knowledge they can ask for help when needed.

4. Feel included. The organisation has a culture of trust and respect, where boundaries are in place and breaches are tackled fairly, consistently and privately.

5. Recognised. Publicly and privately for their achievements.

Recognising you don't have an engaged workforce is a scary moment.

Get in touch if you want to improve engagement in your organisation this year. It's never too late to go back, but you do need a committed leadership team and be open to change!

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I'm Lucy, founder of Bitesize HR Limited who provide flexible HR support to employers and HR teams across the UK. Find out more at www.bitesizehr.co.uk or email [email protected]

08/01/2025

Get Connected Networking is back next week!

If you're a business based in or around Shirley, West Midlands this is for you.

We are a straightforward, not for profit group who meet fortnightly at Hillfield Farm, Monkspath.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 15th January and tickets are available at www.getconnectednetworking.com

Paul McGrory our expert Insurance Broker will be the host to kick off our 2025 meetings, and the fantastic Kingsley Johnson will be sharing his insights into people development.

Open to businesses, sole traders, hobby businesses and those looking for suppliers.

No pressure to join or trade. Come and see what it's all about, meet local business owners and build a supportive network. And, as if that isn't enough, you'll get a full English and cuppa as well!

20/12/2024

Merry Christmas! 🎄

My Christmas break starts later today and I plan to be back to work on the 6th Jan. I'll be monitoring messages but am looking forward to not being glued to my laptop!

This year has been huge for me. I made the move into full-time (ish) self-employment, and have learnt so much. I'm excited for 2025 and have some plans to make my offering bigger and better.

January already looks busy with some existing clients and a few new ones with work booked in.

So, from me to you, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

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I'm Lucy, founder of Bitesize HR Limited who provide flexible HR support to employers and HR teams across the UK. We offer a range of solutions, from HR projects, ad-hoc case management and advice, fractional HR Director and outsourced HR support. Find out more at www.bitesizehr.co.uk or email [email protected]

04/12/2024

If your employee drunkenly kisses their colleague, pats their bum, makes innuendos... you are liable. 😘

It's that time of year 🎄 and it's important that employers are putting the right measures in place to protect their employees - both the victim and culprit in these scenarios.

Here's my top tips:
✅ Remind employees that this is a work event. Any inappropriate action IS subject to your usual procedures, even though it might not be during working hours
✅ Avoid offering a free bar or other incentives to encourage your employees drinking too much
✅ Ensure you have responsible people there who won't shy away from telling someone they need to go home, and get them in a taxi
✅ Educate your employees on what's deemed inappropriate.

The law has changed and employers need to be proactive in preventing sexual harassment - the Christmas party is a prime opportunity for things to go wrong.

In October I ran some Prevention of Sexual Harassment training. If you'd like a copy of the recording or would like to book on to a live session for your organisation, DM me. It's just £200 for the training for up to 10 attendees and might just save you a whole lot of trouble over the festive season.
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I'm Lucy, founder of Bitesize HR Limited who provide flexible HR support to employers and HR teams across the UK. We offer a range of solutions, from HR projects, ad-hoc case management and advice, fractional HR Director and outsourced HR support. Find out more at www.bitesizehr.co.uk or email [email protected]

27/11/2024

I've worked directly with line managers throughout my HR career.

As someone that's line managed employees pre-HR and also in my HR career, I get it. I understand how frustrating it is to be interviewing but not finding the right person, and how tempting it is to 'just hire someone'. I get that when your new starter's probation isn't working out, that you question what more you could do and let things go on longer than they probably should have. I've also experienced the guilt and sleepless night before dismissing someone, and know the relief afterwards because you know that it was the right decision.

All of this lived experience means my Line Manager training is relevant, it includes the right level of detail and covers realistic 'what if' situations. I'll share the bits of the law line managers need to know, and won't bog them down with the bits they don't.

In January I will be running the first of my HR Essentials training sessions, aimed at Line Managers, Office Managers and standalone HR professionals - anyone that has to handle people problems but doesn't have the experience yet.

If you or members of your team need a helping hand with people management, DM me for more details. I'll be sharing more soon!

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I'm Lucy, founder of Bitesize HR Limited who provide flexible HR support to employers and HR teams across the UK. We offer a range of solutions, from HR projects, ad-hoc case management and advice, fractional HR Director and outsourced HR support. Find out more at www.bitesizehr.co.uk or email [email protected]

25/11/2024

Where is your organisation in the home / hybrid / office working?

Amazon are the latest of the big firms to command employees return to 5 days in the office from January.

Home working is preferred by most employees. The reduced commuting time means better work-life balance, whether it's doing school runs, going to the gym or getting a lie in, and as a nation we are loathe to give that up.

Employers that offer full home working or hybrid with a day in the office find it easier to attract and retain their teams, and it's a hook to use when headhunting.

I have to say, when we first worked from home, I hated it. I found it really difficult to work without the hustle and bustle of the office, without the 'meaningless' water cooler conversations and I felt a real disconnect from my colleagues. Thinking back to the start of my career and the sheer amount I learnt from conversations with colleagues across desks, I really think those just starting out will fare worst from home based working. At the time they need the most support, it's a challenge for employers to nurture them effectively.

To make home working work for all, I'd recommend:
✅ Strong, structured induction processes to train and monitor new hires
✅ Team days with a purpose - there's no point calling a team into the office if there's nothing different happening. Some training, development or performance conversations need to happen every time.
✅ Community - clear methods of communication and pro-active team members checking in on new hires

What else have you seen work well?

DM me if you're wanting to make hybrid or home working work for your organisation