Independent HR Consultant and Leadership Coach
Support from someone who understands people, business and the realities of managing both.
Calm, experienced HR supportBased in Derbyshire, supporting employers across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, with remote support available nationwide.
When you partner with Enso HR
I am often engaged by employers when a situation has become difficult to resolve in-house, when independence is important, or when senior HR experience is needed to help move things forward with confidence and care, while protecting morale and helping managers keep perspective.
As an independent consultant, you work directly with me. I bring senior HR business partnering experience, a strong working knowledge of employment law, commercial awareness and a coaching approach, without making matters feel more complicated than they need to be.
On occasions where extra resource or specialist skills are needed I draw on a small team of trusted associates, but your primary contact is always me.
No lock-in contracts. No impersonal helplines. Just direct, expert HR support when you need it.
I work with small and medium-sized businesses, in-house HR teams within larger organisations and employment solicitors who need calm, experienced HR support, particularly where a matter is complex, sensitive or difficult to manage internally.
People issues can be sensitive, time-consuming and difficult to untangle. Whether you are dealing with a complex employee matter, reviewing your HR approach, supporting organisational change or developing your managers, I provide clear, practical guidance that is grounded in experience and tailored to your business.
My focus is on helping you handle matters properly, keep things moving and support the wider business while the issue is being addressed.
Practical HR and employment law support on one side, leadership development and behaviour coaching on the other.
For businesses and HR teams
Expert HR support for employers, from day-to-day people management to complex employee relations, workplace investigations, conflict resolution and organisational change. Practical, commercially focused advice you can rely on when it matters most.
For managers and leaders
Supporting managers and leaders to grow confidence, capability, impact and self-awareness.
HR Consultancy
Handling complex, sensitive or difficult employee relations issues that need experienced independent support.
Who I work with
I work with small and medium-sized businesses, in-house HR teams within larger organisations and employment solicitors across Derbyshire and beyond.
Owners and managers who do not have an HR team of their own and want a difficult matter handled properly, in a calm, measured way.
Extra senior capacity when a case is sensitive, close to home or simply too big to absorb alongside the day job.
Practical HR support that sits alongside legal advice, from independent investigations to managing a fair process on the ground.
What I do
These are the areas employers most often engage me for. Every situation is different, so the support is shaped around yours.
Handling complex, sensitive or difficult employee relations issues that need experienced independent support.
Reviewing HR policies, processes and compliance with employment law.
Managing investigations, grievances, disciplinaries, absence, performance issues and other matters that may be difficult to deal with in-house.
Providing senior HR input where independence, discretion or additional expertise is needed.
Supporting restructures and change management.
Clear, commercial HR advice that helps you make confident decisions and manage people matters in a way that is practical, compliant and workable for the business.
Employers tend to engage me when a people matter is complex, sensitive or difficult to deal with in-house, and independence, discretion or additional expertise is needed.
Leadership Coaching
Individual coaching for business owners, people managers and senior leaders.
What coaching covers
Leadership development that creates lasting behavioural change.
I tailor my coaching to each individual's goals and challenges. Drawing on coaching expertise and extensive HR and business experience, I help people build self-awareness, confidence and clarity to create lasting, meaningful change.
Helping people managers lead with more confidence, clarity and self-awareness.
Exploring behaviours, habits and working patterns that help or hinder performance.
Strengthening communication, decision-making and the ability to have better conversations.
Individual coaching for business owners, people managers and senior leaders.
Lumina Learning is part of my coaching approach. I use a range of Lumina tools to explore personality and behaviour, leadership style and impact. These tools give useful insight and a shared language, which we then apply to real leadership, management and team situations.
I am an Associate with Lumina Learning and use psychometrics ethically, always in support of the coaching.
Lumina tools: personality, behaviour, leadership style and impact
Your coach
My coaching journey began with an in-house coach training programme with Ashridge Business School in 2003. I practised with business leaders for many years, then trained with Barefoot Coaching in 2022.
I work with the whole person, not just the professional persona, creating a supportive, safe space with appropriate challenge. My style is approachable yet direct.
My coaching practice is tailored to the individual, using a neuroinclusive approach that values different thinking styles and perspectives. I help leaders understand their natural preferences, build on their strengths and develop practical strategies that help them perform at their best.
Practical HR, employment law and coaching support for specific issues, projects and periods where you need additional expertise.
About Me
Independent HR consultant and leadership coach.
My background
I spent more than 20 years working in senior HR roles within large corporate organisations before setting up my own HR and coaching practice over a decade ago.
Since then, I have worked directly with business owners, leaders, managers, HR teams and fellow consultants and employment solicitors who need experienced, pragmatic support with people matters.
Enso HR Consultancy has grown, from strength to strength, largely on the basis of referrals, which probably tells you most of what you need to know about how I work.
My background is in senior HR business partnering, so I understand the realities of working inside a business, supporting leaders and balancing people issues with commercial priorities. I combine that experience with a strong working knowledge of employment law, coaching skills and behavioural insight, so the support I provide is practical, compliant and grounded in how businesses really work.
That means I can support both the HR process and the wider context around it:
Working together
Clients describe my style as approachable, calm, direct and supportive. I will be honest with you, help you see the options clearly and work with you to find a way forward that is fair, practical and legally sound.
As an independent consultant, you work directly with me. On occasions where extra resource or specialist skills are needed I draw on a small team of trusted associates, but your primary contact is always me.
Credentials
Where I have worked
From national retailers and construction to healthcare, law and the public sector.
From my base near Matlock I support businesses across Derbyshire and the surrounding counties: up into Chesterfield, Sheffield and South Yorkshire, across to Mansfield, Sutton in Ashfield and Nottinghamshire, and down to Derby, with clients in Leicestershire and Staffordshire too.
Whether you need TUPE support in Mansfield, help with a redundancy process in Chesterfield, an investigation in Sheffield or clear advice on a dismissal in Derby, I can help. Much of my work is remote, so distance is rarely a barrier: I have supported clients as far afield as London.
Client feedback
Sarah really gets to know the business and has an approachable, professional and pragmatic way of working.United Carpets and BedsRetail Operations Director
Sarah's HR advice is always prompt, accurate and easy to understand, and she has been invaluable with her advice.NCF FurnishingsManaging Director
ENSO HR is now our preferred consultancy and we would not hesitate to personally recommend Sarah.T&N Tyre Supplies
Sarah was a tremendous help and ensured that the matter was resolved professionally and at minimum cost.Holdens of NewarkManaging Director
Sarah always seeks to understand how people issues are impacting on the business, to offer solutions.Industrial Contracting Services
I have worked with Sarah for several years and each time really enjoy the interaction. She is a true professional and works directly, yet diplomatically, to tackle a variety of HR issues. Sarah sees the bigger picture and pulls everything together with impressive results.Penny StruttonThink Forward Consulting
Insights
Short, plain English notes on the employment law and people topics I am asked about most.
Articles are being brought across to the new site. Ask me for a copy of any of these in the meantime.
Get in Touch
If you think I may be able to help, please get in touch with a brief outline of what you need.
Contact details
Use the form on this page or give me a call. Enso HR Consultancy is based at Cromford Creative in Cromford Mills, Derbyshire.
No obligation
We can have an initial conversation to see whether I am the right person to help and, if so, agree the scope, timing and next steps.
