What our clients say about us.

“We have worked closely with Katie at HR Active to ensure that as a SME we are working within the current legislations surrounding employment laws.

Katie has assisted with producing contracts of employment, given advice with regards to disciplinary matters, grievances and with the protocol needed with the day to day issues that arise.

It is a significant benefit to ourselves to have access to 1st class professional advice, we have always found Katie to be very approachable and the timescales in which she responds to queries is 2nd to none.”
Dean Illingworth, Managing Director, Oakswood

“Katie’s logical, reasoned, down to earth approach to the minefield that is personnel legislation is second to any I have come across in my career. Her empathetic but commonsense attitude to both employers and employees facilitate the best possible outcome for often sensitive situations. Her integrity, reliability and commitment are unquestionable and I would highly recommend her to any organisation.”
Lynn Haynes

“Katie is an expert in her field, I highly recommend her. I have used Katie’s advice many times with absolute confidence. Not only that but Katie is also someone you would be delighted to be doing business with; honest, forthright, supportive and truly genuine.”
Don Derrett, Chief Executive, Self Direct

“HR professional who will go the extra mile to address any issues brought to her. I will always go to Katie if I need up-to-the-minute advice. I find her e-mail updates a valuable source of information.”
Keith Wyatt, Managing Director, Self Direct”

Keith Wyatt, Managing Director, Self Direct

“Katie has provided us with very helpful and effective HR advice and has at times responded very quickly when we have had urgent issues to address. She brings a great deal of HR knowledge and experience and a healthy dose of common sense to her advice and we very much value the service HR Active provides us.” October 2010”
David Barras

“I have worked with Katie at HRActive since June 2009 when our in-house HR Manager retired. I value her pragmatic and business like approach to all the issues we seek advice on and the clear assessment of the risks associated with the situation.

She gives us confidence in our dealings with staff and is available when needed. The retained service arrangement works very well.”
Chris Haley, MD, Dransfield Novelty Company

“Katie is quite simply the best. Her integrity and professionalism knocks spots off the others. She is the HR professional you want in your corner. As well as this Katie is good fun and easy to work with.”
John Morgan, Chief Exec, Brass

“I would highly recommend Katie and HR Actives services, they are second to none and Katie’s advice has helped us to make very serious business decisions relating to staff, with complete confidence.

Katie’s no-messing approach, up to date knowledge and very personable nature has ensured that we have never been anywhere else for HR support since we met her in 2008.

I regularly meet other HR Consultants through networking, but I have never met another who gives me, as an employer, complete confidence in dealing with matters surrounding staff, from recruitment policy right through to disciplinary.

I have no hesitation in recommending Katie’s services to my contacts.”
Andrew Firth, Owner, Ascensor Ltd

“We 1st contacted HR Active on the recommendation of another small organisation & already I have recommended the service to another not for profit organisation. Your service has given us honest, timely & thorough advice & support on a range of HR issues from reviewing our policies to planning for change.”
Samantha Clark, Chief Executive, Inclusion North

“I have such high regard for Katie & HR Active and don’t hesitate to recommend her. I’ve worked closely with Katie a number of times since 2009 and have always found her to:

– Offer the right level of support and information to employees.
– Guide managers effectively through complicated personnel issues.
– Keep the company updated in any changes to Employment Law.

Katie’s advice allows difficult HR issues to be dealt with humanely, as they should be.
For any future HR advice I require, Katie’s contact details will always travel with me.”
Caroline Skipsey

“Katie has helped the company fully understand the legal, business and crucially, human aspects of managing sensitive HR issues. I value her contribution enormously and will continue to call upon her expertise and support in the future. The business world needs more Katies!”
Kate Standen, Head of client service

Our Chambers have used Katie as external HR consultant since 2007. She is always contactable and is efficient in her communication (when urgency is often relevant). She is measured and practical in her advice which is clearly based on deep knowledge of her subject.”
Andrew Argyle, Chief Executive, Zenith Chambers

“Our Company , All Terrain Cycles has engaged HRactive as our HR Consultants for the last 3 years. Katie has been a fantastic support and mentor guiding us through the minefield that is HR.
We are still intact and smiling, and would strongly recommend her services to any organisation
requiring help.”
Tony Booth, Owner

“Katie always provides excellent HR advice. She has a great understanding not only of HR, but of how a business operates. Her advice, therefore, is always pragmatic. She has a no-nonsense approach and she provides solutions that enable us to deal with issues with due consideration for all parties involved. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for practical HR support.”
Phil Reed, Director, Brass

“Katie helped us out with various staffing issues for a couple of years at a time when we didn’t have the in house expertise. She was a great support and addition to the Management Team – and it was good to have her on the other end of the phone as a sounding board to ensure we did the best by the staff and the business.”
Gill Butchard, Barristers Chambers

“Dealing with Human Resources is almost always never an easy task, and Katie is able to give an honest opinion – but more importantly a very correct and detailed plan of action.

I trust and value her advice and would not hesitate in recommending her services to others.”
Stuart Holdsworth, Owner, Ascensor Ltd.

“The investigation you undertook was thorough, professional and completed promptly. The grievance issue was complex and your report has provided us with a clear conclusion from which we can take the necessary action internally.
Your advice is professional and useful. I know you can be relied upon to see issues to conclusion and always have a view on the best approach to take. I will certainly consider using you in the future and would be happy to recommend you to others.
Health Service Provider : Head of Personnel

“I appreciated you trying to accommodate our tight timescales and that you completed the work on time. This allowed us to feedback to our stakeholders on time and resulted in the Head of the Service being happy with the end result.
Everybody, including myself, is very pleased with the end result and we are now looking at how we can link our interview questions with the pay scales to ensure we are offering new recruits a salary based on the knowledge, skills and experience demonstrated at their interview.

There may be opportunities in the future to conduct more research for us and I would be very happy to consider using your services again.”
Philip Davies, Workforce Development Manager, At Home Services

Katie Thorpe - HRActive

Katie Thorpe
Director / Founder

Katie is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and has been a member since qualifying in 1986..

About Us

Call 07981 452160 today to arrange an initial free meeting and learn what we could do to manage the risks associated with employing staff.