What You Need to Start an HR Consultancy Serving Clients in the UK

December 27 2016 - Can you remember the last time you applied for a position with a major company? Chances are you had to work your way through at least three or four people in HR before you ever got to the person who did the interviewing. In fact, the person giving you the interview may not have even been a department head or a team leader but rather the recruiter in HR.

If you've recently completed advanced studies in a field like business administration from the University of London but don't actually fancy working for a corporation, maybe you'd like to start your own HR consultancy and put all that knowledge to work for you in your own company. Here are a few suggestions on what you'll need to get started.

People Skills Are a Must

Just because you've graduated at the top of your class in business administration doesn't exactly mean you'll be cut out to work face-to-face with people. Your business theory in the financial realm doesn't exactly qualify you to work in Human Resources but it sure does help when advising your clients on how to maintain a cost effective workforce. However, as a recruiter and adviser on managing a workforce, you'll need to be an excellent communicator with above average people skills. That's an absolute must.

A Full Driving Licence

While you can do some of your work online in the Cloud, much of your work canvassing new clients and meeting with job candidates might entail travelling about the country. You will need a valid driving license and, of course, a dependable vehicle. Don't have a licence just yet? Not to worry. You can begin studying written theory now and with a short time you will have all the rules and regulations down that will enable you to pass your written exam.

In fact, study a free driving theory practice test or two or a dozen even, before taking the official test. Then it's on to the road (driving test) and you should ace that as well if you've learned your Highway Code and rules and regulations well.

Exemplary Organisational Skills

If you've ever worked in an HR department in a major corporation, you'll know just how busy this one department is. They are the lifeblood of any company because HR interacts with everyone from temporary hourly employees to the Board of Directors and in every capacity from training to advisory positions. Now imagine being an outsourced HR consultancy for a dozen or more companies! If you don't have exemplary organisational skills, you will quickly get your sausage manufacturing plant confused with your dog grooming business and that could spell disaster!

Few SMEs have the financial wherewithal to support an HR department but they recognise the need for a professional who can recruit, hire, fire, train and maintain records. If this is something you'd like to do and have people and organisational skills, starting an HR consultancy just might be your cup of tea. It doesn't cost much to get off the ground and before long you'll have more clients than you know what to do with. There's a real need out there so be prepared for some hefty overtime and income to match!

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