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HR Shared Services: consistent HR leadership across the whole business
HR Shared Services for groups, multi-site businesses and growing organisations
When a business grows across multiple sites, subsidiaries or acquisitions, the people function rarely keeps pace. Each entity ends up doing HR slightly differently. Policies drift. Practices diverge. Some business units have strong HR support; others have almost none.
HR Shared Services is the model that solves this. A single, coherent people function, with a holistic view of the overarching business or group strategy and vision, to deliver consistent delivery, policy and practice, applied across every part of the business.
Most advisers will tell you how to build your HR Shared Service model; but People Puzzles can also provide it.
What is HR Shared Services?
HR Shared Services is a delivery model in which HR is centralised across an organisation rather than each business unit or site running its own separate people team. Instead of duplication, with every entity hiring its own HR manager, writing its own policies, managing its own ER caseload, a single function serves the whole group from a consistent framework.
In larger enterprises, HR Shared Services typically means a dedicated service centre with its own headcount. For ambitious businesses, growing groups and multi-site organisations, that model can be expensive and complex to build.
People Puzzles provides an alternative: a team of senior fractional People Directors who deliver consistent, high-quality HR across your business without the overhead of a full in-house function. We can either be the HR Shared Service if you’re building it for the first time, or we can supplement, audit or provide additional expertise to your existing function on a flexible, convenient basis.
The result is the same: coherent people strategy, consistent policy, and senior HR expertise wherever the business needs it.
The problem with fragmented HR across a group
Most businesses that need HR Shared Services don’t start out that way. They grow, through acquisition, organic expansion or diversification, and the people function grows unevenly alongside them. By the time the problem is visible, it tends to look something like this:
- Each business unit has developed its own HR approach, some well-structured, some ad hoc, with no coherence across the group.
- Policies, contracts and employment terms vary between entities, creating legal and operational inconsistency.
- HR resource is unevenly distributed: some parts of the business are well-supported, others rely on line managers or nothing at all.
- Senior HR leadership is absent at group level. There is no one responsible for the people strategy of the whole organisation.
- Duplication is significant: multiple HR teams doing similar work independently, with no shared learning or efficiency.
- When something goes wrong in one entity, there is no group-level HR capability to respond and no consistency with how similar issues are handled elsewhere.
The cost of this fragmentation is rarely calculated, but it is substantial. Inconsistent employment practices create legal risk. Duplicated HR functions create unnecessary cost. And the absence of coherent people leadership at group level means the biggest asset a business has – its people – is being managed without the strategic oversight and future focus it deserves
Most advisers give you the prescription. We stay and deliver the treatment.
There is no shortage of HR consultancies that will review your group structure, design a shared services model and hand you a roadmap. That is useful work, but it often falls short of what a business needs most.
Someone to actually deliver it.
People Puzzles does not just design HR Shared Services models and move on. We provide the fractional and interim People Directors who become your HR Shared Services function, or who strengthen the one you already have. We are not only the architect; we are the team on the ground.
Other providers advise on how to build an HR shared service. People Puzzles can be the shared service.
That distinction matters. It means your group gets senior people leadership that is embedded, accountable, and actually delivering; not a model sitting in a consultant’s slide deck waiting for your overstretched team to implement it.
How People Puzzles delivers HR Shared Services
Model 1: People Puzzles as your HR Shared Services function
For groups and multi-site businesses that do not have a coherent central HR function. People Puzzles fractional People Directors provide consistent senior HR leadership across the whole group. Each entity gets access to high-quality people expertise, working from a shared framework of strategy, policy and practice that you define once and apply everywhere.
Our People Directors become embedded members of your group people function, working part-time across the entities that need them, attending leadership team meetings, building relationships with managers and dealing with the full range of HR matters. The group gets senior HR leadership at every level – strategic, operational and specialist – without the cost of building a full in-house team.
Model 2: People Puzzles supplementing an existing shared service
For groups that already have some form of centralised HR function, but where the function needs additional senior capability, specialist expertise or strategic leadership.
This might mean a fractional People Director working alongside a Group HR Director to provide specialist expertise in reward, organisational design or employment law. It might mean an interim People Director stepping in to lead a major programme – an acquisition integration, a restructure, a systems implementation – that the existing team does not have the bandwidth to deliver.
What your business gets
- Consistent HR across every part of the business. One framework of strategy, policy and practice, applied coherently wherever the business operates.
- Senior people leadership at group level. A People Director who understands the whole business, not just one entity, and can make decisions and provide guidance accordingly.
- Specialist expertise without permanent headcount. Reward, ED&I, employment law, organisational design, HRIS implementation, and so on, brought in as needed from across the People Puzzles team.
- Rapid deployment. People Directors available within days, not weeks. No recruitment process. No extended notice period. Instant, same-level cover when needed.
- Flexibility as the business changes. Scale HR resource up or down as the group grows, acquires, restructures or enters new markets.
- Reduced duplication and cost. One coherent people function serving multiple entities is significantly more efficient than separate HR teams doing the same work independently.
- Legal consistency and reduced risk. Consistent employment practice, policy and ER case management across the group, reducing the legal and reputational risk that comes from fragmented HR.
Who is this for?
People Puzzles HR Shared Services is built for businesses that have outgrown a single-entity HR model, regardless of how they got there.
- Group and holding company structures where multiple subsidiaries or business units each need HR support.
- Multi-site businesses, such as retail, hospitality, care, professional services and others, where consistent HR practice across sites is a commercial and legal necessity.
- PE-backed businesses and roll-ups, where acquisitions are being integrated and a common people framework needs to be established quickly.
- Businesses expanding internationally, where consistent people practice across multiple geographies is needed without building separate HR functions in each.
- Scaling businesses that have grown quickly and whose people infrastructure has not kept pace, and who now need to establish a coherent central HR function for the first time.
What your business gets
- Consistent HR across every part of the business. One framework of strategy, policy and practice, applied coherently wherever the business operates.
- Senior people leadership at group level. A People Director who understands the whole business, not just one entity, and can make decisions and provide guidance accordingly.
- Specialist expertise without permanent headcount. Reward, ED&I, employment law, organisational design, HRIS implementation, and so on, brought in as needed from across the People Puzzles team.
- Rapid deployment. People Directors available within days, not weeks. No recruitment process. No extended notice period. Instant, same-level cover when needed.
- Flexibility as the business changes. Scale HR resource up or down as the group grows, acquires, restructures or enters new markets.
- Reduced duplication and cost. One coherent people function serving multiple entities is significantly more efficient than separate HR teams doing the same work independently.
- Legal consistency and reduced risk. Consistent employment practice, policy and ER case management across the group, reducing the legal and reputational risk that comes from fragmented HR.
FAQs
Is this only relevant for large businesses?
No. Traditional HR Shared Services models are associated with large enterprises because the in-house model requires significant investment to build. People Puzzles’ fractional approach makes the same outcome — consistent senior HR across a group — accessible to businesses of all sizes. We work with groups of two entities and groups of twenty.
How does this work if our business units are in different sectors or at different stages?
That is common and manageable. The starting point is always a framework that applies across the group — employment terms, policy standards, core HR practice — while allowing each entity to retain the autonomy it needs for its own people agenda. Our People Directors are experienced at working across complex group structures and matching the right approach to the right part of the business.
We already have HR managers in some of our business units. Does this replace them?
Not necessarily. A People Puzzles fractional People Director typically operates at a more senior, strategic level than a business unit HR manager. In many group structures they work alongside existing HR resource, providing the senior leadership and group-level coherence that a business unit HR manager cannot provide alone. The decision about structure is made with you, not for you.
How quickly can you get People Directors in place?
Typically within days. We are not recruiting — our People Directors are already part of the PP network, with known expertise and track records. Matching the right people to a group structure is a conversation, not a search process.
What is the difference between this and hiring a Group HR Director?
A Group HR Director is a single, full-time hire — typically expensive, focused at the strategic level, and not able to provide operational HR coverage across multiple entities simultaneously. People Puzzles provides a configuration of fractional People Directors covering both strategic and operational layers of a group people function, with the flexibility to change as the group evolves. For most groups, this delivers more coverage, more expertise and more flexibility than a single hire.
Can this work alongside a consultancy that is helping us design a new people operating model?
Yes — and this is a common combination. Where a consultancy is advising on the design and structure of your people function, People Puzzles can provide the leadership capacity to implement it. We do not duplicate advisory work; we deliver alongside it. The prescription and the treatment, working together.
Is your group getting the HR leadership it needs across every part of the business?
If the answer is not a confident yes — or if the people function has not kept pace with how the business has grown — let’s talk. We will help you understand what a coherent HR Shared Services approach could look like for your group, and whether People Puzzles is the right fit to deliver it.
See what our clients say!
Clyde has been instrumental in taking BEAR Scotland from 'good to great'
Iain Murray, Managing Director, BEAR Scotland
Working closely with Clyde Marwick we developed a five-pillar framework addressing our goal for a high performing HR function including employer branding, recruitment innovation, and reward enhancement. We have navigated complex employee relations challenges while building strategic capability across our HR team. We now have the people infrastructure to match our operational excellence.
Liz's support was instrumental in us delivering a successful consultation
Director of Finance, National Hair & Beauty Federation
Following the completion of our restructure, I wanted to get in touch to say thank you. Liz's support was instrumental in us delivering a successful consultation. We are extremely grateful for her measured and sound advice, helping us to navigate such a sensitive situation, and we look forward to working with her again in future .
Lynn guided me out of my comfort zone to help me achieve my goals
Samantha Freeman, Management Accountant, Wirtgen Group
I could not recommend Lynn more, she guided me out of my comfort zone to help me achieve my goals and to think about things from an alternative perspective. I have also had a few people comment on the positive changes they can see in me which is a result of our sessions.
Sarah is a trusted advisor and sounding board to both me and my team.
Claire Watkin, Managing Director, Trendsetter
Working with People Puzzles has enabled me to step out of the day to day running of the business and concentrate on our future strategic direction. Sarah has helped us focus on how we develop our future leaders, cross team collaboration, and enhance overall business performance, as well as supporting the achievement of B Corp status.
The achievements of the People Strategy made a measurable difference.
Craig Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, Sigma
I can't thank Paula enough for all her support over the last 3 years. Her time with us turned out to be much longer than any of us expected but I guess this reflects the extraordinary events and circumstances we’ve encountered since 2019. The achievements over this period made a measurable difference to engagement and has helped Sigma transition our people policies from that of an SME into market leading large corporate. Thank you.
Lynn was always positive and listened when it mattered
Coaching Client – Wirtgen Limited
I cannot give Lynn enough thanks for the help that she gave me to better understand myself and help me find the answers to some tough questions. Lynn was always positive and listened when it mattered, Thanks again Lynn.
I have been able to build a proactive relationship with Pauline
Amy Fisher, MD, Doby Verrolec
I have been able to build a proactive relationship with Pauline. I came into this role last year with an agenda for growth and we have been working together across employee engagement, contacts and policies.
Pauline developed our people strategy with a robust methodology
Jeremy Royle, MD, YourNRG
Pauline’s hands on approach helped us to build on the work we have already taken and develop our people strategy with a robust methodology to meet the current needs and future growth of the business.
Working closely with one local and very knowledgeable person
Amy Fisher, MD, Doby Verrolec
The real benefit of People Puzzles is that your business and industry sector needs are matched with one of the People Puzzles Directors. This means you work closely with one local and very knowledgeable person who can quickly understand the people needs of the business.
Working with Sarah has been a rewarding, productive and an educational experience
Chief Operating Officer, Salford Primary Care Together
We wanted to understand more about what was driving our organisational culture, key risks and issues, what our priorities should be, and to understand what we could achieve with our limited resources. Sarah brought commitment, pragmatism, and positivity to our challenges which helped us achieve many of our goals including organisational restructures, re-design of several key HR processes and upskilling of our teams.
Pauline has very quickly gotten to grips with Your NRG.
Managing Director, Your NRG
Pauline has very quickly gotten to grips with Your NRG, and has brought to our attention some processes that need our focus as a result of our recent rapid growth. We are pushing on with the more pressing operational day-to-day strategies and initiatives whilst also educating the SMT on their overall understanding of ‘cradle to grave’ employment. Pauline continues to work diligently and tirelessly for Your NRG and I am delighted to have her ongoing support alongside us as we continue on our journey to realise our levels of ambition.
Changed the way we approach our senior meetings and develop our strategy.
Chair, Regular Cleaning
Shaun worked closely with me and the senior team and taught us a lot. Shaun dedicated time for each team member and encouraged, educated and guided them to be the best they can be. We achieved so much in the time we worked with Shaun and he has helped to change our focus from working in the business to working on the business giving us time to dedicate to the progression of the teams that make up the rest of our family.
Jill has worked on many projects as our part time HR Director.
Founder, Aura
One was around sick days which she has now reduced by 75%. This has significantly minimised the disruption it was causing.
Stewart's work has been a major factor in helping us achieve our ambitious targets.
Gerry Simmonds, Safpro
Stewart helped to align our senior team around business goals and implemented clear people plan has been a major factor in helping us achieve our ambitious targets. We have grown 20% over the past two years and with the team we now have in place this growth is set to continue.
Lynn's work as our trusted HR consultant and my mentor has been absolutely invaluable.
Oktawia Ellis, HR Manager, We Seal
I have the distinct pleasure of working with Lynn at People Puzzles. Her work over the last few years as our trusted HR consultant and my mentor has been absolutely invaluable. Lynn is an expert in her field, she is very knowledgeable, encourageing, supportive, and an effective leader. She is also really funny and a pleasure to be around! I learned a lot from Lynn and I would strongly recommend her.
The impact Lynn has had on our challenges are beyond my expectations
James Laxton, Managing Director, Laxtons
She has engaged with all our staff and her approach is a breath of fresh air for the business. The support she has given me has made some difficult issues appear straight forward and she has given a new lease of life in the business. We would not have been able to get to where we are now without her wealth of experience and hands on people approach and I am excited to see what the future brings working with Lynn.
Every team leader can now make decisions in line with the vision
Roy Bowie, Managing Director, GreenBlue Urban
I used to have the view that HR was managing difficult cases and moving people on with occasional recruitment support. But what People Puzzles does is so much more than that. It’s about the development of the business and its people as a whole which has been the biggest eye opener for me.
Working with Gill has helped us develop a People Plan which goes beyond compliance
Bernard Sellars, Managing Director, Lindum Packaging
Working with Gill from People Puzzles has helped us develop a People Plan which goes beyond compliance – it has helped us as a team to achieve greater alignment and engagement with the business strategy and goals.
I found the personal development coaching I received from Lynn to be very beneficial.
Alex Calvert, Marketing and PR Account Manager, Intandem Communications Ltd
I found the personal development coaching I received from Lynn to be very beneficial. Lynn helped me to work on some very clear objectives with a good balance of supportiveness and knowing when to challenge and push me out of my comfort zone!
We are now in a strong position from a people perspective, to leverage the future
Craig Bennett, CEO, Sigma Group
Paula developed a clear People plan and road map, which has significantly moved us on. She has developed the existing HR team, and ensured that we progressed quickly on all the initiatives that we identified. I’m confident that based on the last 6 months, with Paula’s input and contribution, we are now in a strong position from a people perspective, to leverage the next 6 months and beyond.
A very professional team
Chris Morling, Founder & CEO, Money.co.uk
It’s been brilliant to have such knowledgeable consultants help us to empower our people. Stuart and Sophie were incredibly flexible, adapting their services to our business and existing culture. I’d highly recommend People Puzzles.
Shifted my view of HR!
Gavin Pooley, Managing Director, Liquidline
I used to think that HR was all about employment law compliance and managing the administration basics. I didn’t get the hugely positive impact strategic HR could make to the business – I do now!’
Transformed my understanding
Managing Director, B2B Supplies and Support Services
Having Alison on the team is like having another MD/MBA in the business. She has totally transformed my understanding of HR.
Fantastic support!
Kerry Berry, Director, S&K Berry Associates LLP
Lynn has been a fantastic support to us and an ongoing fountain of knowledge. If you have a business and/or staff you need to take care of, you need a Lynn on your team!
Such a detailed process
Sue Ford, Director, Bridge Case Management
Lynn ran a detailed process and I wasn’t allowed to get away with anything – All relevant issues were included and dealt with objectively.
We’ve accomplished a lot!
Joseph Carr, Managing Director, Carrs Pasties
This is an inspiring story and it’s all true. I can’t believe it’s about us! We’ve accomplished a lot over the last 18 months.
Helping us shape the business
Stuart Hill, CEO, WNDirect
Carole has helped me and the business massively and added real value while helping us shape the business.
Vee has delivered a huge amount for the company
Bertie Kerr, Managing Director, Albany Associates Ltd
Vee started with a baseline study of where we were. She then presented a work plan to deliver over the coming months and while some priorities have changed it is impressive to look back and see how much has been achieved. She has become a trusted member of the senior team, providing advice and guidance on difficult topics and is regularly consulted by staff for her input.
Alison joined Valleys to Coast on an interim basis and 18 months later is still with us!
Joanne Oak, Chief Executive Officer, Valleys to Coast Housing
Alison has been instrumental working with me to recruit to a permanent role. Alison’s approach has been one of partnership, contributing as part of the strategic leadership team, which has been critically important given the turbulence the organisation has been through. Alison is always available, responsive and I would highly recommend her for expert HR support
Over the last 3 years, People Puzzles has helped build a very strong people culture
Phil Dupont, Director, RVT Group
We now have a clear Vision for the Companies 5 Pillars, In-house manager, leadership ‘Power 90’ Training and a rhythm of key meetings throughout each year. This has had a direct contribution to the significant growth of the company in the last 3 years… With this support from People Puzzles continuing, the company continues to grow both financially and culturally for the benefit of all.