0345 646 5201
Your investors backed you to grow. Your people strategy needs to keep up.
Investment changes everything: the pace, the pressure, the expectations. Businesses that scale well under investment share one thing in common: they treat their people strategy as seriously as their financial one.
People Puzzles provides senior People Directors on a fractional basis to investment-backed businesses that need to build fast, hire right, and scale without people problems holding them back. We are the largest and most experienced team of fractional People Directors in the UK, operating at Board-level bringing commercial people expertise to ambitious businesses.
Trusted by investment-backed businesses across the UK.
Recommended by leading UK growth investors.
THE CHALLENGEÂ
People risk is investment risk
When growth capital arrives, expectations shift overnight. Headcount needs to change dramatically, but Culture needs to hold. Leadership gaps that were manageable become urgent; the informal people approach that got you here is not enough for where you are going.
Investors look closely at the people side of your business: leadership capability, team structure, culture, compliance, succession, development. In a growth-stage business, people decisions are commercial decisions.
Most investment-backed businesses face the same challenge: they need a senior People Director guiding their growth, but either they are not yet at the stage where a full-time, board-level hire makes sense, or their existing in-house team is so overstretched they can’t keep up with the new levels of pressure and pace. So they muddle through. And people problems quickly become growth blockers.
THE SOLUTION
Senior people expertise. From day one. At the pace your investors expect.
With People Puzzles, you get an experienced, commercially-focused fractional People Director embedded in your business and working alongside your leadership team from the moment you need them. Our team have navigated exactly this stage of growth before and can bring their expertise, along with the wider specialisms of our nationwide team, to support your growth.
No lengthy recruitment process. No six-figure salary commitment. Just the right person, at the right time, helping you build the people infrastructure your business needs to scale.
What can a fractional People Director do for your business?
- Build a people strategy that supports your growth plan (not just reacts to it)
- Align your team structure and leadership capability with where the business is heading
- Address the five areas investors scrutinise most: leadership capability, people strategy, culture and retention, performance, and HR compliance
- Put the right hiring, onboarding and retention processes in place before you need them
- Make the difficult conversations – about underperformance, succession and team composition – easier to have
- Help you demonstrate to your investors that people are in good hands
WHY PEOPLE PUZZLES
Trusted by the investors who know what good looks like
We are recommended by some of the UK’s most respected growth investors because they have seen what happens when people strategy lags behind the growth plan. And they have seen what happens when it keeps up and even drives it.
When a growth investor points a portfolio company towards People Puzzles, it is because they trust us to protect what matters most: the people and culture that make the business worth investing in.
WHAT SETS US APART:
We are not consultants who parachute in with a report. We are fractional People Directors; senior practitioners who work as part of your team, who understand the particular pressures of investment-backed growth, and who have done this before.
We are the UK’s largest team of fractional People Directors, which means wherever you are in the country, we have someone with the right sector knowledge and growth-stage experience to hit the ground running.
And as we tell every clients, strategic people leadership is an investment readiness marker in itself. So whether you’ve secured investment already, or want a better shot at it, it’s going to help you.
HOW IT WORKS
Flexible. Fast to deploy. Built around your growth stage.
Every investment-backed business is different — the stage of investment, the size of the team, the pace of growth, the gaps in leadership. We work with you to scope the right level of support, then deploy a People Director who fits.
Typically, businesses at your stage work with us for one to three days a week. Enough to make a real difference. None of the overhead of a full-time hire. As your business scales, your People Director scales with you.
CLIENT STORIES
What growth looks like when people strategy is right
Echion Technology
Challenge: With a fast-growing team and international expansion plans, Echion needed a people strategy that could match its pace of innovation and support its commercial goals. Existing people processes lacked the structured needed to support scale or team development.
Solution: People Director Clare Burles built a tailored people plan aligned with the business strategy, improving recruitment, communication, and engagement. She supported the launch of a new office in China, developed management capability through training and coaching, and led a full benefits review to improve retention and positioning.
Results: Echion gained a stronger people function, more confident people managers, and a clear, aligned strategy. The refreshed benefits offering elevated its employer brand and the business now has the right foundations to support future growth.
Are your people investment-ready?
Investors look at five areas when assessing people readiness: leadership capability, people strategy and business alignment, culture and retention, performance and productivity, and HR infrastructure and compliance.
Download our free checklist to assess where you stand — and identify the gaps worth addressing before the deal is done.
Ready to scale your people strategy as fast as your investors expect?
Let’s talk. Tell us where you are in your growth journey and we will match you with the right People Director – usually within days.
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.