Background

Family-run plastic bottle and spray head supplier Cambrian Packaging has been growing slowly but steadily since being founded by Managing Director Mike Simpson 28 years ago. Until last year, Mike had always dealt with HR issues himself – but with 15 employees to manage, he was beginning to feel it was taking up too much of his time. He also wanted to review the organisational structure of the business. ‘We needed someone to come in and help us do this work, rather than simply advise what to do,’ he says. Mike approached People Puzzles and in July 2020, one of its HR Directors, Rachel Holmes, started working with Cambrian Packaging one day per week.

After looking at all aspects of the business, Rachel came up with a people plan that would help Mike not only realign the organisational structure and recruit the staff that were needed, but also increase employee engagement. ‘Her assessment gave me confidence that she could add value,’ Mike says. ‘She clearly understood what needed to be done.’

Over the past year, Rachel has focused on improving the following at Cambrian Packaging:

• A more efficient, aligned organisational structure. As a community business, there are some limitations around restructuring, but according to Mike, Rachel has ‘helped realign it realistically, while being respectful of the dynamics that were difficult to change.’
• Improved recruitment process into key roles with the headcount increasing from 15 to 25 staff, including an additional senior team member. Rachel worked with the senior team to agree what was needed, clarify the roles and recruit into them.
• Better retention of great people with a new onboarding process for new staff, monthly job chats and a communication plan to keep staff engaged on the company’s key strategic goals.
• More efficient and effective senior leadership team meetings with a new structure and revised process. Rachel also attends and ‘brings the right balance of challenge into these meetings while also supporting what we’re trying to do,’ says Mike.

Impact

The work done since last July has certainly helped Cambrian Packaging to manage the growth in staff members from 15 to 25. ‘I’ve realised over the past year that with this number of staff there will always be people challenges,’ says Mike. ‘Managing that becomes more of a role – not enough for a full-time HR director but there is certainly a need in businesses at around £5-15million.’

‘Rachel fits into our company, understands our culture and works in a way that supports it. She is not just an HR consultant; she is part of the senior management team who takes care of the HR in a way that we have confidence in, including taking on difficult conversations.’

With so many businesses facing upheaval from the pandemic, Mike thinks that many would benefit from strategic HR. ‘Unless you feel your team is 100% engaged, everyone is in exactly the right seat with precisely the right staffing level, and everyone understands exactly what they’re doing perfectly well, then you have a use for this kind of work, regardless of the size of the business or number of employees and current performance.’

‘Rachel has improved all of that for us. The work she has done with us has put us in a much better position for what comes next.

If you’re a mid-tier business with a team of 25 or more and would like help to get on the right path to business growth – call 0203 633 6830 or email [email protected] to book a complimentary 45 minute call with your local Director.