01
Understand
Listen first
Get to know the business, the people and what's really going on before recommending anything.
Based in Newbury · Happy to travel nationwide
The Human Side of HR
Practical, commercial HR support for SMEs and growing businesses. Whether it's a tricky employee relations case, training your managers or senior HR leadership a few days a month, I'll help you get the people side right, without the jargon, so you can get on with running your business.
20+ yearsin HR, 10+ at executive level
FCIPDChartered Fellow of the CIPD
Level 5CIPD Employment Law
ILM Level 7Executive Coaching
How I can help
Ways to Work Together
Outsourced HR
Your HR support on call, without hiring an in-house team. Day-to-day advice, policies, handbooks, contracts and systems, sized to where your business is now.
See all servicesCoaching
One-to-one and group coaching for leaders, founders and managers, plus coaching and mentoring for HR professionals, from an ILM Level 7 qualified executive coach with over 20 years in HR.
More on coachingLine Manager Training
Practical training built around whatever your managers need, from absence and performance to difficult conversations. For groups of up to 12.
See the programmeEmployee Relations Support
Advice, documentation and hands-on support for grievances, disciplinaries, investigations, absence and performance, so cases are handled fairly and lawfully.
More on ER supportHR Health Check
A fixed-scope review of your contracts, policies and processes, showing where the risks are and what to fix first. A simple, low-risk place to start.
Book a health checkFractional & Interim HR Director
Senior HR leadership a few days a month, or additional capacity and expertise for an existing HR team. Strategy, employee relations and someone senior your leadership team can lean on, without a full-time hire.
Talk about fractional supportTrack record
I've built an HR function from scratch in a business that grew to 300 people
I joined Reaction Engines, the hypersonic propulsion start-up, as its first HR hire and spent ten years there, working closely with both founders. I grew with the business to around 300 people across the UK, US and UAE, finishing as Chief People Officer on the Executive Leadership Team and Remco. Before that: nine years at AWE Aldermaston in recruitment, HR and employee relations.
20+ yearsin HR, including 10+ at executive level
150+people recruited in two years, with 95% retention
~300people across the UK, US and UAE
15%rise in engagement, with a 96% survey response
20%drop in voluntary turnover
Where I work
Based in Newbury and the Thames Valley, working in London and nationwide
Newbury & the Thames Valley
My home base. On site with clients in Newbury, Thatcham, Reading and across Berkshire and the Thames Valley.
London
Training days, leadership sessions and ER meetings delivered in person in London.
Nationwide
I travel across the UK for training days, workshops and on-site support, and work online wherever that suits you better.
What people say
In Their Words
"I strongly recommend Lisa. She is an effective People / HR Director and builds winning teams. Lisa has helped to grow a business from less than 50 people to over 250, working to bring in an effective HR system and People Strategy. Lisa and her team had to create everything, and she can be counted on to deliver stretch objectives. I have worked closely with Lisa over 9 years and value her tremendous support. She has never let me down. The team she built and led was key to creating an inclusive culture that put people first and paid back many times over. Lisa will also do the hard stuff as well as the nice stuff, that is important and has always impressed me. The learning that Lisa has gained from this experience won't easily be found in a large organisation and is immensely valuable!"
"Lisa is a superstar. She was there in my first interview 8.5 years ago and became a treasured colleague and friend. Lisa is all the things that you would want in a superb Chief People Officer - approachable, authentic, and someone that you'd definitely would want by your side if you were running rapids. She helped grow the team by over a factor of four and expertly handled all the opportunities and friction that you could expect with that growth. I have worked with other great professionals from large industry players, but one of the things I most valued about Lisa, was how personal and meaningful she delivered upon each interaction. I also appreciated Lisa's keen perception and her ability to reach out to me when I needed it without my having said anything at all."
"I had the pleasure of working with Lisa during her time as Chief People Officer at Reaction Engines. Lisa did an excellent job building a strong and capable team that supported the organisation's growth. She consistently delivered on her commitments and approached everything with professionalism and a positive attitude. Lisa was always a pleasure to work with and her contributions made a meaningful impact to the business throughout her tenure. I would highly recommend her for any role in people leadership."
"Lisa quickly understood our culture and priorities, tailoring the programme to meet our exact needs. We're already seeing the benefits in day-to-day leadership."
Let's talk about what your business needs
No pitch, just a free 30-minute chat to understand where you are and whether I can help, whether that's one tricky case or ongoing support.
Services
HR support that fits the size of your business
One-off projects, ongoing outsourced support or a fractional HR Director.
HR Strategy & Compliance
Fractional & Interim HR DirectorSenior HR leadership for a set number of days a month, or cover while you recruit.
Outsourced HR SupportOngoing HR support tailored to your business, without an in-house team.
HR Health Checks & AuditsA review of your contracts, policies and processes, with clear recommendations and help putting them in place.
Policy Development & ReviewBespoke HR policies, updates to existing ones, and process improvements.
Leadership & Manager Development
Line Manager TrainingPractical training built around whatever your managers need, from absence and performance to grievances and recruitment. See the programme
Executive CoachingPersonalised coaching to build leadership skills and confidence. About coaching
Start-up Founder CoachingSupport for founders to develop as leaders and build resilient teams.
HR Coaching & MentoringSupport for HR managers and people stepping into their first senior HR role. About coaching
Manager Support ToolsPractical guides and checklists managers can use straight away.
Employee Relations & Wellbeing
Employee Relations SupportAdvice, documentation and guidance for disciplinary, grievance and investigation meetings.
Wellbeing & Mental HealthPractical wellbeing support and mental health awareness for managers and teams.
Equality, Diversity & InclusionPractical steps to build a fairer, more inclusive workplace.
Employee Experience & Engagement
Employee HandbooksClear handbooks that reflect how you actually work.
Engagement SurveysImplementation, analysis and recommendations.
Stay Interviews & RetentionTools and strategies to keep good people.
Onboarding & OffboardingSmooth transitions for new starters and leavers.
Building the HR Function
HR Set-up & ScalingEstablishing HR from scratch, including recruiting the right HR team.
HR SystemsChoosing and implementing systems that fit your business.
Performance ManagementFrameworks for appraisals, feedback and development.
Reward & RecognitionPay, bonus and recognition schemes that feel fair and make sense to your people.
Culture & Change
Company ValuesWorking with leaders to define values that actually shape how people work.
Succession PlanningIdentifying and developing future leaders.
OutplacementSupport for employees through redundancy, including career coaching.
Not sure what you need?
Let's have a 30-minute chat and work out the right support for your business together.
Line manager training
Practical people management skills for every day
Practical, people-centred training that gives managers the skills and confidence to handle the day-to-day realities of their role.
6Modules
Up to 12Managers per group
90min+Formats available
UK lawCompliant
Give managers confidence in their day-to-day role
Practical tools they can use the very next day
Support that keeps going long after the training ends
The programme
A Sample Programme
Six popular modules to give you a flavour. Training can cover whatever your managers need, and every session is shaped around your business.
01Leading with Confidence
- Understand the key responsibilities and expectations of a line manager
- Recognise how leadership styles influence team morale and performance
- Build practical communication and coaching skills to earn team trust
02Recruitment & Onboarding for Impact
- Recruit fairly and lawfully under the Equality Act 2010
- Create job descriptions, conduct interviews, and assess candidates
- Right-to-work checks, contracts, and purposeful onboarding
03Driving Performance Through Feedback
- Set clear expectations and conduct meaningful appraisals
- Deliver real-time constructive feedback with confidence
- Handle underperformance using fair, lawful procedures
04Managing Grievances & Disciplinaries
- Apply the ACAS Code of Practice to investigations
- Conduct fair, thorough and unbiased investigations
- Lead difficult hearings and outcome meetings with confidence
05Absence Management & Wellbeing
- Manage short- and long-term absence fairly and compliantly
- Conduct effective return-to-work interviews
- Promote team wellbeing and resilience under pressure
06Preventing Bullying & Harassment
- Build a safe, respectful working environment
- Recognise and respond to workplace harassment confidently
- Understand legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010
This is a sample programme. Every module can be tailored, reordered or rebuilt to fit your organisation's exact needs, culture and priorities.
In-person training: the room set up and ready before a manager workshop.
How it works
Before, During and After
Before
Tailored to Your Team
We identify participants' knowledge gaps and preferred learning styles so every module fits the people in the room.
During
Interactive & Practical
Case studies from real workplace scenarios, role-plays, group discussion and time to reflect. Every module ends with tools, frameworks and checklists ready to apply straight away.
After
Learning That Sticks
Managers commit to actions before the next session, progress is tracked through short surveys, and Action Learning Sets bring small peer groups back together a month later to tackle real challenges.
Feedback
What Managers Say
"The training gave me the confidence to have conversations I'd been avoiding. I now approach them with clarity and compassion, and my team has noticed the difference."
"Engaging, practical, and relevant. Every session linked directly to challenges we face and gave me tools I could apply immediately."
"Lisa creates a safe, collaborative space where you feel supported to practise new skills. The coaching element helped me build resilience during a really tough term."
"Lisa quickly understood our culture and priorities, tailoring the programme to meet our exact needs. We're already seeing the benefits in day-to-day leadership."
Delivered by Lisa Rudzki, Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, ILM Level 7 qualified executive coach and CIPD Level 5 in Employment Law. Her sessions are known for being engaging, honest and genuinely enjoyable.
More about LisaWant to talk about your managers?
Tell me what your team needs and I'll show you how the programme can be shaped around it.
About Lisa Rudzki
I know what growing businesses need from HR, and what just adds unnecessary process
I'm an HR leader with over 20 years in the profession, including more than 10 in executive roles. I set up tHRive to give growing businesses the kind of senior, practical HR support that's usually only available to much bigger organisations.
I'm equally comfortable talking strategy with founders or rolling up my sleeves to handle the day-to-day HR operations. I'm pragmatic and commercial, with a genuine sense of humour.
Background
From First HR Hire to Chief People Officer
I started my career at AWE Aldermaston, where I spent nine years in recruitment and HR, handling complex employee relations cases day to day: grievances, disciplinaries, performance management and dismissal panels.
In 2014 I joined Reaction Engines, the hypersonic propulsion start-up, as its first HR hire, working closely with both founders throughout my ten years there.
I built the HR function from scratch and grew with the business to around 300 people across the UK, US and UAE, finishing as HR Director / Chief People Officer, sitting on the Executive Leadership Team and the Remuneration Committee (Remco). Along the way: 150+ hires in two years, the company's first values, appraisals, pay bands and HR system, and a full restructure handled with care.
Since 2024 I've worked as a fractional HR Director and executive coach, supporting founders and leadership teams in scaling businesses.
My approach
Understand, Build, Evolve
Three steps I follow with every client, whatever the size of the job.
02
Build
Put the right things in place
Put in what's needed: policies, processes and manager skills, in proportion to your size and stage.
03
Evolve
Keep pace as you grow
Review and adjust as the business grows, so HR keeps up with you rather than holding you back.
Credentials
Qualifications
Chartered Fellow of the CIPDChartered CIPD Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in HRM · CIPD Level 5 in Employment Law
ILM Level 7 in Executive CoachingQualified 2023Expertise
What I Know Best
Change Management & Organisational Design
Employee Relations & Employment Law
Leadership Programmes, Coaching & Mentoring
Engagement, Wellbeing & Reward
Let's have a conversation
Book a free 30-minute chat to talk through what you need.
Coaching
Coaching for leaders, founders and managers
One-to-one and small-group coaching to build confidence, handle the harder parts of leading people and grow as a leader. From an ILM Level 7 qualified executive coach with over 20 years in HR.
Who it's for
Ways to Get Coaching
Executive Coaching
Personalised coaching for senior leaders to build leadership skills and confidence, and think clearly about the challenges in front of them.
Start-up Founder Coaching
Support for founders as they grow into leading a bigger team: delegating, building resilient teams and keeping the culture they started with.
1-to-1 Manager Coaching
Focused sessions for line managers, on their own or alongside line manager training, to put new skills into practice with real situations.
Group Coaching
Small groups of up to six managers working through shared challenges together, with coaching and peer support.
HR Coaching & Mentoring
For HR managers, HR business partners and people stepping into their first senior HR role. A sounding board from someone who has done the job, from tricky ER cases to building an HR function and working with a leadership team.
Common themes
What We Might Work On
- Stepping up into a first leadership or senior role
- Difficult conversations and managing performance
- Building, leading and keeping a strong team
- Confidence, resilience and leading through change
- Delegating and letting go as the business grows
How it works
Getting Started
1
A First Chat
A free 30-minute call to talk about what you'd like to work on and whether we're a good fit.
2
Agree Your Goals
We set clear goals and agree how many sessions we need and how often we meet.
3
Regular Sessions
60-minute sessions, in person or online, with space to reflect and act between them.
Thinking about coaching?
Let's have a 30-minute chat about what you'd like to work on.