FAQs
General Questions
Who is Jo Jinks?
I'm a CIPD Level 7 qualified HR professional with over 25 years of strategic HR experience across multiple sectors. I've led HR at senior levels, managed complex employment relations cases, transformed workplace cultures, and built people strategies that drive business performance. I now work with businesses at every stage - from startups to established organisations - providing flexible HR support that meets you exactly where you are.
What makes your approach different from other HR consultants?
Unlike traditional HR consultancy that comes in one-size-fits-all packages, I offer multiple pathways designed for different business stages and needs. Whether you need affordable subscription-based support, strategic fractional leadership, personal coaching, or HR systems implementation, you get the same depth of experience and commitment. I'm business-focused, not just HR-focused - everything I do is about helping your business perform better through its people.
Which service is right for my business?
It depends on your size, stage, and what you're trying to achieve:
- HR Hub - Best for businesses with 1-100 employees who need affordable, accessible HR guidance
- Synergise HR Consultancy - Best for established businesses (50-250 employees) needing strategic HR leadership
- Coaching Services - Best for leaders and HR professionals who want to develop their capability and confidence
- HRIS Partner - Best for businesses ready to digitise their HR with Breathe HR software
If you're not sure, book a free discovery call and we'll work it out together.
Do I need to commit to a long-term contract?
It depends on the service:
- HR Hub - Month-to-month subscriptions, cancel anytime
- Fractional HR Director - 6-month minimum engagement (strategic work takes time to have meaningful impact)
- Retainer Packages - Month-to-month, cancel anytime
- HR Projects - Fixed-scope projects with clear timelines
- Coaching - Single sessions or multi-session packages, your choice
- Breathe HR - Software is month-to-month with no cancellation fees
What areas do you cover geographically?
I work with businesses across the UK. For Fractional HR Director services, I can work on-site, virtually, or a blend of both depending on your location and preference. All other services can be delivered entirely remotely if needed.
Are you regulated or accredited?
Yes, I'm CIPD Level 7 qualified and maintain my professional development through the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. I'm also ISO27001-aware through my work with HR systems and GDPR-compliant in all data handling practices.
HR Hub Questions
What's the difference between the Starter, Growth, and Premium plans?
- Starter (£95/month) - AI chatbot support, 50+ templates, monthly compliance updates, email support - perfect for 1-5 employees
- Growth (£395/month) - Everything in Starter PLUS 5 hours telephone advice, priority response, 100+ templates, custom documents, quarterly reviews - perfect for 5-25 employees
- Premium (£1,295/month) - Everything in Growth PLUS unlimited telephone advice, dedicated HR professional, unlimited custom documents, monthly strategic calls, out-of-hours support - perfect for 25-100 employees
Can I upgrade or downgrade my HR Hub plan?
Yes, absolutely. Your business needs change, and your support should adapt accordingly. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time.
What's included in the AI chatbot support?
The AI chatbot provides instant answers to common HR questions 7am-7pm, 7 days a week. It covers employment law basics, policy guidance, and general HR queries. For complex situations or specific advice about your business, you'll need the Growth or Premium plans that include telephone support with a qualified HR professional.
Do unused telephone hours roll over?
On HR Hub plans, hours are per-month allocations and don't roll over. However, on Retainer Packages (part of Synergise HR Consultancy), unused hours roll over for up to 3 months.
What add-ons are available for HR Hub members?
- Extra Telephone Hours - £75/hour
- Tribunal Support Package - £2,500
- Custom Policy Suite - £750
- HR Audit - £495
Synergise HR Consultancy Questions
What's the difference between a Fractional HR Director and a Retainer Package?
- Fractional HR Director - I'm embedded in your business with regular presence (1-3 days per week), attending leadership meetings, overseeing HR operations, and driving strategic initiatives. It's genuine fractional leadership.
- Retainer Packages - You have guaranteed hours each month for consultancy support, strategic planning sessions, and access for advice, but without the regular on-site presence. It's flexible support rather than embedded leadership.
How do you charge for HR Projects?
HR Projects are scoped individually with a fixed price agreed upfront. Pricing depends on the complexity and size of your organisation. For example:
- Organisational Restructure: £5,000-£15,000
- Culture Transformation: £8,000-£20,000
- Employee Handbook: £3,500-£6,000
- Talent & Succession Planning: £4,000-£8,000
- HR Systems Implementation: £3,000-£10,000
- L&D Strategy: £4,500-£9,000
What if I need help with an employment tribunal?
I offer comprehensive tribunal support including case preparation, documentation, representation guidance, and ongoing support throughout the process. Pricing ranges from £5,000-£15,000 depending on complexity and duration. The earlier you involve me, the better the outcomes tend to be.
Can you line manage my internal HR staff?
Yes, this is included as part of the Fractional HR Director service if you have internal HR team members who would benefit from leadership and development support.
What's included in the Investigation Package?
The £2,500 Investigation Package includes conducting a full independent investigation (interviews, evidence gathering), a detailed report with findings, and clear recommendations for next steps. It's structured to withstand tribunal scrutiny.
Coaching Questions
What's the difference between Executive Coaching and Leadership Development Coaching?
Executive Coaching - 90-minute sessions designed for senior leaders navigating complexity, strategic decisions, and high-stakes challenges. It's deeper, more strategic work.
Leadership Development Coaching - 60-minute sessions focused on building core leadership capability, particularly for emerging managers or those transitioning into leadership roles.
Can I buy single coaching sessions or do I need a package?
You can do either. Single sessions are available at £250 (Executive) or £175 (Leadership/Career), or you can buy packages that offer better value per session. Many clients start with a single session to see if we're a good fit, then commit to a package.
Do you offer refunds if I can't attend a coaching session?
Sessions can be rescheduled with 48 hours notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice are charged, as that time has been reserved for you.
What team workshops do you offer?
Current workshop topics include:
- Leading Through Change
- Having Difficult Conversations
- Building Psychological Safety
- Performance Management Essentials
- Creating a Coaching Culture
Workshops are available as half-day (3 hours, £1,200) or full-day (6 hours, £2,000) for up to 12 participants. Bespoke workshops on other topics available on request.
Can you deliver workshops virtually?
Yes, all workshops can be delivered in-person, virtually, or as a hybrid depending on your needs and team location.
HRIS Partner (Breathe HR) Questions
Why Breathe HR specifically?
Breathe is the UK's most popular HR software for SMEs for good reason - it's affordable, intuitive, UK-specific, and designed for businesses with up to 250 employees. It handles the essentials (leave, absence, documents, performance) brilliantly without overwhelming you with features you don't need.
Can't I just sign up to Breathe directly?
You can, but partnering with me means you get expert implementation, data migration support, tailored training, and ongoing help - ensuring the system is set up properly from day one and your team uses it confidently.
How much does Breathe HR cost?
Breathe pricing is based on employee count, starting from £22/month for 1-10 employees. It's per-business pricing, not per-user, so it's genuinely affordable as you grow. Optional add-ons (Recruitment, Expenses, Rota, Learn) available if needed.
What's included in your implementation package?
Discovery & setup (configuring Breathe to match your processes), data migration (cleaning and importing your employee data), training (for admins, managers, and employees), and go-live support (troubleshooting during your first weeks).
Is my employee data secure with Breathe?
Yes. Breathe is UK-based, GDPR-compliant, and ISO27001 accredited. Your data is stored in UK data centres with industry-standard encryption. It's designed specifically for UK businesses with UK data protection requirements.
Can Breathe integrate with our payroll system?
Yes, Breathe integrates with several payroll systems including Xero. It can export payroll-ready data, saving you time on manual data entry and reducing errors.
Pricing & Payment Questions
Do you offer payment plans?
- HR Hub subscriptions - Monthly direct debit
- Fractional HR Director - Monthly invoicing
- Retainer Packages - Monthly invoicing
- HR Projects - Typically 50% upfront, 50% on completion (or phased for larger projects)
- Coaching packages - Full payment upfront or split payment available for 12-session packages
- Tribunal Support - Phased payments based on stages
Are your prices inclusive of VAT?
No, VAT is added to all prices where applicable.
Do you offer discounts for charities or non-profits?
I assess these on a case-by-case basis. Get in touch to discuss your specific situation.
What's your cancellation policy?
- HR Hub - Cancel anytime with 30 days notice
- Retainer Packages - Cancel anytime with 30 days notice
- Fractional HR Director - 6-month minimum engagement, then 30 days notice
- Coaching sessions - 48 hours notice for rescheduling
Getting Started Questions
How do I get started?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll discuss your situation, explore what would work best, and I'll give you honest guidance about the right approach for your business. No pressure, no hard sell.
What happens on a discovery call?
We'll talk about your business, your current HR challenges, what's keeping you up at night, and what success looks like. I'll explain how I work and which of my services might be the best fit. You'll leave with clarity about your options - whether you decide to work with me or not.
How quickly can we start once I decide to proceed?
- HR Hub - Immediate access once subscribed
- Retainer Packages - Can typically start within a week
- Fractional HR Director - 2-3 weeks for proper onboarding
- HR Projects - Depends on my schedule and project scope, typically 2-4 weeks
- Coaching - Usually within 1-2 weeks
- Breathe HR Implementation - Typically 2-4 weeks from kick-off to go-live
Do you offer free consultations?
The discovery call is free - it's a no-obligation conversation to explore if we're a good fit. Any work beyond that (advice, document review, etc.) would be charged appropriately or as part of your chosen service.
Can I switch between services?
Absolutely. Your needs change as your business grows, and I'm here to adapt with you. Many clients start with HR Hub and later need Fractional HR Director support, or vice versa.
Getting Started Questions
If your question isn't answered here, I'd love to hear from you.
I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.
Jo Jinks HR Consultancy
A service provided by Synergise HR Ltd
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