Case studies

No matter how strong your expertise or extensive your experience, setting up in business can be a daunting prospect.

So as the first franchisee setting up The HR Dept Western Suburbs Perth as the company launched into Australia, you might think Pia Engstrom would be justified in feeling a little apprehensive.

Fortunately, Pia chose to partner with a franchise network with well over a decade of solid track record in supporting HR professionals to set up their own businesses.

“I worked as a senior manager in the mining and oil and gas industry,” Pia said. “I enjoyed the work, however with two school aged children, I wanted more flexibility and work-life balance.

“I have worked for a number of companies that did not believe in working from home. I had to be in the office for the minimum 38 hours per week plus overtime, as I was a senior manager. I have worked for a few global organisations, so I had to speak to the UK and other countries on a regular basis – in my time, at night, at home. I was constantly rushing around and I felt like I spent too much time away from my children.

“Although I would have loved to go back to work part-time after both my maternity leaves, the companies did not encourage workplace flexibility and their beliefs were that I needed to be there full-time. This meant that my children were either in day care or we had a live in au pair.”

It’s a common theme among franchisees at The HR Dept. Excellent, highly qualified HR professionals who have become dissatisfied and disenfranchised with corporate life and know they have something to
offer the SME community. It’s just a question of how.

Launched in 2003, The HR Dept has helped more than 65 HR practitioners set up independent businesses in territories across the UK and Ireland.

After all the secret behind the success of The HR Dept is the consistency of its brand values – collaboration, support, a personal and local service. It applies between the management of the company and its franchisees just as much as between the HR professional and the small business owner.

“I saw an advertisement that The HR Dept was launching in Australia and looking for franchisees to grow the network,” says Pia. “The model is perfect for me, not just because of the advice and support it has to offer small businesses but because of the backing it gives to its franchisees.

“Having that network there, knowing there’s a successful UK company supporting the Australia venture with an established brand identity aimed at mutual prosperity – it ticked all the boxes.”

Of course, with Pia looking to grow her client base in the Western Suburbs of Perth.

“It’s a challenging time for many businesses in Perth,” she said, “especially in the recovery from the economic downturn in mining and oil and gas”. On a positive note HR is relatively immune from economic fluctuations and the demand for outsourced HR from the SME community remains strong.

“Every business wanting to grow or become more efficient and effective needs to be aware of the legislation, that will enhance or stimmy their objectives. Through the HR Dept Western Suburbs Perth I can offer the type of support you would receive from an in-house HR director but when you need it and a price SMEs can afford.

“It is easy for small business owners to dismiss the HR side of the business when things are running smoothly, but this can lead to costly mistakes and has the potential to have negative repercussions.”

And acts as a trailblazer for future franchisees as The HR Dept recruits new partners across Australia.

UK based, Gemma Tumelty and the Australian team together are responsible for the growth of the business as they bring on new territories to the network. Their focus is on ensuring the same exceptional franchisee support and service enjoyed by the UK network is replicated here.

Prospective new franchisees looking to set up their own HR businesses in Australia will look to people like Pia to demonstrate the potential for success and support those who may be feeling the same sense of pre-launch trepidation.

“but with The HR Dept you’ve got years of collective experience in running franchises, all the marketing support necessary to get your business off the ground, and a wealth of knowledge on HR advice for small businesses.

“I’d say to anyone who wants to join the network in Australia to absolutely go for it. It’s a challenge but an incredibly exciting one and together we can all work to build something really special for the SME community here.”