Practical HR Support for Growing Businesses
Running a business is hard enough without having to worry about employment law, staff issues, or getting your HR documents right. That’s where we come in.
At Zest Expert HR Solutions, we provide flexible, on-demand HR consultancy services for small businesses across Basingstoke, Hampshire, and beyond – all with no ongoing retainer fees.
Whether you’re dealing with a tricky employee situation, need up-to-date contracts, or want to build the right foundations for a thriving team, our experienced HR consultants in Basingstoke are here to help.
We know most business owners don’t have the budget or need for a full-time HR manager. That’s why our service is designed to give you exactly what you need, when you need it – and nothing you don’t.
Click here to book a call and see how we can help your business thrive.
About Us
Led by experienced HR consultant Tara Anstee and supported by a team of trusted associates, we offer specialist expertise in TUPE, redundancies, HR strategy, recruitment, performance management, and more.
At Zest Expert HR Solutions, we believe effective HR is built on transparency, open communication, and collaboration. We take the time to understand your business, your people, and your goals — tailoring our services to deliver the support you actually need.
Our approach is practical, jargon-free, and always aligned with your commercial priorities. Whether you’re navigating a complex situation or planning long-term growth, we’re here to help you get it right.
“Tara is a results-oriented HR professional who exceeds expectations. She has saved us a considerable amount of time, money and stress in some very challenging circumstances. Tara is knowledgeable, a pleasure to work with and executes superbly. I am delighted with her service and recommend her highly.”
Ready to take the stress out of managing your people? Get in touch today.
Your Journey to Success
Client Testimonials
If you’re looking for a strategic HR partner that can help you take your business to the next level, get in touch with us today. Our team of experienced consultants are ready and waiting to support you on your journey to success.
Highly Recommended
We needed a review of our organisation structure, role descriptions and salaries and were delighted with the outcomes. Their approach was professional and demonstrated how quickly they were able to grasp our situation and issues. The final report was thorough and clear and presented easily understandable next steps and actions. I highly recommend their team.
Senior Leader, Registered Charity
Reliable, dedicated, trustworthy
Tara is reliable, dedicated, trustworthy and eternally upbeat. She has improved and implemented many procedures within the company and is highly regarded within the organisation. She has my highest recommendation, and I am happy to furnish more details if you would like additional information.
Technical Manager, Manufacturing
Help of Zest HR was invaluable
The help of Zest HR was invaluable and they were not only a pleasure to work with but provided clear and confident advice throughout.
Creative Director, Marketing Agency
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Case Study: Building the Foundations for Sustainable Growth
The Challenge
After 15 years of organic growth, this privately-owned IT services company – founded by two friends – had built a strong reputation and a loyal client base. But as the business grew, cracks began to show in the structure and culture.
- There were no formal reporting lines.
- Roles and responsibilities were blurred.
- Good people were working hard, but they lacked focus, ownership, and accountability.
The business was also feeling the impact of a tougher economic climate. Clients were pulling back on spend, and some were being overserviced due to a lack of clarity around scope and responsibility. Recruitment was reactive, and staff expectations weren’t always clear. Despite having a strong internal culture, the absence of a defined people strategy was holding the business back.
The founders recognised they needed external support to stabilise and scale – but didn’t know where to start.
Our Role
Zest HR were brought in as their retained HR partner to help the business build the solid foundations it needed for sustainable growth. Our approach was people-first, commercially focused, and rooted in practical action.
We began with one-to-one sessions with the founders and management team to align on the business’s vision and future direction. This included exploring what success looked like, both professionally and personally, and the kind of legacy they wanted to create.
We then mapped out the leadership structure:
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Who was responsible for what?
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Where were the overlaps?
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Who was actually being held accountable?
Once roles and responsibilities were clarified, we introduced OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to help the leadership team link day-to-day work to strategic business goals. This brought sharper focus, improved communication, and allowed the founders to manage performance in a more structured way.
We also worked across four key HR pillars:
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Employee Engagement – identifying what motivated the team and what needed to shift
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Recruitment – helping the business attract the right people with the right skills
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Training & Development – supporting growth, confidence and retention
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Performance Management – introducing consistent expectations and feedback loops
Finally, we carried out a full competitor analysis – not just to define their client proposition, but also to shape a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP). This helped the company position itself as an employer of choice in a competitive IT talent market.
The Impact
The business moved from informal, founder-led growth to a more confident, accountable, and future-ready model. Key outcomes included:
- Clear leadership roles and structure
- Improved communication and reporting
- Increased ownership at all levels
- Defined EVP to attract and retain talent
- Team felt relieved, motivated, and focused
What started as foundational work quickly evolved into a wider transformation, giving the founders confidence in their people strategy and clarity on how to scale sustainably.