About
Saltwater HR
Hi,
I'm Nicky, the founder of Saltwater HR.
My career in HR and specialist recruitment started back in 2006. Over the years, I worked across agency hiring, in-house teams, and hands-on HR administration and advisory work, before stepping away to have my children. In 2024, knowing that I wanted to return to HR full time, I self-funded my CIPD Level 5 qualification to formalise my return and subsequently founded Saltwater HR.
Having worked in in-house HR, I saw first hand how large HR helplines often tie small businesses into long contracts, offering advice that isn't always commercial or practical, especially for businesses without an HR team or a formal management structure to fall back on. I wanted to do things differently: build real relationships locally, and give small businesses HR support that is honest, flexible, and reasonably priced, delivered by someone who listens, speaks plainly, and is genuinely invested in getting the right outcome for you and your team. I do not oversell, I will never use corporate waffle unironically, and if I can see a simpler way for you to achieve something and save money, I will tell you straight.
My working style blends operational structure with the practical reality of employing people. Alongside my CIPD qualification, I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Employment Law and am qualified as an ISO 9001 auditor. That background feeds directly into how I review setups, draft airtight contracts, and streamline processes; getting the detail right early saves an enormous amount of stress later.
When it comes to workplace relationships, my rule is straightforward: treat people fairly, act ethically, and do what you say you are going to do. I work with employers who genuinely care about doing things properly. As your named consultant, you deal directly with me: no staff reading from a script, no call centres, and no guesswork. Where specialist projects require extra hands, I collaborate with a trusted network of peers, ensuring you always get the right expertise while keeping a consistent relationship at the core.
I love learning, untangling problems, and meeting fellow business owners. I am always happy to catch up for a chat and a cuppa (virtual or in person) to discuss all things business, so please feel free to drop me a note. I'd love to learn more about your business and how I can support you.
Nicky
More about Saltwater
Proudly independent!
We stay small on purpose. Saltwater HR isn't a scaled-down version of a big HR provider, it's built differently from the ground up, and that shapes everything about how we work with you.
Here's what that means for you:
One point of contact, always. You'll never be handed off to someone new halfway through a problem, and you won't have to re-explain your situation to a different voice every time you call. The person who knows your business is the person you speak to.
Decisions made quickly. There's no layer of management to check in with, no ticket system, no waiting for a case to be escalated. If you need an answer, you get one, fast, from someone who already understands the context.
Advice shaped around your business, not a script. We don't work from a call centre template or a generic playbook. Every recommendation is based on your team, your culture, and your specific situation, not a one-size-fits-all policy that happens to be legally compliant.
Continuity that actually means something. The same consultant who wrote your handbook last year is the one who picks up the phone this year. That means less time spent bringing someone up to speed, and more time spent solving the actual problem in front of you.
Direct access, not a gatekeeper. You're not routed through a junior consultant or a support team before reaching someone who can actually help.
Big HR providers sell scale. We sell attention, and for small and growing businesses, that difference is often what makes HR feel manageable instead of like one more thing to fight against.
