“My clients love Breathe. It provides a great solution and it's reasonably priced. There's lots of added extras that are nice to have, and they get value for money from that."
- Vicky Smith, Founder of Cinnamon HR
How it started 👇
Cinnamon HR consultancy, was founded by Vicky Smith in 2018. Initially, the business was a way to achieve a better work-life balance compared to her previous role as a Head of HR. From small beginnings, Vicky aspired to grow her business significantly. A turning point came in 2020 when she lost a tender for a renewable energy company. The feedback from the potential client highlighted a critical gap: the lack of an integrated HR software system, which ultimately influenced Vicky's decision to seek a partnership with an HR software provider.
"I was really gutted that Cinnamon didn't win this tender... He literally said in no uncertain terms, 'You know, you would have pipped them at the post if you'd offered an HR system'."
The catalyst for change 💥
Vicky was disappointed after losing to a competitor, however, the feedback she received was invaluable; revealing that while her pricing and responsiveness were competitive, the absence of an HR software system was a significant disadvantage. The competing provider's use of an HR system made them appear more robust and capable. A lightbulb moment - this insight prompted Vicky to explore HR software solutions to enhance her service offering.
Find a solution ✅
During the quieter summer months, Vicky conducted thorough research into various HR software options. Despite her extensive experience with HR systems in larger organisations, she had not considered Breathe initially. However, after enquiring and reviewing materials, she quickly recognised Breathe’s offerings resonated with the needs of her smaller clients'.
"I had experience of other HRIS's but for bigger organisiations so Breathe wasn't even on my periphery, but I'd done a load of due diligence and just knew from really early doors that this is definitely going to be an enabler and help me in my business."
Joining the Partner Programme 💻
Initially connected with Faye, her account manager, Vicky felt genuinely supported thanks to the responsiveness and encouragement she received. While the financial incentives of the partnership are beneficial, the sense of being part of a supportive and collaborative team stood out as the primary advantage to Vicky. While that was four years ago, to this day she still values the sense of belonging and community within the Partner Programme, which alleviates the loneliness that can come with running a small business.
"Faye has become integrated as a key member of our team. We are so lucky to have such an engaged and knowledgeable Account Manager. It was meant to be as she was the first person I ever spoke to at Breathe."
Key benefits:
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User-Friendly Software: Vicky emphasises the ease of use of the Breathe system. Despite not being particularly tech-savvy, she finds it straightforward to navigate, making it easy to demonstrate to her clients'.
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Comprehensive Functionality: The system offers more features than many other HR software options, providing significant value for money. The functionality hits the right spot for her clients; recording people data, tracking absences, booking leave, 121 notes, and housing HR documents to name a few.
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Community and Support: The Partner Programme’s community aspect and the support from account managers create an environment that fosters genuine collaboration and friendships rather than competition among partners.
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Financial Incentives: While secondary to the community benefits, the commission structure provides a valuable additional revenue stream for Cinnamon HR.
"I'm not really an IT person but if I can use it then you know it's user friendly and that's the sell. My clients don't want a hugely configurable complicated system, people like it. They like being able to organise their people data and it does a lot more than other systems."
Impact on business 🚀
Vicky’s partnership with Breathe has been transformative for Cinnamon HR. The integration of a comprehensive, user-friendly HR system has not only enhanced her service offering but also provided a sense of community and support that is invaluable for a small business owner. Through this partnership, Cinnamon HR has been able to better meet client needs and position itself more competitively in the local area and further afield.
"I love being part of a bigger supportive team with all the other Breathe partners. Essentially on paper we're competitors but you never feel like that, you can help each other and I do feel that sense of belonging. I would never have grown Cinnamon HR as I have if I didn't have Breathe. With 30 of our loyal clients currently using Breathe it is an important part of our service offering."
