“If an HR consultant asked me if they should take up Breathe, I would say absolutely do it. It will only improve the service you give to your clients.”
- Gemma Baxter, Founder of Hive HR Solutions
How it started 🌱
In 2017, Gemma founded Hive HR Solutions with a clear mission: to create a supportive HR consultancy where team members could rely on each other and where clients would receive tailored, impactful services. This goal arose from Gemma’s previous experiences in traditional employment settings, where she felt undervalued and wanted to create a different experience for her clients and team.
Before launching Hive HR Solutions, Gemma had worked across various roles in both public and private sectors. This diverse background gave her a thorough understanding of organisational needs, from large corporations to small businesses.
Establishing Hive HR Solutions 🐝
Hive HR Solutions started as a solo venture, with Gemma operating on her own for over three years. After building an initial client base, she expanded the team, now a group of six dedicated professionals who embody Gemma's values. These values include a commitment to tailored services, partnership, respect, creativity, and teamwork. Today, the Hive HR team remains focused on delivering personalised solutions that go beyond “off-the-shelf” approaches, prioritising their clients' unique needs in every engagement.
“Breathe allows us to be proactive with our clients. If we can see their data, we can help them so much more efficiently.”
Challenges in HR management 📝
In the early stages of running her consultancy, Gemma noticed a recurring issue with small business clients: managing holiday and sickness records was often inefficient or nonexistent. Many clients struggled to keep accurate records, leading to misunderstandings and administrative challenges. This realisation prompted her to search for an HR management tool to streamline these processes for her clients.
“In the early days, we were noticing that business owners were struggling to keep on top of holiday requests, and with sickness they were having issues but weren’t recording it.”
Partnering with Breathe ☁️
Gemma was introduced to Breathe through networking events and recommendations from fellow HR consultants. She was drawn to Breathe’s ease-of-use, affordability, and its tailored support system for small businesses. After joining the Breathe Partner Programme, she received comprehensive onboarding support through the Breathe Partner Academy, making the setup process quick and easy.
By integrating Breathe into its offerings, Hive HR Solutions has enhanced their ability to provide proactive support to clients. With Breathe, Gemma and her team can efficiently manage client data, empowering them to deliver actionable insights quickly. Clients benefit most from Breathe’s centralised document management system and the streamlined holiday tracking features, making it an invaluable tool for the small businesses they support.
"The Partner Programme at Breathe is brilliant. It creates a very supportive network of partners, but also the support you get from your Breathe account manager is second to none.”
The future vision 👁️🗨️
Hive HR Solutions is guided by a vision to grow sustainably, focusing on attracting and retaining high-quality clients who value tailored HR support. The team’s new tailored retainer model incorporates Breathe as a key component, allowing them to offer a proactive approach to HR management that aligns with clients’ evolving needs. This emphasis on curated client relationships is expected to drive Hive HR Solutions's future growth, with Breathe continuing to play an integral role in delivering reliable HR solutions.
"Breathe is integral to us at Hive HR Solutions and to our clients. I just see it as part of our new tailored retainers that Breathe will appear in those indefinitely."
Advice for other HR consultants 📢
Gemma encourages other HR consultants considering Breathe to pursue the partnership, as it significantly improves the level of service consultants can offer their clients. Breathe’s Partner Programme provides not only valuable software but also a network of supportive peers and responsive account management, which Gemma describes as “second to none.”
Gemma’s journey with Hive HR Solutions and her partnership with Breathe exemplify her commitment to delivering high-quality, tailored HR services - allowing her to focus on growth while ensuring clients receive the support and expertise they need to thrive.
“What our clients like most about the software is the centralisation of all their documents, both employee and company. The holiday management is much easier too, giving a clear visibility of who’s off at any one time.”
