Scaling Smarter: How HR Consulting Helps You Grow Without The Overhead Mike Markham

Mike Markham - The HR Man

33:58

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still holds. Then they play it. Just the song, and the truth behind it." Find Open Folk on Instagram: @openfolkla Find Gaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K9pSmFx0kWESA9jqx8aCW?si=Wz4RUP88Qlm_RKs7QTLvWQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gaby-moreno/472697737 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/ Find Lily on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p0ksmwMDQlAM24TWKu4Ua?si=Bmdg-uIUTHu-zRUc_dqL3g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-kershaw/526884610 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilykershaw/ Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3u50TPoLvMBXNT1KrLa3iT?si=OoLoq7ZTRZyUiytQcz0FsQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-spaite/905076868 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesspaite/ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus , where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Mike Markham - The HR Man »
Scaling Smarter: How HR Consulting Helps You Grow Without the Overhead

about a year ago 20:29

M4A•Episode home

Growing a business isn’t just about selling more—it’s about building the right structure to support that growth. In this episode, Mike from Cavell HR dives deep into why scaling without the right HR foundations is a recipe for chaos, and how working with an HR consultant gives you the flexibility, expertise, and structure you need to grow with confidence.

We explore:

What an HR consultant actually does (and how it differs from in-house hires)
The 6 levels of HR support every growing business should understand
Real talk on retainers vs. fixed-fee support—and how to avoid hidden HR costs
Why investing in the right people strategy will save you time, stress, and money
The 4 biggest reasons working with a consultant will help you scale faster

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or leading a growing care provider, this episode will help you rethink your HR strategy with clarity and confidence.

-----Read the full article that inspired this episode: guide.cavellhr.co.uk-----

🌱 Stay Ahead. Stay Supported.

At Cavell HR, we’re here to support Health & Social Care leaders with real-world, people-first HR advice that actually works—no fluff, no jargon.
When you join our community, you’ll get:

✅ Early access to guides and articles
✅ Free tools to reduce cost and increase confidence
✅ Up-to-date HR insights tailored for Health & Social Care
✅ Invites to exclusive briefings and support sessions

📥 Download our latest guide: guide.cavellhr.co.uk
🔔 Subscribe to this podcast to stay in the loop
📞 Book a confidential HR call

21 episodes

Scaling Smarter: How HR Consulting Helps You Grow Without the Overhead

Mike Markham - The HR Man

published about a year ago

M4A•Episode home

We explore:

What an HR consultant actually does (and how it differs from in-house hires)
The 6 levels of HR support every growing business should understand
Real talk on retainers vs. fixed-fee support—and how to avoid hidden HR costs
Why investing in the right people strategy will save you time, stress, and money
The 4 biggest reasons working with a consultant will help you scale faster

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or leading a growing care provider, this episode will help you rethink your HR strategy with clarity and confidence.

-----Read the full article that inspired this episode: guide.cavellhr.co.uk-----

🌱 Stay Ahead. Stay Supported.

At Cavell HR, we’re here to support Health & Social Care leaders with real-world, people-first HR advice that actually works—no fluff, no jargon.
When you join our community, you’ll get:

📥 Download our latest guide: guide.cavellhr.co.uk
🔔 Subscribe to this podcast to stay in the loop
📞 Book a confidential HR call

21 episodes

All episodes

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Scaling Smarter: How HR Consulting Helps You Grow Without the Overhead 20:29

11 weeks ago20:29

20:29

Growing a business isn’t just about selling more—it’s about building the right structure to support that growth. In this episode, Mike from Cavell HR dives deep into why scaling without the right HR foundations is a recipe for chaos, and how working with an HR consultant gives you the flexibility, expertise, and structure you need to grow with confidence. We explore: What an HR consultant actually does (and how it differs from in-house hires) The 6 levels of HR support every growing business should understand Real talk on retainers vs. fixed-fee support —and how to avoid hidden HR costs Why investing in the right people strategy will save you time, stress, and money The 4 biggest reasons working with a consultant will help you scale faster Whether you’re hiring your first employee or leading a growing care provider, this episode will help you rethink your HR strategy with clarity and confidence. -----Read the full article that inspired this episode: guide.cavellhr.co.uk ----- 🌱 Stay Ahead. Stay Supported. At Cavell HR, we’re here to support Health & Social Care leaders with real-world, people-first HR advice that actually works—no fluff, no jargon. When you join our community, you’ll get: ✅ Early access to guides and articles ✅ Free tools to reduce cost and increase confidence ✅ Up-to-date HR insights tailored for Health & Social Care ✅ Invites to exclusive briefings and support sessions 📥 Download our latest guide: guide.cavellhr.co.uk 🔔 Subscribe to this podcast to stay in the loop 📞 Book a confidential HR call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Health & Social Care NEEDS to consider this in 2025... 13:47

28 weeks ago13:47

13:47

I hate sales funnels and being pitched just as much as you do, but if you're curious about how we help Health & Social Care businesses to save Thousands of £s and more beyond these videos the link below will explain more. No bullshit and no pressure, just helpful support during extremely challenging times for the sector to be found there. Check it out…. https://www.productivitybooster.co.uk To access our 2025 Checklist, specifically for Health & Social Care Businesses use the link below: http://2025checklist.cavellhr.uk --- 👉Please Subscribe to get more of our videos! 👉Find us on Social Media @cavellhr Anyway, on with the video……

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Growth in Health & Social Care Businesses Is Over Rated 27:42

1 year ago27:42

27:42

Okay, I hate being led to a funnel that leads into a hard pitch just as much as the next guy, but if you’re curious about how we help health and social care business beyond just these videos, my link below will explain. No bullshit, no hard sell and no “FrEe TrAiNinG” to be found. Check it out… https://www.productivitybooster.com I also share more helpful content and support on my LinkedIn, come and connect with me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-markham/ Anyway, let’s get on with the video… _ Growth and business growth is discussed as just a natural desire and need. But, and without being political, with the current General Election we heard people discussing and arguing with why Growth is needed at all and whether we should be accepting of our lot in life and sustainability. This got me thinking about how this would affect a Health and Social Care business and whether it should be naturally seeking to grow or seeking for just sustainability. In this video we explore these elements and whether growth for Health and Social Care businesses is what we should be striving for? Thanks Mike 🙂 Book a no pressure Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cavellhr/discovery-call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Health & Social Care: This 1 Thing Ain't For You 39:02

1 year ago39:02

39:02

Okay, I hate being led to a funnel that leads into a hard pitch just as much as the next guy, but if you’re curious about how we help health and social care business beyond just these videos, my link below will explain. No bullshit, no hard sell and no “FrEe TrAiNinG” to be found. Check it out… https://www.productivitybooster.com I also share more helpful content and support on my LinkedIn, come and connect with me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-markham/ Anyway, let’s get on with the video… _ Okay so HR is not for everyone and you may think it’s not for your Health & Social Care Business. Now, whilst I believe a business over 10 staff should really consider this support, you’d say I would because we provide HR Services to businesses in the Health & Social Care business. So, I do not want you to take my word for it…NO. In this video we deep dive into why HR actually may be one of the main things you actually DO need in your business. But, whilst it may be needed, remember not all HR services are equal but you need support that helps increase productivity as well as the ‘police force’ side of HR. Thanks Mike 🙂 Book a no pressure Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cavellhr/discovery-call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Managers in Health & Social Care need to know this... 18:21

1 year ago18:21

18:21

Okay, I hate being led to a funnel that leads into a hard pitch just as much as the next guy, but if you’re curious about how we help health and social care business beyond just these videos, my link below will explain. No bullshit, no hard sell and no “FrEe TrAiNinG” to be found. Check it out… https://www.productivitybooster.com I also share more helpful content and support on my LinkedIn, come and connect with me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-markham/ Anyway, let’s get on with the video… _ Managers have a huge impact on their teams, the people they can attract and keep and also on the business and its success overall. The Mindset of Managers is so key and impactive, which is why we’re exploring this in our video and particularly how it can impact your Health and Social Care business. Thanks Mike 🙂 Book a no pressure Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cavellhr/discovery-call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Is Outsourced HR Right For Your Health & Social Care Business? 32:52

1 year ago32:52

32:52

Okay, I hate being led to a funnel that leads into a hard pitch just as much as the next guy, but if you’re curious about how we help health and social care business beyond just these videos, my link below will explain. No bullshit, no hard sell and no “FrEe TrAiNinG” to be found. Check it out… https://www.productivitybooster.com I also share more helpful content and support on my LinkedIn, come and connect with me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-markham/ Anyway, let’s get on with the video… _ Outsourcing your HR is not always the right thing for your Health and Social Care business, but in this video we explore the key considerations and what the other alternatives could be. We also explore how not all HR or Outsourced HR is made equally and how you should be careful what you wish for and how much control you’re willing to exchange for it. Thanks Mike 🙂 Book a no pressure Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cavellhr/discovery-call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
How To Manage Your Health & Social Care Business 9:52

1 year ago9:52

9:52

Okay, I hate being led to a funnel that leads into a hard pitch just as much as the next guy, but if you’re curious about how we help health and social care business beyond just these videos, my link below will explain. No bullshit, no hard sell and no “FrEe TrAiNinG” to be found. Check it out… https://www.productivitybooster.com I also share more helpful content and support on my LinkedIn, come and connect with me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-markham/ Anyway, let’s get on with the video… _ Business on it’s own is a meaningless word. It’s actually is a descriptor of a number of different Functions that together form the ‘Business’ and support it to provide the services you do. So, if you want to improve your business what are the key Functions that achieve this and equally give the best services that enable you to grow? In this video, we look to explore this and the “Key” elements that drive every single Function in your Business that can achieve better services and growth but equally, if done wrong or neglected can harm your business. Thanks Mike 🙂 Book a no pressure Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cavellhr/discovery-call…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
How To Manage Difficult People 44:19

2 years ago44:19

44:19

The latest episode of The HR Man Show! The environments within our businesses MATTER. A large proportion of people will select their next role and employer based on the environments they will be working in. In this weeks episode we focus on how you manage the difficult people in your business. These people can really have a detrimental impact on your business and if you're not careful, you will keep the difficult people and lose the productive people. .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Managing Staff Performance 49:46

2 years ago49:46

49:46

In this weeks HR Man Podcast, we have an unexpected show! This show provides our actual Performance Management training that we provided to our private clients. To be clear...we do not normally share content that we often provide exclusively to clients, but this means you will get live actionable steps that you can take away and apply in your business. A common denominator in ALL businesses is the impact of performance concerns and then how we also manage what is a delicate and subjective issue. .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
5 Things Guaranteed To Harm Your Business 48:27

2 years ago48:27

48:27

These 5 Things are guaranteed to harm your business and to create sabotage from within. From experience these are also some of the most common areas within all businesses and will prevent your business from future progression. .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
How To Get Great People In Your Business 55:04

2 years ago55:04

55:04

It's never been harder to recruit not just anyone into our businesses, but GREAT People into our Teams and Business. There are around the same number of vacancies as there are people registered unemployed in the UK and the harsh reality is, you're unlikely to find your candidate from this pool. So what are we to do and how do we recruit great people? In this Podcast we explore just that! Get your FREE Employment Contracts Template for your business today by visiting enquiry.cavellhr.co.uk and registering your details :) .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
How To Increase Your Businesses Performance 51:31

2 years ago51:31

51:31

The Performance of our businesses is fundamental and underlying our ability to increase performance and productivity are the people within our businesses. Yes, this also applies to those Solopreneurs as their businesses are equally predicated on their own performance and productivity. So in todays Show we explore some key elements on how we can drive and increase the performance and productivity of our staff and in turn our businesses. .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
The Employment Law Changes In 2023 You Must Know! 47:40

2 years ago47:40

47:40

There are a raft of potential Employment Law Changes coming in 2023, some may come, some may not, some laws may go and other may change. In this Podcast we review the potential changes, and the possible Private Members Bills. One thing is for certain though, 2023 is going to be a crazy hard year for businesses and it could be argued that these raft of changes and the sheer potential numbers of changes could just add to the confusion and complexity. Let us know your thoughts! .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Why NHS Strikes Won't Solve The NHS Problems! 57:02

2 years ago57:02

57:02

Right now it feels as though at least once a week there is a strike somewhere, in multiple sectors and industries and all of them are seeking to increase their wages on the backdrop of the highest interest rates for over 40 years! The NHS, for a change is no different! With strikes from Nurses, Paramedics, Call Handlers and more. But in this Podcast we discuss why these strikes, even if they succeed in obtaining the 19% wage increases they desire, won't translate into a solution to the problems within the NHS. Note...this is not a political podcast but just a review of the current situation from our side and expertise, which are around HR and the People within businesses. .................................................................................................... Mike is the MD of Cavell HR and has over 18 years experience in supporting organisations of all sizes and in a wide variety of sectors in the UK. Our Podcast is designed to talk, discuss and teach on how all things around the human assets in organisations, employment laws and strategies that we must all consider😁! - If you would like to be on our Podcast or have areas you'd like us to focus on please contact us on info@cavellhr.co.uk - You can also find us and follow us on all other social media platforms as @cavellhr If you have enjoyed todays Podcast please like, subscribe and share our Podcast to help the channel to grow.…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Tutorial - Understanding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 50:05

5 years ago50:05

50:05

In this Tutorial we cover the recent Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, in which the Government have confirmed they will support jobs with a 80% salary support up to a maximum of £2,500. In this Tutorial we cover the following areas: 1. What are the Eligibility Criteria? 2. Furlough and the Underlying Principles; 3. Can Furloughed staff volunteer? 4. Do Furloughed staff still accrue Annual Leave? 5. Can I bring Furloughed staff back to work? 6. How can this work in your business? 7. How do you calculate individual pay? 8. Do you have to pay the additional 20%? 9. How do you apply for the Grant and when will businesses receive money? We are an expert HR and Payroll Consultancy and therefore the advice provided within our Tutorials is based on our expertise but also on guidance that has been outlined by the Government. Our advice is not based on other sources as we seek to ensure the guidance provided is as accurate as possible. However, should there be any further updates, we will of course release more videos around this to confirm it.…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Week 3 (Continued) - The second part of the Catering Association Interview on COVID-19 1:22:30

5 years ago1:22:30

1:22:30

This is the 2nd Interview on COVID-19 hosted by the Catering Association and Abedur Rahman Shimu. In this interview the guests were: - Mr Mike Markahm, HR and Payroll expert from Cavell HR; - Dr Aliar Hussain, Researcher & Programme Leader (Northumbria University London); - Dr Mohammed Ohidul Alam, FCSP FRCS MRCS (A&E), FRCEM Consultant Emergency Medicine, Conquest Hospital, Hasting, East Sussex; - Ms Habiba Chowdhury, Owner & Chef of My Curry Club (award winning cookery school); - Mr Ali Ahmed, General Secretary Caterers Association UK, and Restaurateur. You can find the Caters Associations Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thecauk/ We are an expert HR and Payroll Consultancy and we have many other tutorials on our YouTube and the advice provided within our Tutorials is based on our expertise but also on guidance that has been outlined by the Government. Our advice is not based on other sources as we seek to ensure the guidance provided is as accurate as possible. However, should there be any further updates, we will of course release more videos around this to confirm it…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Week 3 - The First Part of the Catering Associations COVID-19 Interview 31:47

5 years ago31:47

31:47

In this Podcast we were hosted by Abedur Rahman Shimu by the Caters Association and along with other delegates Khurram Qudus from Accountax World and Ali Ahmed, General Secretary of the Caters Association. We field some common questions around the Job Retention Scheme, accesses Grants and Loans and also Scams to avoid that have been raised by both members and non members of the Caters Association. You can find the Caters Associations Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thecauk/ We are an expert HR and Payroll Consultancy and within our Tutorials is based on our expertise but also on guidance that has been outlined by the Government. Our advice is not based on other sources as we seek to ensure the guidance provided is as accurate as possible. However, should there be any further updates, we will of course release more videos around this to confirm it.…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Week 2 - The One on Good Friday with Positivity 7:06

5 years ago7:06

7:06

In this Episode and at the height of the Coronavirus we explore the gift of Positivity on this Good Friday and spread a message of reasons to be grateful. Yes many business and families up and down the Country are feeling the pain of our current times, but perversely at a time of isolation Britain has once again found a way of uniting and coming together for everyone in our communities. After the Winter comes the Spring! The Crisis will not last forever, we will defeat this and we will be able to build again! Stay home, protect the NHS and save lives!…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Week 1 - The One with the Coronavirus 1:10:42

5 years ago1:10:42

1:10:42

In this weeks podcast, there is simply no way of avoiding it as the Coronavirus spreads across the Globe and this week we've explored areas that Business should be considering here in the UK and how you can complete some basic Housekeeping to prepare for any concerns. The areas covered this week include: The 5 things your Business should be aware of from Employment Law changes in April 2020 (1.42); How Nasty Managers never prosper (13.35); How to play to the Right Audience (27.33); Preparing for the Coronavirus (39.45); Providing a Sense of Belonging (59.36). Catch the next Podcast next week, same place and same time from where ever you access your Podcasts!…

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Mike Markham - The HR Man (Trailer) 0:51

5 years ago0:51

0:51

Mike Markham - The HR Man

1
Get More Profits 15:42

6 years ago15:42