Maximising award-win opportunities

HR firm maximises opportunities off the back of award win

The company has expanded across the Midlands, developed its service offering, and added a whole new arm to its brand WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

Never before was there such a good time for a company providing HR services to expand their business with a franchise model than during a global pandemic. It’s this type of sharpminded foresight that may have secured Nicki Robson the Businesswoman of the Year title at the Niche Business Awards 2021 in September.

Specialising in human resources for over 20 years, Nicki Robson owns and runs Breedon Consulting, providing small and medium-sized businesses with “really good support for their people-related stuff.” She’s never won an award for her work before, but has been a finalist in the Enterprising Women Awards 2021. Her Businesswoman of the Year trophy sits proudly on the coffee table at the Breedon head office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

“I always thought awards were things your mates just voted for you in,” Nicki admitted. “But when I had to go through the process of submitting information and being interviewed twice, I realised how much goes into it.

“I’ve never had so many comments on LinkedIn before, and that weekend in September after the ceremony, my phone was constantly pinging with people congratulating me. The team is so excited about it and it gives me a lovely, warm glow every time I look at it,” Nicki smiled.

On how being involved in the awarding process has benefitted the company, Nicki commented: “I’m not one for blowing my own trumpet, but when I sat back and looked at what we’ve achieved, I just went ‘wow!’ And that was when there was a global pandemic!”

Since Covid-19 hit the UK causing a nationwide lockdown, Breedon Consulting was inundated with calls and emails from companies all concerned about their employees and processes. Being in HR, the pandemic meant Nicki was working 15 hours on average each day talking on the phone to clients about furlough and other ‘people-related stuff’. It was only when she came up for air in late summer of 2020; when she decided to go ahead with a huge plan she’d been warming up before the coronavirus outbreak. Nicki turned Breedon Consulting into a franchise.

Brave or crazy you might be thinking at this point, but Nicki states: “Because HR was such an in-demand service, it was the best time to franchise. We’d developed our model and brought in two pilot franchisees in January this year – one in Northamptonshire and one in Buckinghamshire.

I sat back and looked at what we’ve achieved, and just went ‘wow!’ And that was when there was a global pandemic!

We’ve been adjusting the model and they’ve given us feedback along the way.”

Northamptonshire franchisee, Wendy Slater, told TheBusinessDesk East Midlands: “I was originally a client of Breedon Consulting and they provided much needed support for us as, business, which was tailored to our specific needs. I am now delighted to be joining Breedon HR on the other side of the table in Northamptonshire, working alongside the team at such an exciting time for the business. My personal and business values very much align with Breedon’s and I am looking forward to being part of their brand’s ambitious growth plans.”

On the morning of my call to Nicki, she’d also just received interest from another budding franchisee in Warwickshire. “Someone approached us just this morning and one reason she’s interested in us is because I won the Niche Business Awards Businesswoman of the Year award; she said it gives us so much credibility.

One judge of the Businesswoman of the Year category said: “Nicki has been able to demonstrate outstanding performance in key areas ranging from the financials of her company, performance during Covid and franchising her operation. This is Businesswoman of the Year stuff and I suspect that she is on the start of what looks like a very interesting journey ahead.”

The pandemic also provided the opportunity for Breedon to expand in terms of products. Nicki created a new employee engagement service as people headed back to the office, settled into working from home, or adapted to hybrid routines.

“Engagement levels have dropped since teams have begun new working arrangements. Teams that were once brilliant aren’t necessarily performing so brilliantly anymore as I think some people expected to go back to the office and things be exactly the same as before. But cultures and people have changed.”

And she’s not stopped at new locations and new services, she’s also created a whole new business. The Breedon brand now consists of Breedon Consulting, Breedon HR, and the latest venture, Breedon Continuous Improvement.

The new brand, Breedon Continuous Improvement, has been set up with her partner who has a background in operations management. They will be merging their vast experience of people improvement and process improvement techniques to help clients increase their performance and profitability.

“We’ve had so many opportunities arise off the back of winning that award,” Nicki told me, but it seems like she’s created her own opportunities since day one of Breedon Consulting.

Breedon HR will officially launch as a franchise in the New Year. To put your interest forward in becoming a franchisee, email info@breedonconsulting.co.uk.