People & Change Consulting
Are you a small or medium sized business planning a business change which will have an impact on your people? Perhaps you have a small in-house HR team without the capacity or specialist knowledge to undertake it? Or perhaps using external specialists is a deliberate and strategic approach to apply a level of independence.
That’s where Mahler Marrow Consulting steps in.
With experience in both ‘Big 4’ consulting and as an independent consultant, with 25 years of practical, operational and Board Level HR experience sandwiched in-between, I describe myself as an ‘HR generalist, with a specialism in change’!
I benefit from a broad sector experience and a deep understanding of organisational structures, from global matrixed to family run and charities.
As a committed explorer of different places and cultures, I particularly enjoy working with international businesses across cultures and timezones.
Typical Priority Areas
Consulting projects can take on a multitude of different shapes and sizes and a vitally important part of working with our clients is the initial scoping and defining of the requirements, scope and deliverables required. We work closely with you or your project sponsor to ensure that this is all agreed upfront and a project plan developed.
Throughout an engagement with our clients, we build in a cycle of progress reporting, reviews and feedback, so any course correction is identified and actioned swiftly.
How we work with you
As a trusted advisors and coaches to senior leaders and business owners, we aim to work in partnership with you and any other stakeholders. This means that we look to understand your pain points and challenge where this is necessary. Additionally, we always seek to conduct ourselves with compassion and empathy in times of uncertainty for your employees.
Successful People & Change consultancy projects completed include:
- TUPE: Managed a transfer of employment following a US led private equity acquisition of a group of UK companies, ensuring required legal and practical aspects of the transfer were delivered on-time and that ongoing employee engagement was maintained.
- Creation of investor-ready people initiatives: creation of employee engagement strategies in a post-MBO organisation, directly contributing to a double digit increase in valuation in advance of a private equity acquisition.
- Reorganisation and consultation: Planned, advised and supported an India based global client with no UK HR expertise, to conduct compliant, robust and compassionate redundancy consultations following a change to contract requirements.
- Culture development: Worked with a high-growth, acquisitive start-up to support their desire to create a people-centric culture, conducting stakeholder interviews and focus groups in order to develop a set of recommendations and a 3 year implementation plan. The organisation went on to achieve their ambition of a 3 star ‘Best Company to Work For” placing.
- Mergers & acquisitions: Worked closely with US consulting and in-house HR team of an international business to successfully deliver an HR integration programme including the implementation of a global HR handbook.
How it Works
Consulting projects can take on a multitude of different shapes and sizes and a vitally important part of working with our clients is the initial scoping and defining of the requirements, scope and deliverables required. We work closely with you or your project sponsor to ensure that this is all agreed up front and a project plan developed.
Discovery
An appropriately thorough review of the existing state of play and understanding of the vision of the organisation usually leading to a report deliverable.
Delivery
Subject to the findings from phase 1, the delivery phase could take a number of forms, ranging from consultant delivery of recommendations to the provision of an implementation plan and handover to internal delivery team.
If you are considering or facing a change within your business and could benefit from specific and specialist consultancy support why not get in touch for an introductory call, with no obligation and complete confidentiality assured.
People & Change Consulting Case Study
Engaged by a high-growth scale-up commercial business with ambitions to be a great place to work, to identify appropriate ways to achieve this:
- Discovery:
Carried out a review of the current position through:
- Stakeholder interviews
- Focus groups
- Document review
- Best practice research
- Delivery:
Produced a report and 3 year implementation plan setting out priorities which both ensured appropriate levels of compliance and best practice whilst contributing to culture development and strong employee engagement
Outcomes:
- Successful and successive top-level placings in nationally recognised employee opinion surveys
- Contribution to employee attraction and retention in a competitive market
- Contribution to continued growth of the business
Feedback from our Clients
It is a privilege to have worked with so many leaders in businesses and charities, as well as their talented people. It’s also wonderful to hear their feedback.
We engaged Sarah to support us in shaping our culture as an employer. Sarah listened to the brief and conducted a thorough review, encompassing multiple stakeholder input. The output delivered was to a very high standard and exactly what we needed. As well as sharing insight and best practice, Sarah’s report provided us with immediate recommendations and a practical plan for longer-term implementation. Sarah is professional and credible and we intend to continue working with her.
Ian O'Neill, Managing Director
Linnk Group
I had the pleasure of working with Sarah as we established IP House’s presence in the UK. She played a key role in helping us build the right HR framework and navigate the local landscape with professionalism and care. From day one, Sarah brought sound judgment, reliability, and a calm, solutions-focused approach to every situation. She was collaborative, steady under pressure, and always approached her work with integrity and balance. I’m very grateful for her support and would highly recommend her to any organization looking for an experienced and thoughtful HR professional.
Jan van Voorn
CEO, IP House
As an HR Director, Sarah is a valued and trusted advisor with a commercial and strategic outlook. She shows a genuine interest in the business operation and develops HR initiatives which support and drive business goals. Whilst working as part of my leadership team, as part of a very broad remit, Sarah successfully introduced an employee engagement strategy which increased engagement levels by 9% year on year, she achieved significant savings through efficient benefits management and developed an award-nominated apprenticeship programme. I particularly value Sarah's integrity, adaptability and ability to listen and challenge.
Andrew Preston
CEO, Geometric Results International Limited
Sarah’s enormous and highly varied sector experience allows clients to benefit from a smart, considered and strategic approach. Her calm, considered style and ability to balance tactical delivery with a big picture focus is a potent and effective mix. From engagement and complex legislative roll-outs to tackling modern slavery, I doubt there is a people initiative left that Sarah has not made a difference to.