Running and growing an SME is hard enough
without the added stress of hiring challenges, HR headaches, or disengaged teams.
That's where I come in.
A Brief Intro: Who I Am
Hello! I'm Cath Patterson - mum of two lovely kind girls, and a HR consultant and hiring strategist.
With 24 years’ HR and recruitment experience plus first-hand insight as a small business founder, I help business owners and leaders overcome hiring and people challenges with practical, tailored guidance, advice and support.
Based in North Wales, I work with small and medium sized businesses to:
Develop workforce strategies - planning ahead to have the right people, in the right roles, at the right time - supporting growth.
Attract and retain great talent - through effective recruitment and onboarding that reflects your culture and drives retention.
Simplify HR and compliance - with clear, pragmatic advice so you can stay focused on running your business.
Facing People Challenges?
My recent work helping small businesses has included...
Developing workforce strategies aligned with business plans
Advising on talent attraction and crafting job adverts
Adding structure and consistency to recruitment and onboarding
Sitting on interview panels and coaching hiring managers
Guiding leaders to improve employee engagement and retention
Enhancing employee handbook and HR documentation
Mentoring an aspiring HR professional
Introducing HR software to improve efficiency
If ANY of these sound familiar, you’re not alone...
Hiring and people issues stealing your time and headspace
Struggling to attract and hire the right people
Managers making poor hiring decisions
High staff turnover draining time, money and momentum
Employee disengagement affecting productivity
No succession plan, risking long-term business resilience
Hiring and HR processes needing a health check (especially given the new Employment Rights Act due to come in force in 2026)
“Working with Cath feels like having a strategic hiring partner on your team. She doesn’t just help recruit; she challenges our thinking, refines our approach, and ensures every decision supports our long-term goals.
Her communication, encouragement, and expertise throughout the process have been invaluable in helping us hire the perfect people for our PR agency.”
Anthony Bullick
Managing Director
Outwrite PR Ltd
Client Feedback: Outwrite PR
HR Services
How I help SMEs
solve hiring and people challenges...
Workforce Planning
Develop strategic people plans - aligning current and future workforce needs, to ensure the right skills, roles, and capacity at the right time.
Talent Attraction Strategies
Advise on talent pools and best channels and methods, to reach, engage and attract ideal candidates.
Hiring Process Design
Design compliant, culturally-aligned recruitment and onboarding processes, to identify and engage talent, reducing costly hiring mistakes.
Interviewer Coaching
Equip managers to conduct effective interviews, enabling informed hiring decisions and improved experience for all.
Employee Engagement & Retention Strategies
Provide guidance on impactful engagement and initiatives, to boost workforce loyalty and productivity.
Recruitment Campaign Management
Lead talent attraction activities and early-stage selection, to swiftly identify suitable candidates and save your time.
“Cath has helped us set up our HR system, refine our job descriptions, write job adverts, and, in turn, grow our team by recruiting several key roles.
She’s professional, insightful, and genuinely great to work with. I’d highly recommend Cath to any growing business looking for practical, hands-on HR and recruitment support.”
Jody Goode
Managing Director
Snowdon Timber Products Ltd