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HR that works for real people. And always comes with cake.

We help small businesses handle all the human bits. With strategy, kindness, and no jargon. Practical, approachable HR that fits how you actually work.

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Elegant three-tiered chocolate cake with dramatic chocolate shards

People-centred HR for small businesses

At Kate Underwood HR & Training, we believe small businesses deserve HR that's as smart and capable as any big corporate setup — just delivered with more heart (and more cake).

We mix decades of HR experience with common sense, clear advice, and genuine care for your people. Whether you're hiring, restructuring, or navigating the day-to-day, we make it simpler, kinder, and a whole lot more human.

Our values (and why they matter)

These are our company values, what are yours? Values can be linked to a whole host of things including job descriptions, appraisals and gives your team a real focus on what is important to you as a business.

Effective

Reliable commercial HR Advice that delivers the required outcome to our clients.

Empowering

Giving clients the tools they need so they can do what they do best.

HR Expert

At the forefront of innovative, consistent and current HR Advice.

Passionate

Strive to inspire and go beyond the expected.

Genuine

Committed to earning lasting trust through honesty and transparency.

Ingenious

Lead the way in HR Technology that makes life easier for all our clients.

The humans behind the HR

Meet the team that makes it all happen (with a little help from our four-legged colleague).

Kate Underwood

Kate Underwood

Founder & Chief People Strategist

Calm-in-a-Crisis Officer & Chief Baker

Nearly three decades in HR and still finds joy in helping small businesses grow with confidence. Known for her "no-nonsense with heart" approach. Practical, commercial, and always human (usually with cake).

Becca Bird

Becca Bird

People Operations & Client Happiness Lead

Admin Ninja & Client Cheerleader

The glue that keeps everything together. Becca runs the details, keeps clients smiling, and ensures every process is smooth, clear, and stress-free.

Hannah Armstrong

Hannah Armstrong

People Projects & Improvement Consultant

No-Faff Fixer & Future-Proofer

Hannah's all about efficiency and calm order. She makes HR systems work smarter, not harder — and she's allergic to unnecessary faff.

H

H

Chief Wellbeing Officer

Head of Snuggles & Treat Patrol

Our four-legged colleague, wellbeing champion, and morale booster. Lowers stress, raises smiles, and reminds us that every tough conversation deserves a biscuit break.

In the Press

Recent media coverage and expert commentary

View all
Daily Express faviconDaily Express

Labour's 'working people' spin shows just how out of touch they are

Labour claims to be the party of working people - but who among us fit into their narrow definition?

Read article
Newspage faviconNewspage

Amazon Web Services outage 'exposes critical flaw' in business continuity

Barclays, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and more banks experienced significant disruption due to the outage

Read article
Newspage faviconNewspage

Pizza Hut 'stuck in the middle' as UK dine-in arm collapses

Pizza Hut's UK dine-in restaurants enter administration amid rising costs and shifting consumer habits, with experts blaming a 'brutal market squeeze'.

Read article
View all press coverage

Real HR. Real people. Real results.

We talk like humans, not textbooks.

We mix strategy with sleeves-rolled-up practicality.

And we partner with clients for the long haul — because when your people thrive, so does your business.

We'll bring the HR know-how; you bring the coffee. Between us, we'll probably find an excuse for cake.

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Areas Covered

We provide HR consulting services for small business owners across the UK, including:

Hampshire (Andover, Basingstoke, Fareham, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester), New Forest, London, Dorset (Bournemouth), Surrey (Guildford, Farnham)

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Quick Contact

  • Kate Underwood HR & Training

    32b, New Forest Enterprise Centre,

    Chapel Lane, Totton,

    Southampton SO40 9LA

  • 02382 025160
  • hello@kateunderwoodhr.co.uk

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