About Us - People Matters HR

About us

About us

We are People Matters HR – because your people matter!

People Matters HR are a growing team based in Bury, Greater Manchester.

We specialise in giving organisations business support with HR and H&S designed for all shapes and sizes of businesses.

Our USP is that we have a real personal touch. Working with you to be an extension of your business, our team visit you regularly and are not a faceless name in a call centre.

We are People Matters HR – because your people matter!

People Matters HR are a growing team based in Bury, Greater Manchester.

We specialise in giving organisations business support with HR and H&S designed for all shapes and sizes of businesses.

Our USP is that we have a real personal touch. Working with you to be an extension of your business, our team visit you regularly and are not a faceless name in a call centre.

Meet our People Matters HR team

Niel Cope - People Matters HR

Niel Cope
CEO

Niel Cope has developed people and organisations for over 30 years. He has strategic experience in private, public and charitable sectors.

Niel has an MA in Strategic HR Management, a Post Graduate qualification in Law and HR Development. He is a fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development (CIPD) and the Chartered Management Institute. Niel is also an accredited NLP coach and practitioner.

Yvonne Cope - People Matters HR

Yvonne Cope
Director

Yvonne runs the “engine room” at People Matters, keeping everyone in order and ensuring the business runs smoothly. She is responsible for all financial matters.

Samantha Croston - People Matters HR

Samantha Croston
HR Client Manager

Samantha has worked for People Matters HR since 2017 and has personal responsibility for several of our key clients, using her experience to manage complex casework. Sam is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and has a degree in HR Business and Management.

Sam has quickly become our in-house expert on BreatheHR.

Emma Lewis - People Matters HR

Emma Lewis
HR Client Manager

Emma has a long career history of working in ‘people centric’ and HR focused roles, spanning industries such as IT, Hospitality and Youth Development. She has extensive management experience and specialises in training, development and pastoral care. Like Sam, she is responsible for more complex case work and has responsibility for several larger clients. Having been a former client of People Matters HR before joining the team, she offers a unique perspective and understanding of our clients’ needs. Emma did her CIPD qualification at Blackburn University.

Steph Kirkman - People Matters HR

Steph Kirkman
Senior HR Advisor

Steph has joined People Matters HR in June 2021. Before that, she gained experience worked in HR for several years, passing her CIPD qualification whilst working for a busy construction company in Bolton as their in-house HR Advisor.  Steph was also a People Matters client, like Emma, and really understands the benefits of working along side us. She is the first point of contact for enquiries and bringing on board new clients. However, each team member performs a triage role one day a week, giving advice and support by phone and by video calls.

Gemma Hatton - People Matters HR

Gemma Hatton
Office Manager

Gemma joined the team in January 2022 and quickly made an impact on the team and on our clients. She has a proven pedigree as an Administrator and Office Manager in Legal Services, Coaching and serviced office management. Gemma has taken responsibility for managing recruitment administration and supporting the team, managing client’s BreatheHR accounts and the creation of contracts, handbooks and HR policies.

People Matters HR Greater Manchester

Mikala Davidson
HR Client Manager

Mikala joined People Matters HR in September 2023, after beginning her HR career in the care sector and then moving into the education industry. After graduating with a degree in Business Management she knew that HR is where she felt most passionate, this inspired her to carry out her CIPD at the University Centre in Blackburn.

People Matters HR Greater Manchester

We also have specialist
associates in:

  • Health and Safety
  • Occupational Health
  • Apprenticeships
  • Occupational Psychology
  • Recruitment and Selection
Sheska - People Matters HR

Sheska
Director of Barketing

Sheska is key member of the PMHR team. She looks after us all and is particularly partial to sharing our lunch. If you come to see us, Niel’s gentle giant will insist on meeting you but be warned; if you wear black clothes you will need a brush.

People Matters HR Greater Manchester

Luna
Barketing Apprentice

Bio coming soon.

People Matters HR Greater Manchester

Loki
Barketing Apprentice

Bio coming soon.

People Matters HR support businesses to manage and develop their people.

Our Mission

We provide our clients with high quality, personal, ethical and professional people management support.

Our Vision

People Matters will become the premier People Management Company in the North.

Our Values

Our people and clients are extended members of our family and we treat them with respect and dignity. Just as importantly, we have fun!

At People Matters HR, we look after our own people so they will look after our clients as their priority. We celebrate their growth and development, just as we celebrate our own.

In all our dealings with people, we will always be legal, fair, moral and ethical, treating everyone as they deserve to be treated.

Our Awards

Breathe Partner awards 2021
Central England Prestige Awards 2022/21 winner
Global Awards winner 2020/21
Acquisition International
UK Enterprise Awards 2020
Small Business Sunday winner
Manchester 2019 awards winner
Breathe partner awards winner
Breathe Advocate of the Year winner

Our Partnerships

Platinum - Breathe Certified Partner
We Thrive Authorised Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will it cost to engage People Matters HR?

If you had 50 staff and wanted us to support you with our Established HR Department Business package it would be £533 per month plus VAT, so you get a full HR department, including HR software for £6400 per year plus VAT.

What does the established business package give me?

  1. Telephone support and advice by one of our qualified experienced HR team members.
  2. Creation and implementation of new contracts of employment for all staff. 
  3. Creation and Implementation of a new company staff handbook.
  4. Creation and implementation of a bespoke suite of HR policies. 
  5. Induction guidance to new help new staff understand feel part of the business. 
  6. Job descriptions and person specification guidance for all levels of the business to help with responsibility and accountability. 
  7. Appraisal and performance management guidance to support you in giving feedback and setting objectives to build a performance driven culture.
  8. Bespoke employment-related letters written for you by our team (no templates).
  9. BreatheHR, a GDPR compliant cloud-based system to reduce and streamline HR admin with a device app including all licenses, fully implemented and supported by People Matters HR, which includes:
    1. Application and recording of holidays.
    2. Recording and reporting of sickness.
    3. Recording, reporting and reminders for performance appraisal.
    4. Management system to record and remind people of training.
    5. Recording of disciplinary and grievance processes.
    6. Confidential secure system to hold and manage all HR records.

What if I need you to come in and support us on site?

You can pay by the hour, as and when we are needed. Alternatively, we can include this in your package so you pay monthly.

What is your hourly rate?

£105 per hour for a Client Manager, however, this is discounted to £75 per hour for retained clients who want to pay monthly, or £85 per hour if you want to pay as you go.

So, if I wanted to include one hour per month in my package for 50 people how much am I looking at?

By including one hour a month your annual fee is £7300 plus VAT, or £608 per month plus VAT.

Can I pay monthly then to help my cash flow?

Yes of course, all of our clients pay monthly. We send you a statement on the 1st of each month which is itemised. This is taken by direct debit on a date to suit you each month to help you budget.

What happens if I don’t need you to come in?

Don’t worry, you wont lose out. The hours roll over and are banked for when you need them.

However, after 12 months we will talk to you about using the banked hours up to support your growth with an activity which will add value to your business. Such as Leadership Development, Coaching, Organisational Development, DISC profiling etc.

I’ve heard that some HR companies sign you up for 5 or even 7 years, how long are your contracts?

We won’t ever do that! Our contracts are 2 years or 3 years at maximum.

The three-year contract is reserved for clients on the Exceptional Business Partnership Package. That’s only because it’s a change management project and will add value to every part of your business and it takes three years to deliver and bed in. We will, however, talk to you about break clauses if required.

What happens if we have financial problems or we lose/sell our business?

We promise that we will never unreasonably hold you until the end of a contract if the worst should happen.  Talk to us, we understand businesses and people and we only want to work with happy clients.

Want to know more?

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss or want further details on any of our HR packages.