she says. “However, I was offered a role as the HR Manager at a department store called Owen & Owen, where I had the opportunity to create a new function. A few months later, Sainsbury’s got in touch and offered me a job as the Personnel Manager for a store in Cambridge with a comprehensive training programme. Within six months, I was promoted to open a new store in St. Albans.”
Opening the store required the recruitment and training of over 500 staff. “The experience was remarkable,” says Sarah, “but I discovered that Sainsbury’s was too structured for my creative nature. A couple of more roles in the retail sector followed, and I was enticed into the world of management consulting. I gave up my steady job and joined them as an Associate, only to decide six months later that I could go it alone as an independent HR consultant.”
Like many Sarah set up her business in her spare room and started lining up her own clients. She identified a gap in the market offering HR services to SMEs and grew the business steadily, employing more people as she went. The business surged ahead with a contract with BT, and in ten years, her consultancy had a turnover of over £1m per annum and employed over 20 staff.
Setbacks and success
However, success wasn’t without its challenges and as a single parent Sarah faced setbacks along the way. In 2004 after three months off work following an operation, she returned to the business to find the client sales pipeline has dried up in her absence and the business was no longer viable. But her determination and passion for HR and entrepreneurship kept her moving forward, and she went on to build another successful HR consultancy, which was eventually acquired by Thomas International, where she took on the role of Head of HR and 360 Services. In her capacity as product author of her 360-degree feedback system she had an international remit to grow the services and build the knowledge across the 56 countries.
But corporate life long term wasn’t for Sarah, and she struck out on her own once again to combine direct HR consulting services with mentoring and coaching for HR professionals looking to leave the corporate world and start their own consultancy. Sarah has since mentored over 100 start-up businesses and is proud of the numerous awards she has received for her work in the industry.
As a senior HR professional, you know the importance of staying current and finding new ways to challenge yourself. Sarah’s personalised mentorship, guidance, and support is designed to do just that. Whether it be through developing and implementing effective HR strategies, building strong teams, or navigating the challenges of starting and growing a business, Sarah has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.
Sarah Hamilton-Gill is not just a seasoned HR consultant and entrepreneur, but also a thought leader in the industry. Her vast experience and expertise have been captured in her book, “Leap into HR Consulting: How to move successfully from Corporate to Consulting.” The book is aimed at in-house HR professionals who are considering making the leap into consulting, and provides them with practical guidance, tips, and insights to help them make the transition smoothly and successfully.
The book is based on Sarah’s more than three decades of experience as a consultant and covers everything from developing a personal brand, to building a client base, to running a successful consulting business. With this book, Sarah aims to leave a legacy that will accelerate the transition of HR professionals into consulting and help them avoid common pitfalls and make the most of their skills and expertise. “Leap into HR Consulting” was a finalist in the Business Book Awards 2021, further showcasing the value and impact that it has had on the industry.
Sarah is determined to continue to help HR professionals take their career to the next level and achieve their professional and personal goals. As she looks to open new initiatives in the USA in the future, she says one of the most rewarding parts of her job is hearing from her HR clients who, having taken the path to consultancy, continue to achieve their targets both in industry and in their own family lives.
Sarah’s one claim to fame: playing Underwater Hockey for England’s Ladies Team.
