Who we are | HeptagonHR

Intuitive. Supportive. Pragmatic.

Heptagon HR is about developing business cultures to drive greater productivity, motivation and success.

Hello, I’m Jo Clifton, a qualified HR professional with over 30 years’ comprehensive experience in helping organisations to transform and succeed. From fresh start-ups to public companies, NGOs and multinational concerns. I’ve created processes and structures to ensure effective people management and a positive, engaged workforce.

There are no templates in this job – every business is unique. Our experience and pragmatic approach enables us to quickly see the pressing issues and work collaboratively and intuitively to support you in realising the best, workable solutions; in a way that protects your business and gives dignity to the various parties.

You’ll want an HR consultant who knows precisely what steps to take.

Someone with a deep knowledge of all aspects of Human Resources – how best to support your managers, empower your staff and streamline your processes – as well as all the legal requirements that need to be in place to ensure compliance and protection for both parties.

You’ll come to Heptagon HR if you like…

Quick responses

We’re easy to talk to and will get back to you promptly with constructive input and actionable advice on your issues.

Understanding and support

We value a close, trusting relationship with our clients while we support them in increasing performance and engagement. That doesn’t mean we can’t be tough when it’s needed.

Vast experience

We have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of HR; from role design to employee voice, employee relations, contracts and more. And with considerable resources and best practice solutions to adapt to your needs.

Highly organised

With so many different facts, systems and types of business to consider, we are efficient, pragmatic and resourceful.

Our mission:

To enable people to be confident and capable managers

{

“Colbea has used Heptagon HR’s services at all levels. As an incoming CEO, Jo’s advice and guidance on implementing an updated HR system, procedures and methods has been invaluable. Managing change can be a challenging time for any leader or business owner and Jo has been the consummate professional and delivered her advice and guidance with compassion and integrity.

Additionally, Jo has worked with both my team and board on our future organisational strategy and has been instrumental in helping us shape the future of our agency.”

Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford

Chief Executive, Colchester Business Enterprise Agency

Meet the person behind Heptagon HR

Jo Clifton has led a distinguished and fascinating career. Taking on her first HR role in 1986, she rapidly progressed to hold several director-level positions within the NHS, high-profile third sector organisations and the commercial sector before setting up her own consultancy in 2007.

Since then, she has worked extensively with household names (Amnesty International, London Olympics), government bodies (the Home Office, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the Equality & Human Rights Commission) and international private companies (Bloomsbury Publishing, Sekura Global), as well as many start-up and established businesses of all sizes from her current base in Colchester, North Essex.

Jo is a CIPD member and accredited Myers Briggs (MBTI) practitioner, with a Masters in Human Resource Management and an Executive Coaching Diploma.

During her career, she has successfully handled and delivered a wide range of critical projects and interventions, including:

Advising on complex and often highly sensitive employee relations/performance management cases and conflict resolution.
Developing progressive diversity and inclusion strategies.
Organisational restructuring – relocations, redundancies, consultations, outplacement and settlements.
Post-merger/acquisition pay-harmonisation and creation/negotiation of new employment terms.
High profile, complex trade union negotiations.
Leadership, coaching, mentoring and development of in-house HR teams and line managers to build confidence and capability for effective people management.
Creation of culture-aligned employee handbooks, policies and people management systems.

Jo’s pragmatic and business-focused approach, combined with her friendly and collaborative outlook, has resulted in positive outcomes to seemingly impossible situations. Jo has a genuine interest in the success of your business, acts with integrity and will go the extra mile.

Passionate about enterprise and offering support to grassroots businesses, Jo launched Business Biscotti networking in Colchester. A monthly event for business owners to meet up, exchange knowledge and discuss collaborations. She also joined the board of the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea), an organisation offering valuable support and training to local enterprises, and is the HR expert partner to Farillio, an online legal resources platform for small businesses.

When not working to transform businesses, Jo is a keen (although not very fast!) runner, and enjoys spending time with her constantly inspiring young daughter. Jo has many tales to tell (and others she cannot!). Call her for a chat to see how Heptagon HR can bring your business greater unity, productivity and success.