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
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 an Organisational Development Specialist and he leads on supporting clients with HR strategy, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development.
Yvonne Cope
Director
Yvonne runs the “engine room” at People Matters HR. Before they set up the business in 2011, Yvonne was PA to the Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Manchester University. Yvonne keeps everyone in order and ensures the back room of the business and it’s finances runs smoothly.
Samantha Croston
Client Onboarding Manager
Samantha has worked for People Matters HR since 2017 and has taken personal responsibility for several of our key clients, using her experience to manage complex casework. Sam has taken her expertise into a key role, onboarding all of People Matters HR’s new clients. Sam is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and has a degree in HR Business and Management.
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 Mikala, she is responsible for more complex case work and has responsibility for several larger clients. Before joining the team in 2020, Emma was a client of People Matters HR, she offers a unique perspective and understanding of our clients’ needs. Emma did her CIPD qualifications at Blackburn University.
Steph Kirkman
Senior HR Advisor
Steph joined People Matters HR in June 2021. Before that, she gained experience working in HR for several years, passing her CIPD qualifications whilst working for a busy construction company in Bolton as their in-house HR Advisor. Steph was also a People Matters HR client, like Emma, and really understands the benefits of working along side us. Steph is our technical guru and loves nothing more than researching and interpreting employment law and best practice.
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 also obtained her CIPD qualifications at Blackburn University. She is your first point of contact and runs our client “triage” support service. However, each team member performs a triage role one day a week, giving advice and support by phone and by video calls.
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 achieve her CIPD qualifications at the University Centre in Blackburn.
Thomas Cope
Trainee HR Advisor
Thomas Joined the team as a trainee HR advisor in September 2024. After completing his High School work placement with the People Matters HR team he decided that he wanted to embark on a career in HR. Thomas is studying for his CIPD Qualifications at Blackburn University Centre in Blackburn. Thomas has been involved with Scouting since he was five years old and is now an active member of the Ramsbottom Explorers, so he is very used to working in a team and as a leader.
We also have specialist
associates in:
- Health and Safety
- Occupational Health
- Apprenticeships
- Occupational Psychology
- Recruitment and Selection
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.
Luna
Barketing Team Leader
Luna joined People Matters HR as a Barketing Apprentice aged 8 weeks in September 2022. When she isn’t supporting the team’s welfare with lots of cuddles and licks, she enjoys long, walks and chasing balls.
Loki
Barketing Apprentice
Loki is the youngest member of our team and joined us in March 2023. Loki enjoys sleeping, having his back scratched, running into things, jumping and eating.
Shadow
Director of the Pawed
Shadow has been a vital member of the PMHR team since the beginning, as our “Director of the Pawed” he generally looks down on us, but has provided us with moral support, feline distain and advice on the purrfect places to find mice and amazing clients. In between sleeping and hunting he also likes asking for attention and food very loudly.
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
Our Partnerships
Proud to Support
Accredited by
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?
- Telephone support and advice by one of our qualified experienced HR team members.
- Creation and implementation of new contracts of employment for all staff.
- Creation and Implementation of a new company staff handbook.
- Creation and implementation of a bespoke suite of HR policies.
- Induction guidance to new help new staff understand feel part of the business.
- Job descriptions and person specification guidance for all levels of the business to help with responsibility and accountability.
- Appraisal and performance management guidance to support you in giving feedback and setting objectives to build a performance driven culture.
- Bespoke employment-related letters written for you by our team (no templates).
- 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:
- Application and recording of holidays.
- Recording and reporting of sickness.
- Recording, reporting and reminders for performance appraisal.
- Management system to record and remind people of training.
- Recording of disciplinary and grievance processes.
- 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.