Practical, Human HR Support
for Growing Businesses

I’m Karen Orr, founder of PeopleWise Solutions, and I believe small businesses deserve better than the rigid, corporate HR advice they’re usually given.

After a career spanning over 25 years in senior HR roles across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, I saw first- hand how small businesses were often left behind - forced to navigate complex people challenges without the right support. I set out to change that.

PeopleWise Solutions exists to make HR simple, practical and human for growth-focused businesses.

I don’t believe in wagging fingers, jargon, or one-size-fits-all templates. Instead, I work alongside you, cutting through the noise, simplifying compliance, and helping you build strong, capable teams that drive real business growth.

Why Work with Us?

Human and Accessible

We make HR simple, relatable and something that drives your business forward, not holds it back.

Growth-Ready Expertise

We don’t just help you comply; we help you scale, attract great people and build workplaces where success sticks.

A Trusted Partner, Not a Sideline Advisor

We're right there with you, anticipating challenges, removing roadblocks, and cheering your progress.

Peace of Mind

From urgent issues to long-term strategy, we help you stay protected, proactive, and free to focus on growing your business.

Practical, No-Fluff Support

We get straight to the point, offering clear, effective solutions you can actually use. No jargon, no unnecessary complexity.

My Journey

Civil Service

Learned how systems, laws and frameworks work and how to navigate them in a practical way.

Small Business Roots

Started out working in a four-person golf business (including me). It gave me real insight into the day-to-day challenges of small business life and taught me the value of being adaptable.

Scaling Mid-Sized Businesses

Worked in HR and recruitment at Artemis and Chesterton. Both had fewer than 200 employees when I joined, and I supported their growth through key hiring and people strategy decisions.

Corporate HR

Headed HR teams supporting thousands of employees at organisations like Signet, NetApp and QA Ltd.

Scaling Success

At QA, led the People function through a period of rapid growth, helping scale the business from 1,800 to over 3,300 employees.

PeopleWise Solutions

Founded in 2023 to bring practical, human HR expertise to growing businesses.

My Mission

To make HR practical, impactful, and human - helping businesses move from overwhelm to organised, from compliance anxiety to confident leadership, and from firefighting to future-building.

Accessible

Making HR understandable and manageable, not overwhelming

Human-Centred

Creating workplaces where people thrive and businesses flourish

Proactive

Anticipating needs rather than just reacting to problems

Catalyst for Growth

Turning HR from a burden into a business advantage

Accreditations & Certifications

Ready to Take the Stress Out of HR?

Book Your Call

Schedule your free discovery call

Share Your Challenges

Tell us what's keeping you up at night

Get Tailored Solutions

Receive a plan that fits your business

Book my free discovery call

We are HR consultants based in Beaconsfield. Offering a personable approach, listening carefully to your concerns and objectives, before offering you practical solutions that have a real impact on your success.