Lindsay Barnett - Fractional HRD & Virtual HR Consultant | Freelance HR Support for HR Teams and Businesses
I am an independent, FCIPD-qualified Fractional HR Director, Consultant, Investigator and Mediator, providing expert HR support to organisations across the UK.
With over 25 years of experience operating at senior HR and HR Director level across both the public and private sectors, I partner with businesses, leaders and HR teams to deliver practical, commercially focused people solutions. Whether you require strategic HR leadership, additional support for your in-house HR team, independent investigations, workplace mediation, organisational change expertise or specialist reward advice, I provide tailored solutions designed around your specific needs.
My expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, employee engagement, reward and benefits, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, restructuring, redundancy, TUPE, organisational development and change management. I am experienced in working with trade unions, employee representatives, complex stakeholder environments and third-party providers, helping organisations navigate both routine and highly complex people challenges with confidence.
I offer both virtual and in-person support nationwide and, through my network of trusted associates, can provide scalable solutions for larger projects and organisational requirements.
Above all, I am known for providing clear, pragmatic and outcome-focused advice that helps organisations solve problems, manage risk, support their people and achieve their business goals.
Whether you need strategic HR leadership, independent expertise or additional capacity for your HR team, I can be a trusted extension of your organisation.
How I Can Support You
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
teWhether you're a start-up, scale-up, established business, or simply an organisation that doesn't need full-time senior HR leadership, I offer fractional HR Director support tailored to your needs — from contracts of employment and HR policies through to complex employee relations, recruitment, and compliance.
Employment law and HR processes are constantly evolving, and your time is valuable. I offer flexible, affordable, and accessible support, giving you confidence that your people practices are compliant, effective, and aligned with your goals.
As a trained Mental Health First Aider, I also offer wellbeing support for your team — especially valuable if you don't currently have an Employee Assistance Programme in place.
Whether you need a sounding board, a strategic partner, or someone to take the pressure off your internal team, I'm here to help.
HR PROJECT SUPPORT
Need extra support for an HR project or managing overflow tasks? With extensive experience in senior roles at well-known organisations, I provide expert assistance for immediate, long-term, or one-off HR projects.
My approach blends practical insights with a passion for helping medium and large businesses succeed.
I offer flexible support—whether regular or on an ad-hoc basis—tailored to your needs. Many of my clients from large, well-known companies value the ability to scale support up or down based on their workload.
Unlike rigid day-rate models, I offer a flexible, hourly approach so you only pay for the time you need. If you're looking for adaptable and expert HR support, feel free to get in touch for more details.
AN EXTENSION TO YOUR HR TEAM
I provide interim HR services at both strategic and operational level, including short-term assignments requiring immediate support — covering maternity and other leave cover, notice periods, restructures, or urgent capacity gaps.
People Problem Deep Dive
You bring me the problem. I'll work out what's really going on.
Not every people problem needs another meeting, another policy or another piece of generic HR advice. Sometimes you need someone to step back, look at the evidence and work out what is actually happening. That's what the People Problem Deep Dive is for.
Send me the data, documents, emails, feedback, timelines, reports or other evidence you have — along with the problem you're trying to understand. I'll combine AI-assisted research and analysis with 25 years of hands-on HR experience to investigate the situation, identify patterns, challenge assumptions and consider the possible causes.
You'll get a clear, independent view of:
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What's happening.
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Why it may be happening.
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What the evidence tells us — and what it doesn't.
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What risks or underlying issues you may be missing.
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What your realistic options are.
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And what I would do next.
No endless meetings. No generic HR templates. No jumping straight to a solution before understanding the problem. Just a proper deep dive into the people problem you're trying to solve.
Got a messy people problem? Send me the evidence. Let's work out what's really going on.
My Full Range of HR Services
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Day-to-day HR advice for managers and leadersDa
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Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, handbooks, and HR policies
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Absence management and wellbeing guidance
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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)-informed support
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Coaching and mentoring for HR team members and line managers
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Policy updates, compliance support, and HR audits
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Independent, impartial workplace investigations
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Disciplinary, grievance, capability, and absence case management
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Grievance and disciplinary appeals
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Sensitive or without-prejudice conversations
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Redundancy and restructure consultations, including TUPE processes
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Workplace mediation and facilitated conversations
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Performance review and appraisal frameworks — simple or bespoke
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Salary review processes, benchmarking, and pay structure development
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Job evaluation, grading, and career pathway design
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Training and development for managers and HR teams
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Coaching to build internal HR capability
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HR project management for restructures, engagement initiatives, and onboarding improvements
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End-to-end management of redundancy and restructure programmes, including TUPE transfers
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Organisational design and workforce planning
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Culture and behaviour framework development
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HR process redesign and workflow mapping
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Identifying opportunities for long-term transformation
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Design, delivery, and reporting of employee engagement surveys
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Facilitation of listening sessions and feedback discussions
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Action planning workshops to drive lasting change
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Development of organisational values, culture, and behavioural frameworks
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Internal communications support during periods of change
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Flexible, hands-on capacity during busy periods, maternity leave, or key projects
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One-to-one coaching and mentoring for junior HR professionals and line managers
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Specialist input on complex employee relations cases and legal compliance
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Leadership on strategic initiatives such as reward, culture, and workforce planning
In addition to my HR consultancy services, I offer Clarity 4D coaching — a psychometric, behaviour-based profiling tool that helps individuals and teams better understand themselves and each other.
What's included:
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A personalised Clarity 4D profile report covering behavioural style, communication preferences, values, and strengths
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Personalised 1:1 coaching sessions to explore your results and apply them to real workplace situations
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A focus on enhancing wellbeing, building resilience, and supporting personal and professional development
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Options for individual reports or team-based sessions to improve collaboration and communication
Whether you're looking to build self-awareness, strengthen leadership skills, or support your team through change, Clarity 4D coaching offers a practical, evidence-based starting point.
