TWELVE months on from starting her business an ambitious HR practitioner is adding to her team and moving into new offices.

Deborah Witcomb bought a franchise license from the HR Dept and started her business from her home in Totton.

After just eight months, had nine retained clients on her books. This success led Mrs Witcomb to secure a business loan last October and expand her operation by acquiring her second HR Dept license, widening her reach across the Fareham and Whiteley areas.

Now, Deborah has 16 retained clients and is relocating to Wessex House, Eastleigh, with her growing her team.

Alisha Rogers, a business management student at Southampton Solent University, joins The HR Dept in May.

Deborah, an advocate of employer-sponsored training, is sponsoring Alisha’s CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Human Resource Management – Alisha will be learning on the job, tasked with providing front-line support and building her own portfolio of clients.

“I’m very proud of what I have achieved over the past 12 months and pleased that what we offer clients has been so warmly received,” said Deborah, 46.

“I very much enjoy solving and preventing people problems. There are so many businesses struggling with issues and it’s affecting their revenue and overall performance. I work with business owners to quickly understand and expertly address the problem, whether it be a high rate of absence, poor office culture, lack of leadership or a disruptive employee."

“I’m looking forward to the next 12 months. I’m very excited about working with Alisha and having a central hub in Eastleigh for our HR Dept operations. Given what’s been achieved so far, I’ve set my sights on hitting 50 per cent growth from where we are now by the end of year two,” said Debra..

The HR Dept is an international franchise chain of 65 independent HR businesses in 100 territories around the UK, Ireland and Australia. Deborah Witcomb is managing director of the HR Dept licences for Southampton, Fareham and Southampton East.