Frequently Asked Questions

Ostara HR is a boutique HR consultancy based in Oxfordshire, UK, serving clients throughout the Southeast and beyond. Founded by Sarah Buckley, a Chartered HR professional with over two decades of experience across multiple sectors, we specialise in transforming traditional HR functions into catalysts for workplace joy and business success.

Ostara (or Eostre) is the Germanic goddess of dawn, spring, and renewal—the perfect embodiment of transformation and new beginnings. Just as Ostara heralds the awakening of nature after winter's slumber, Ostara HR brings fresh energy and innovative approaches to workplaces.

The name reflects our mission to breathe new life into traditional HR functions and our balanced approach of being both structured AND flexible, compliant AND creative, business-focused AND deeply human.

Ostara HR combines deep HR expertise with innovative approaches and digital fluency. Unlike traditional HR consultancies that might focus solely on compliance or administration, we blend technical knowledge with creative energy to transform HR from a cost centre into a value creator.

We're particularly strong in HR technology optimisation, human-centred policy development, and creating data-driven insights through advanced HR reporting. Our balanced approach means we deliver solutions that work for both your business and your people.

We work with organisations across diverse sectors, from professional and financial services to retail, education, and technology. Our approach is adaptable to different industry contexts while drawing on best practices across sectors.

We specialise in supporting mid-sized businesses (50-250 employees) who need dedicated HR expertise but may not have a full in-house HR team. However, we also work with smaller growing businesses and larger organisations who need specialist support for specific projects. Our flexible engagement models accommodate different organisational sizes and needs.

Ostara HR was founded by Sarah Buckley, a Chartered HR professional with over two decades of experience across multiple sectors. Sarah combines deep HR expertise with a passion for innovation and human-centred approaches. Her career spans organisations ranging from SMEs to FTSE 100 companies with 15,000+ employees, giving her a breadth of experience that enriches her consulting work.

Our focus is primarily on UK-based organisations, as our expertise centres on UK employment legislation and HR practices. However, we can support international organisations with UK operations or those seeking guidance on establishing HR functions in the UK.

Our services span five key areas:

• HR Technology & Process Optimisation: Streamlining HR systems and workflows
• Strategic HR Policies & Frameworks: Human-centred policy solutions that balance compliance with culture
• Employee Experience Enhancement: Comprehensive solutions for engagement, wellbeing, and employee relations
• Employee Relations Excellence: Expert guidance on complex workplace situations
• HR Audit & Process Advisory: Assessment and guidance on HR functions and strategic initiatives

We offer three flexible engagement models to suit different needs:

• Retained Services: Monthly packages (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers) providing ongoing support
• Project-Based Support: Fixed-scope, defined deliverables for specific initiatives
• Ad Hoc Support: As-needed expertise on an hourly basis

Our Retained Services range from Bronze (HR Foundations) to Platinum (HR Excellence), with increasing levels of support, strategic input, and additional benefits. All packages include access to HR expertise, digital product discounts, and consistent support that evolves with your needs.

Higher-tier packages include advanced services such as HR analytics dashboards, executive coaching, and strategic planning. The specific allocation of hours and services varies by tier, allowing you to select the level of support that best matches your organisation's needs.

For specific HR initiatives with clear objectives, our project-based approach follows a proven five-step methodology: Discovery, Design, Development, Delivery, and Debrief. We provide clear deliverables, timelines, and pricing upfront, ensuring transparent expectations and measurable outcomes.

Projects might include implementing a new HR system, developing a policy framework, or designing an employee experience initiative. Each project is tailored to your specific needs while following our structured methodology.

Our Ad Hoc Support offers flexibility for organisations that need expertise periodically or for urgent situations. Options include Pay-As-You-Go (£95/hour), HR Hour Banks (pre-purchased hours at discounted rates), and Specialist Support for complex matters. This approach gives you access to expertise exactly when you need it without ongoing commitments.

Our services are delivered through a combination of virtual and in-person consultancy, depending on client needs and location. We use secure collaboration tools to work effectively with clients across the UK while offering face-to-face meetings where beneficial (particularly in the Southeast region). Our approach emphasises flexibility, clear communication, and consistent delivery regardless of the medium.

Our approach balances professional expertise with creative energy. We believe HR should be both compliant AND creative, both structured AND flexible, both business-focused AND deeply human. This balanced duality allows us to design HR solutions that protect your business while enabling your culture to flourish.

We focus on practical, implementable solutions rather than theoretical frameworks, ensuring that our recommendations can be successfully adopted within your organisation's specific context.

We offer a range of professionally designed, practical HR templates and tools including:

• HR Policy Templates (Essential UK Employment Policies Bundle, Remote Work Policy, etc.)
• HR Technology & Process Tools (HR Technology Audit Toolkit, HRIS Requirements Toolkit, etc.)
• Employee Engagement Resources (Engagement Survey Template, Remote Team Engagement Playbook, etc.)
• HR Audit & Assessment Tools (HR Audit Toolkit, Compliance Checklist Bundle, etc.)
• Employee Relations & Wellbeing Resources (ER Policy Bundle, Wellbeing Strategy Toolkit, etc.)

Our digital products range from £149 to £599, based on their complexity and value. Each product reflects years of HR expertise and practical application, providing significant time and cost savings compared to creating resources from scratch.

While our digital products are designed to be immediately useful, they often benefit from customisation to your specific organisation. We offer customisation services ranging from basic (company name insertion) to advanced (comprehensive policy rewriting and integration with your existing framework).

Yes, we offer implementation support for all our digital products. This can include manager training workshops, employee communication packages, or comprehensive rollout strategies. These services can be purchased separately or may be included as part of our Retained Services packages.

After completing your purchase, you'll receive an immediate email with download links for your digital products. These links remain active for 30 days. Your products will also be available in your account area if you've created one during checkout, allowing you to access them whenever needed.

We review and update our digital products regularly to reflect changes in employment legislation. When you purchase a product, you're purchasing the current version. For ongoing updates, we offer an Annual Policy Maintenance Subscription that provides access to all updates for a 12-month period, ensuring your HR documents remain current with legal requirements.

Starting with Ostara HR is simple:

1. Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss your needs
2. Receive a tailored proposal based on your requirements
3. Agree on the engagement model and scope
4. Begin your HR transformation journey with a structured kickoff process

While we're based in Oxfordshire, we serve clients throughout the UK. We offer both in-person support (primarily in the Southeast) and remote services nationwide, allowing us to work effectively with organisations regardless of location.

Project timeframes vary based on scope and complexity:

• HR policy development: 2-4 weeks
• Technology selection: 4-12 weeks
• Employee experience initiatives: 6-12 weeks
• HR audits: 2-4 weeks

Retained services typically have a minimum term of 3-12 months depending on the tier.

Our pricing varies by engagement model:

• Retained Services: Fixed monthly fees based on the service tier (from £1,500 to £7,000 per month)
• Project-Based Support: Fixed project fees based on scope and complexity
• Ad Hoc Support: Hourly rates (£95-£150) depending on the specialisation required

Yes, we often collaborate with complementary providers such as employment law specialists, HR technology vendors, wellbeing providers, and learning and development consultants. Our focus is on delivering the best outcomes for clients, whether that's through our own services or coordinating a broader team of specialists.

To develop an effective proposal, we typically need to understand: your current HR challenges, organisational size and structure, existing HR resources and processes, key objectives for our potential partnership, and any relevant timeframes or constraints. During our initial consultation, we'll ask targeted questions to gather this information efficiently.

For ad hoc support, we can typically respond within 24-48 hours. For project work or retained services, our availability varies depending on current commitments. We'll always be transparent about our capacity during our initial discussions and will work to accommodate urgent needs where possible. We generally aim to begin new engagements within 1-3 weeks of proposal acceptance.

Yes. We're committed to delivering exceptional value through our services. If you're not satisfied with the quality of our work, we'll address your concerns promptly and make necessary adjustments to ensure we meet or exceed your expectations. Our client agreements include clear success criteria and regular review points to ensure alignment throughout our partnership.

While specific outcomes depend on your unique situation and the services engaged, our clients typically experience:

• More efficient HR processes that save time and reduce frustration
• Improved employee engagement and experience
• Better HR data for decision-making
• Reduced compliance risks
• Enhanced manager capability in people management
• Strategic HR approaches that align with business objectives
• Positive cultural change and improved workplace relationships

We define success metrics at the beginning of each engagement, which might include:

• Process efficiency improvements (time saved, error reduction)
• Employee feedback and experience measures
• Adoption rates of new technologies or processes
• Compliance completion rates
• Engagement scores
• Manager capability metrics
• Return on investment calculations for HR initiatives

Some improvements, particularly in process efficiency and clarity, can be seen almost immediately. Strategic initiatives typically show meaningful results within 3-6 months. Cultural changes and comprehensive transformations may take 6-12 months to fully realise. We'll set realistic expectations and milestones based on your specific situation.

While we can't guarantee specific outcomes due to the many variables involved in organisational change, we do commit to delivering our services professionally, punctually, and to a high standard. We establish clear expectations and maintain transparent communication throughout our engagements.

We have experience with a wide range of HR technologies, including:

• Core HRIS platforms (BambooHR, Workday, Personio, People HR, Breathe HR)
• Applicant Tracking Systems (Greenhouse, Workable, Lever)
• Performance management tools (15Five, Culture Amp, Clear Review)
• Employee engagement platforms (Peakon, Culture Amp, Glint)
• Analytics and reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau)
• Learning Management Systems (Docebo, TalentLMS, Learn Amp)

We take data security and confidentiality extremely seriously:

• We're registered with the ICO and fully GDPR compliant
• We use secure, encrypted platforms for data storage and transfer
• We maintain strict confidentiality for all client information
• We establish clear data processing agreements with all clients
• We minimise data collection to only what's necessary
• We have comprehensive insurance coverage for professional services

Yes, we have experience across multiple sectors including regulated industries. We understand sector-specific requirements in financial services, education, healthcare, and technology, among others. We stay current with regulatory changes that affect HR practices across different industries.

We maintain currency through:

• Membership of professional bodies including the CIPD
• Regular professional development and specialist training
• Subscriptions to legal update services
• Participation in HR forums and communities of practice
• Ongoing research and reading in HR innovation
• Regular review and updates to our knowledge base

Our fee structure varies by service type:

• Retained Services: Monthly fixed fee based on the service tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
• Project-Based Support: Fixed project fee determined by scope and complexity
• Ad Hoc Support: Hourly or day rate, with discounted rates for pre-purchased hours
• Digital Products: One-time purchase with optional subscription for updates

For retained services, we invoice monthly in advance. For project work, we typically require a 50% deposit with the balance due upon completion. For smaller projects and ad hoc support, payment is due upon receipt of invoice. Digital products require payment at time of purchase.

Yes, for larger projects we can arrange staged payment plans aligned with project milestones. This helps distribute costs while ensuring both parties remain aligned on progress and deliverables.

We accept bank transfers, credit/debit cards (through our secure payment gateway), and Direct Debit arrangements for retained services. All payment processing is handled securely, and we provide detailed invoices for all transactions.

Our response times depend on your engagement model:

• Retained Clients: Response within 24-48 hours (faster for higher tiers)
• Project Clients: According to the agreed project communication plan
• Ad Hoc Support: Within 24-48 hours of initial contact

Emergency support is available for urgent situations, particularly for retained clients.

As a boutique consultancy, Sarah Buckley will be your primary contact and service provider. This ensures you benefit directly from her extensive experience and expertise. For certain specialised services or during periods of high demand, Sarah may involve trusted associates, but always maintains oversight and quality control.

Our website offers free resources including guides, checklists, and articles on various HR topics. Our blog regularly publishes practical content addressing common HR challenges. For more comprehensive needs, our digital products provide immediate solutions with the option of implementation support.

For Gold and Platinum retained clients, we offer limited out-of-hours support for urgent matters. For project and ad hoc clients, we can arrange special coverage for critical periods (such as system implementations or organisational changes) with advance notice.

We are committed to client satisfaction and will work to address any concerns promptly. All our services include regular review points to ensure alignment with expectations. For retained services, we offer notice periods should you wish to end the engagement. For project work, we establish clear success criteria and checkpoints to ensure the work meets your needs.

You can explore our services in detail on our website, download our free resources, or book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss your specific needs. We're happy to provide case studies or examples of our work in areas of particular interest.

Yes, we can provide references from existing clients upon request, particularly those in similar industries or with comparable challenges to your organisation.

You can book a complimentary 30-minute consultation directly through our website using our online calendar, email us at sarah@ostarahr.co.uk, or call us on [Your Phone Number].

To make the most of our initial consultation, it helps to:

• Consider your most pressing HR challenges or objectives
• Think about what success would look like for your HR function
• Have a general idea of your timeline and budget constraints
• Be prepared to share context about your organisation's size, industry, and current HR approach

There's no need for extensive preparation—we're skilled at asking the right questions to understand your needs.