HR support for small businesses in Kent — without the law firm price tag.
Electra HR gives you straight-talking, commercially minded HR support — run by an experienced litigation solicitor who will give you the real picture, help you reach decisions quickly, and not leave you hanging while someone ticks boxes.
You should not have to pay law firm fees for HR advice. But you should still have the teeth of a law firm behind you when things escalate. That is why Electra HR exists — practical, affordable HR support powered by Bonsai Law, a regulated firm that can step in the moment a situation turns legal. We work mainly with startups and SMEs with 5–50 staff across Kent and the South East, and we focus on real problems and real advice, not box-ticking.
Why Electra HR
Practical HR support for startups and SMEs in Kent and the South East
Blocks of hours, not handcuffs
We do not lock you into expensive, auto-renewing retainer contracts. Instead, you buy a block of hours to use as the need arises — some months you will, some months you will not, and we think that is fairer. The more hours you buy, the better the rate.
From foundations to flashpoints
Contracts, handbooks, HR audits, directors' service contracts and change projects, plus grievances, disciplinaries and investigations when things go wrong. We also take on ad hoc advice, one-off project work and overseeing processes from start to finish.
Bridging HR, directors and shareholders
With corporate and commercial lawyers on tap at Bonsai Law, Electra HR is comfortable where HR issues overlap with boardroom dynamics and shareholder relationships.
Friendly, informal and on your side
WhatsApp, email or phone. Urgent issues get a same-day response, everything else within one working day. You get straight answers in plain English.
Legal privilege built in
Because Electra HR is run by a practising solicitor through an SRA-regulated firm, there is a clear path to legal professional privilege that most HR consultancies simply cannot offer.
Prevention first, not panic stations
We would rather help you avoid the mess than clean it up afterwards. HR health checks, proper processes and sensible documentation — so problems get caught early.
What we actually do
HR services for small businesses — the stuff that keeps you up at night
Day-to-day HR advice
Performance issues, sickness, flexible working, timekeeping, and those "can I actually say this to them?" conversations. We have heard it all.
Grievances and disciplinaries
Investigations, letters, hearings, outcomes. We help you get it right — fair, robust and as dispute-proof as we can make it.
Contracts, handbooks and policies
Drafting and updating contracts, offer letters, handbooks, directors' service contracts and policies so they actually say what you need them to say.
HR health checks
We look at what you have already got, flag the risks, and give you a sensible order to fix things — not an overwhelming to-do list that makes things worse.
Training and change
Helping managers handle HR properly, and supporting you through restructures, growth spurts and those "we need to change how this works" moments.
Startup packages
Taking on your first employee? Fixed-price bundles with tailored contracts, a simple handbook, onboarding docs and a small bank of hours for the inevitable questions.
How it works
Outsourced HR support — no retainers, no lock-in, just hours you use when you need them
Blocks of hours for SMEs
We do not lock you into expensive, auto-renewing retainer contracts. You buy a block of hours and use them when you need to — some months you will, some months you will not, and we think that is fairer. Need one-off advice, a specific project or someone to oversee a process? We do that too.
- Use hours across the year as things come up.
- Ad hoc advice and project work whenever you need it.
- We keep you updated on usage — no surprises.
- Top up when you are running low.
Startup HR packages
Hiring your first person? We have fixed-price packages so you can get the essentials sorted without faffing around with generic templates. You get documents that match how your business actually works, and a real person to talk you through them.
- Tailored employment contracts and offer letters.
- Simple, usable handbook and core policies.
- HR health check call to talk through your plans.
- A small bank of hours for those "is this OK?" questions.
Why we exist
HR advice with legal backup from Bonsai Law
That is the whole point of Electra HR. We are powered by Bonsai Law — a regulated firm founded by solicitor Vanessa Challess — so your HR support is grounded in real litigation experience. But you are not paying law firm rates for every phone call and email. Most of the time, you get practical, commercially minded HR advice. If things start to look like they might escalate, Bonsai Law can step in so your HR and legal strategy stay joined up from the start.
There is another advantage most people do not think about until it is too late: when you get HR advice from a standard consultancy, those communications may not attract legal professional privilege. If things end up at tribunal, your emails and their advice notes could be ordered for disclosure. Because Electra HR is run by a practising solicitor through an SRA-regulated firm, there is a clear path to privilege protection that most HR consultancies simply cannot offer.
Real situations
HR case studies for SMEs in Kent
The construction firm with a drawer full of problems
25 staff, outdated contracts, a couple of live disciplinaries nobody felt confident handling. A block of hours, an audit, some manager training, and within weeks they had clearer documents and a calmer approach to the people stuff.
The founder making their first hire
A startup package got them contracts, a handbook and onboarding sorted in a few days. When a slightly awkward probation conversation came up, they used their included hours to talk it through before it became a thing.
The business already in trouble
A 40-person company came to us mid-grievance, convinced they had already messed it up. We untangled the process and managed the outcome. When it looked like things might escalate further, Bonsai Law stepped in — same people, no starting over.
Try not to worry. We have got you.
Send us the details, let us talk, and we will formulate the plan. No pressure, no hard sell — just an honest conversation about what is going on and how we can help.