Tamar HR

The key that unlocks business potential…

Enter the world of smaller businesses

Coming from a public sector background with little knowledge of the business world was a liberation for Tim Marrow. In 2005, frustrated with the restrictions of large organisations he set up Tamar HR, an HR service supporting SMEs. The name reflected an ambition that the business serve Devon, Cornwall and the wider West Country. The team of eight at Tamar now work with businesses from one to over 250 employees in sectors as varied as bakeries, IT and property management.

Journey of growth...

Over time the team at Tamar have come to understand that each point of growing a business comes with its own opportunities. From the first employee that can be funded from an idea beginning to work to what is probably the hardest challenge for most owners: how to lead and manage others. The challenge of what role the founder plays at different stages of a business’ life is often key. Coaching through those changes has been life changing for a number of owners looking to change their roles.

No different to anyone else

Crafting a team has, ironically, been the hardest part of running the business. Finding people who can flourish in a working life that changes day by day in response to customer needs and is itself a micro business has meant a distinct approach to recruitment. Tamar does not hire HR practitioners but those who are already in management positions, who understand what it’s like to lead a team. Through a comprehensive training and development programme that has taken shape over the years new starters get a grounding in employment law and customers get rounded real world advice.

Is the employee now King?

Tim believes that we are at an inflection point, at the moment. “A business owner said recently that ‘the employee is king’, the truth is it’s a collaboration. The aim of a business and the way it is run can be both commercial and make it a great place to work. A starting point in hiring is that those you most want on your team are those who want to grow, to learn and contribute. They want to be part of something worthwhile, our job as leaders is to create that place where others want to be and grow.”

Over the years, Haines Watts have worked closely with me and the team at Tamar HR, to provide ongoing business advice and support, whilst also looking at ways to reduce current and future tax liabilities. They have provided in depth training on QuickBooks Online, so that we are now able to access meaningful management information.

Tim describes Sally Reed at Haines Watts Launceston as a partner who shares these values, “Sally not only provides technical advice on accounting and taxation questions but just as importantly she gets the context and how I think. The advice is therefore tailored to this business.” Recently a group company structure has been put in place to help with future developments such as premises for Tamar.