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Meet the Member: Fiona McKee, the dynamic Founder of The HR Practice

Meet Fiona McKee, the dynamic Founder of The HR Practice. From a deeply personal reflection during the pandemic to building a thriving HR consultancy, Fiona’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this blog, Fiona shares her story, her passion for helping businesses navigate the complexities of HR, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Discover what drives her, the challenges she’s overcome, and what’s next for her business as she continues to grow her network and support her clients.

Tell us about you!
What’s your name, and what do you do?
My name is Fiona McKee, and I’m the Founder of The HR Practice.

What inspired you to start your business (or choose your current role)?
It’s quite a personal story. During COVID, my father-in-law was at the end of his life in hospital, and it made me reflect deeply on how quickly life passes you by. Being busy often means you don’t fulfil your dreams. I’d always known I wanted to work for myself, and in that moment, I decided to make it happen. Within six months, I launched The HR Practice, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Your business in a nutshell
How would you describe your business to someone who’s never heard of it before?
We’re a HR consultancy that provides services to SMEs and entrepreneurial businesses. Essentially, we become their HR department, working with them between one day per month to two days per week, depending on their needs. Our team comprises HR Director-level consultants, which means we provide not only day-to-day support but also strategic advice to help businesses grow.

What’s your favourite part of what you do?
I love working with clients to understand their pain points and finding effective solutions. Managing people can be tricky, and CEOs often tell us that we take the headaches of managing people away.

Company values and mission
What values are at the heart of your business?
Agility, being non-judgemental, customer-driven, and outcome-focused.

How do these values show up in your day-to-day work?
In everything we do, we put the customer first. We react quickly and provide a range of options to help clients move forward. We understand that business owners are busy, and employment policies aren’t always their top priority. That’s where we step in, ensuring their policies, processes, and contracts are always up to date. We’re never judgemental because we know things happen—things get said, or missed, that you wish hadn’t. We’re here to make sure those gaps are filled so our clients can focus on running their business.

The personal side
What’s something surprising about you or your journey so far?
I was amazed when I started out by how many people were willing to help me. Their introductions and support were invaluable.

Who or what inspires you most in life or business?
I’m inspired by so many people I work with in business. On a personal level, my husband and kids inspire me every day.

Challenges and triumphs
What’s been the most rewarding moment in your business journey?
Winning new business is always rewarding, but I’d say hitting our financial targets and achieving our best year yet has been a standout moment.

And what’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
When I first started, I had a tough experience with our initial accountant. Making the decision to move to a new accountancy practice was daunting, but it turned out to be the best choice. I now have a great relationship with our accountant, who understands the business and what I’m trying to achieve—and the bit of banter is a bonus!

The fun stuff
What’s your go-to coffee order (or tea preference)?
A coconut milk latte from Starbucks. Although recently, I discovered their coconut milk hot chocolate (thanks to a mentee from Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce), and it’s a game changer!

Looking ahead
What are you most excited about for your business in the year ahead?
We’ve recently added a new consultant to our team to support our growth journey, and working with him on our business growth plan is incredibly exciting.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Build your network, get to know who your customer is and where to find them, and never be afraid to ask for advice. (Okay, that’s three pieces of advice!)

Quickfire round!
Morning or evening person? Evening.
Favourite book or podcast? I don’t read business books, but I do love reading. My favourite author is K.L. Slater.
Dream holiday destination? Australia—though it’s a hard choice because I love so many places!

Fiona’s journey is a testament to the power of reflection, resilience, and determination. By building a business rooted in agility, understanding, and a client-first approach, she’s not only solving problems for her clients but also inspiring others to chase their dreams.

As Fiona looks ahead to the exciting growth opportunities in 2025, her advice to anyone starting their own journey is clear: build your network, know your customer, and never be afraid to ask for help.

Here’s to another successful year for Fiona and The HR Practice—proof that with the right values and a little courage, anything is possible!

CONNECT WITH FIONA!