About HRi
We are a membership organisation, putting the best independent, qualified and innovative HR and People professionals in the UK in contact with the organisations that need their expertise. We also support and inspire stand-alone HR and People professionals to deliver their services and develop their careers.
Absolutely anyone can set themselves up as an HR consultant. They do not need the right qualifications or any kind of certification. This means there are well-meaning practitioners out there, often giving incorrect advice, which is damaging to both businesses and the wider profession.
Our mission is to change this by setting and driving standards for the independent HR and People professionals sector. We support the HRi community by enabling shared learning and collaboration while upholding standards for HR in the independent sector. More About Our Mission
Our members are accredited against our HRi accreditation standards:
- The lead practitioner is competent, qualified and professional in their chosen field
- The practice is well run with good financial and risk practices
- Information and data security is well managed and fully GDPR compliant
- The practice has established systems to manage case load, projects and client files
Learn more about our HRi accreditation standards.
Each and every accredited member has that added bit of a sparkle and utterly deserves their best in class status.
WHO ARE WE?
The HRi senior management team
Here at HRi, we are passionate about promoting and supporting independent HR and People professionals. Being independent HR practitioners ourselves, not only do we know the value HR brings to organisations, but we also have the relationships and connections with most talented practitioners in the independent market.
Chief Executive
Mary AsanteMary is a Platinum accredited member of HRi, a Chartered Fellow of CIPD, and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management. Mary writes and speaks about HR, leadership, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Data Protection.
Before setting up her own consultancy business in 2016,
Mary has had a long successful career as an HR professional, working across different sectors, predominantly start-ups, SMEs and in the technology sector. She has been part of the HRi journey since 2019.
Mary specialises in executive coaching and leadership development. She is passionate about autism and works with leaders on the autistic spectrum.
Mary is also a Certified Information Security Manager and a Lead ISO27001 Auditor. She is currently studying for her PhD at University of Warwick.
Mary is a trustee of the Jisgaw Trust, and a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the School of Computing and Communications, the Open University.
Operations Director
Charlotte AllfreyCharlotte, is a Platinum accredited HRi member and a Chartered member of the CIPD. She founded Metro HR in 2014 and has worked with hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses across a broad range of sectors. These include Pharmaceuticals, Health and Social Care, Private Healthcare, Charity and Not-for-Profit, and Private and Public Sector organisations.
Charlotte is active in peer mentoring and is a Guest Lecturer for the CIPD courses run by Chichester College, helping to train the next generation of HR professionals in employment relations management.
Charlotte is also an HR Growth Champion for Coast to Capital which supports small businesses in the Southeast.
When not working she is a keen baker and crafter and love making things. She is also a budding gardener and starting to venture into growing fruit and vegetables.
WHAT WE VALUE
HRi mission statement
HRi is the UK body for independent HR and People Professionals. We are a membership organisation setting and driving standards and providing support, development and a voice for external HR consultancy businesses.
Our mission is to promote independent HR and People Professionals within the UK and lobby for change to enable the remit, profile and growth of external HR services.
The UK body for independent HR and People Professionals
Mission statementWHY TRUST OUR MEMBERS
HRi members code of conduct
All HRi members must adhere to HRi’s Professional Code of Conduct to guide the professional and personal conduct of HRi members and/or its accreditation holders.
Code of conduct
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Become an HRi expert
Are you an Expert in your field? Do you offer programmes or services which our community will benefit from? Why don’t you join our carefully selected bank of Experts and work closely with us to deliver value to our members.
Become an HRi Expert