Case Study: High Quality HR Services – From Carve-Out to Sale.

The challenge: Ensuring continuity while building the new

The business approached Isosceles with several high-priority concerns that would need an immediate solution to ensure business continuity and investor readiness:

HR data, compliance and continuity

• As the independent business would no longer have access to the Group’s people systems, new HR and training software would need to be quickly implemented.
• It would be essential to ensure the new business was fully compliant with all regulatory, audit and future due diligence requirements.
• Employees and managers would need ongoing access to HR advice, support and administration on the full range of people and policy issues.
• The Employee Handbook, contract, people policies, forms and templates reflected the former Group’s branding, structures and priorities which were no longer relevant.

Payroll and pensions administration

• With no transitioning payroll capability, multiple pension scheme, ongoing people changes and a number of variable pay components, there was no scope for delay or error in introducing a fully operational, accessible, compliant and accurate end-to-end payroll management service.
• A number of legacy pay issues needed to be urgently investigated and rectified.

Aligning the organisation

• The existing manager-led and agency delivered recruitment model was time consuming and expensive, detracting from the organisation’s need to focus on rapid growth.
• As it re-defined its priorities, the company would need to quickly build resource into its expanding areas while closing down those that were not aligned with their new strategy.

Why the client chose Isosceles

The business required more than access to a HR advice line. They needed hands-on, integrated support from professionals at all levels, who could operate seamlessly as an in-house HR function. With carve-out experience and a reputation for delivering embedded HR and Payroll services, Isosceles was selected to lead the transition and provide ongoing support.

Our approach: Strategic and embedded HR support

Our fractional, multi-layered HR team began work as soon as the carve-out was confirmed, designing phased project plans for both HR and Payroll.  Underpinned by a highly collaborative approach, regular communications, secure data transition methods and a solutions-led mindset, a comprehensive, timely and successful handover was achieved.

The team focused on four priority workstreams:

Providing corporate level HR functionality, with SME level agility

Isosceles carried out a full audit and review of all employment records, documents, policies and processes, ensuring 100% regulatory compliance and full branding alignment.

A new, employee accessible HR information system, incorporating bespoke absence, overtime and performance management structures, was quickly designed and rolled out. An on-line training platform was sourced and implemented, providing 24/7 access to a full suite of operational and skills development material, while a bespoke HR Inbox gave all managers and employees open access to HR advice and support for all their personal and people queries. Existing benefits were transferred or quickly matched by new schemes which were set up and administered by the Isosceles team.

Following a strategic review, close-in advice and support was given to guide managers through every step of a restructuring and redundancy process, resulting in an organisation that was fully aligned to its core business model and set for growth.

Seamless payroll and pensions delivery

Isosceles set up payroll and pensions processes for two separate PAYE accounts, ensuring multiple pension structures, benefits, overtime and financial reporting arrangements were in place immediately on handover.

The Isosceles HR and Payroll teams worked together to resolve inherited challenges and to ensure integrated monthly payroll input, review and authorisation structures were put in place.

Recruiting for rapid growth

Operating within a highly competitive, fast-growing industry, the company needed to build out its team of professionals at pace. Our internal Talent team quickly took over end-to-end resourcing, from sourcing high quality candidates through to designing and running onboarding programmes, recruiting into more than 50 roles and avoiding around £400k in agency fees.

Readiness for sale

By creating digital access to accurate, comprehensive and compliant employee data and records, Isosceles was ready to provide on-request responses to due diligence queries from prospective new investors.

What our client had to say:

Throughout the partnership, the Senior Executive Team had direct access to strategic HR advice and leadership. Knowing that all their people needs were being proactively addressed enabled them to focus on their commercial imperative of delivering accelerated growth in preparation for sale. Here is what they said about the journey with Isosceles:

Enabling a Carve-Out and Supporting an Exit

This project demonstrated how a well-executed HR strategy can accelerate transformation and protect value. By embedding the right systems, policies and leadership support, the business became resilient during a period of significant change, ultimately completing a successful sale less than two years later. Isosceles delivered more than operational HR, we delivered the confidence and capability needed to scale.

Whether you are preparing for a carve-out, acquisition, or scaling rapidly, our experienced HR specialists can help stabilise your business, reduce risk and create the structures needed for sustainable growth.

Contact our team today to explore how embedded, strategic HR support can unlock long-term value for your business.