Why SME’s Choose FCM Consultancy
A practical, people first approach designed to take pressure off business owners and build a strong, compliant, high performing teams.
HR That Reduces Risk & Saves You Time
From compliance to employee relations, we take the stress out of HR so you can focus on running your business.
Recruitment That Gets the Right People First Time
Skilled trades, technical rolles and senior management, fully managed and tailored to your timelines.


2 h
Avg first response
40+
Policies & letters delivered
14 days
From role brief to offer
4.8/5
Client satisfaction rating
Great HR isn’t about paperwork its about empowering people, building trust and giving businesses the confidence to grow
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Plain-Talking HR That Grows With You
Building a team can feel overwhelming, especially when HR isn’t your background. FCM offers practical, flexible HR support that evolves as your business grows from early hires to funding rounds giving you clarity, confidence, and peace of mind every step of the way.

Karen
@CEO of FCM
Hey, I am Karen.
I help growing UK teams fix HR fast.
I help growing UK teams fix HR fast.
Karen McAuley is a senior HR & People professional with more than 15 years experience leading HR Functions across NI and ROI. Having worked as Head of HR, People Manager and Senior Recruitment Lead, Karen has built a reputation for transforming people operations, attracting strong talent, and creating compliant, high performing teams.
Now the founder of FCM Consultancy, Karen partners with SME’s to provide flexible HR support, specialist recruitment for skilled trades and senior management, and AI-enabled people solutions that furture proof businesses. Known for her practical, calm approach and her passion for digital transformation, Karen helps businesses solve problems quickly while building stronger happier teams.
Now the founder of FCM Consultancy, Karen partners with SME’s to provide flexible HR support, specialist recruitment for skilled trades and senior management, and AI-enabled people solutions that furture proof businesses. Known for her practical, calm approach and her passion for digital transformation, Karen helps businesses solve problems quickly while building stronger happier teams.
200+
managers coached
150+
SMEs & scale-ups supported
400+
HR policies, processes & documents delivered
Our Approach
We help UK businesses cut risk and hire faster through plain-English HR. From handbooks to hiring sprints, we handle the compliance, documentation, and tricky people issues so your managers stay confident and your business keeps moving.
1
Understand Your Challenges
A discovery call to explore your concerns, goals and current people processes.
Identify Key Concerns
Quickly uncover the main challenges affecting your team and business.
Clarify Goals & Processes
Discuss your objectives and review current people processes to find opportunities for improvement.

2
Assess & Recommend
A clear outline of what you need, HR Support, Recruitment or a combined bespoke package.
Tailored HR Solutions
Determine whether you need HR support, recruitment, or a combination that fits your business.
Clear Action Plan
Receive a structured recommendation aligned with your specific needs.

3
Deliver with impact
We implement agreed actions: HR Support, Recruitment Campaigns, Onboarding, Digital Transformation or AI- enabled processes.
Effective Implementation
We put agreed HR and recruitment strategies into action seamlessly.
Modern Solutions
Leverage onboarding, digital transformation, and AI-enabled processes to drive results.

4
Measure & Improve
Regular reviews to ensure outcomes, compliance, performance and continuous improvement across your people operations.
Track Performance
Regularly review outcomes, compliance, and team performance to stay on target.
Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to enhance your people operations for lasting impact.

Your People Partner for Every Stage of Growth.
HR Expertise on Demand
Fractional HR support, compliance, policies, employee relations, onboarding and change management.

Specialist Recruitment
End to end hiring including adverts, screening, interviews, compliance.
Digital Transformation for SME’s
Practical AI audits, digital onboarding portals, and future read people processes to reduce admin and boost performance.

2h
Avg first response
14 days
From role brief to offer
40+
Policies & letters delivered
4.8/5
Client satisfaction rating
What Our Clients Say
Karen has been an invaluable partner in our HR system implementation. She played a key role in developing robust processes, delivering effective training to managers, and ensuring compliance throughout the project. Beyond system implementation, her expertise in Employment Relations and Recruitment has provided critical support to our business. Her professionalism, knowledge, and collaborative approach have made a significant impact, and we highly recommend her services.”
Caroline Heagney Walsh
HRD, Leprino
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