My name is Tara Hopkins. Making a positive difference to people’s working lives whilst helping achieve business results - that’s why I work in HR. I believe that happy, successful people working together can deliver amazing things.

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I'm an experienced HR professional who lives in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. I'm passionate about helping local small businesses to survive and thrive through providing easy access to good HR support, even when they may think their business isn’t large enough to need it.

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After a degree in mathematics from the University of Warwick, I was all set to become a Meteorologist - but life didn’t quite work out that way. I’d had enough of studying and was curious about what makes businesses successful and also what makes people do what they do.

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I started my career as a HR Administrator in a retail business and learned quickly that it's absolutely fundamental to get the basics right every time when you're managing someone's employment. I then did the traditional thing of moving on to HR Officer and HR Manager roles and taking on more responsibility for advising line managers throughout each business I worked for - a family owned manufacturing company, an outsourced services company with sites all over the UK, and the small UK division of an American-owned, global corporation.

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Along the way, I completed my professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and became a Chartered Member of the CIPD in 2002.

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I then decided that corporate HR wasn't really me. I most enjoyed being involved at the heart of a business. So, I focused on Head of HR roles for smaller organisations, where I could stay connected to all the staff as individuals and make a difference to people one by one, as well as through well conceived and well delivered HR strategies and practices.

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I led HR for a local financial services technology business for 11 years and am extremely proud of what we achieved together. Then, at the end of 2020, I took some time out to explore what the next phase of my career could look like.

I decided to set up HR by Tara to work closely with business owners who want to be good employers. "Happy, successful people" is our focus. I want you to be happy and successful as a business owner, and to achieve that through you having a team of happy, successful people working for you.

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I set up the business in March 2021, and in February 2022 I took on my first employee. At the end of 2024, we're a team of four - with Stacy, Vicky and Mia supporting our clients alongside me. Find out more about our team HERE.

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I do a lot of local networking. Partly this is just because I love talking with people! It’s also a good way to meet new contacts, who could benefit my business or my clients in some way. I enjoy “connecting the dots” by introducing people who could help each other.

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I host High Wycombe Business Buzz on the second Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 12:00 at The Flint Cottage in High Wycombe. It’s informal and friendly, a way for local business people to connect and have great conversations, over tea, coffee and biscuits.

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I’m also the Co-Chair of the CIPD Branch in the Chilterns. We run events to connect, support and develop people professionals in the local area.

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On a more personal note, I love drinking tea and reading "cozy" murder mysteries. I also love crosswords, puzzles and playing online adventure games. I designed my own escape room during lockdown and one day perhaps I’ll try it out as a teambuilding exercise.