Our Team

Laura is a highly skilled and accomplished professional, known for her expertise in Employment Law, HR, and Mediation. Since establishing The Affable Partnership in August 2011, Laura has cultivated an impressive track record of success, helping numerous organisations navigate complex matters. The founder of The Affable Partnership, she brings a unique blend of legal knowledge and interpersonal skills to provide exceptional services to her clients. With a remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate herself into any business environment, Laura ensures that her clients receive a top-tier experience tailored to their specific needs.

Kara works alongside Laura, assisting with marketing, administration, organisation and making sure The Affable Partnership house remains 'in order'.

​

Kara comes from a career in business management, mainly within the Hospitality sector.  This has given her a comprehensive understanding of HR needs, both from an employer's perspective, but also as an employee.  Kara facilitated Management training courses in her role as a Hotel General Manager and is enjoying continuing this role under The Affable Partnership umbrella.  Customer relations, efficient operations, marketing and finance were also skills Kara gained as a Hotel Manager, all of which have helped her become an integral part of Laura's business. ​​​

Bryan is a long standing member of the team and is a Business Process Improvement Consultant and Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 25 years’ experience. He delivers hands-on LEAN, Six Sigma, and problem-solving support through training and workshops. Since 2021, he has helped a North American media company train 700+ candidates, delivering $16M+ in savings. Previously, he spent 35 years at Ford in technical and leadership roles focused on quality, engineering, and production.

Patrick is the founder of Melville Mental Solutions, where he brings a unique mix of commercial experience and personal resilience to his mental health work. With a background spanning 15 sectors including law, marketing, and tech, he now helps organisations build mental wellbeing through training, workshops, and one-to-one support. After overcoming stage 4 brain cancer, Patrick became a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, dedicated to reducing stigma and promoting lasting cultural change. A former cricketer for Peru and trained lay preacher, he brings energy and empathy to everything he does.

Hilary is a registered nutrition expert with the Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (FNTP). She helps individuals, small groups, and organizations improve health through essential nutrition, healthy lifestyle habits, and an empowered mindset. Her business combines her psychology education and experience as a private chef. She believes it’s never too late to transform health, and good nutrition can fit into busy schedules without adding stress. Hilary’s corporate wellness programs highlight that "good health is good business," boosting productivity and reducing absenteeism.

Sophie works with organisations to ensure that both employees and employers are fully supported when it comes to menopause. This can benefit employers by reducing the costs involved with members of staff leaving, going part-time, increased sickness levels or tribunals related to menopause. She believes that by being proactive in this area, we will create more menopause inclusive environments where all staff feel equipped to manage open conversations and feel comfortable enough to have them. Sophie is passionate about supporting the local community. She runs support groups, talks and workshops to share her lived experience and knowledge to help women advocate for their own health.

Maddie is our HR Cloud Software specialist, offering comprehensive support to our clients while also nurturing positive workplace culture in SMEs. With a keen eye for detail and deep software expertise, she works closely with clients, ensuring they maximise potential for streamlining processes. Maddie goes beyond solving technical issues, she helps businesses manage HR more efficiently while fostering an environment that sparks innovation and enhances employee satisfaction. Recognising that the software is a catalyst for positive change within companies, Maddie takes a holistic approach, considering not only the technical aspects but the broader impact on a company's success and workforce well-being.

Kevin retired from the Army in 2006 as a Major, after a distinguished military career. During his last eight years of service, he held a pivotal role overseeing Health & Safety, Food Safety and Environmental Compliance on a global scale, demonstrating his commitment to excellence. Transitioning into civilian life, Kevin continued to excel in compliance management, taking on in-house leadership roles at esteemed companies like Carillion, ISS Defence & ISS Education. These positions entailed extensive UK-wide responsibilities, solidifying his reputation as an authority. With over two decades of experience in this field, Kevin's unwavering dedication to operational compliance remains a hallmark of his career.

Qualifying as a solicitor in 1992, spending the next 20 years working in a private practice, local government, and legal recruitment. Initially focused on general litigation, she later honed her expertise in commercial dispute resolution. With a diverse background, including running a law firm as Managing Partner and serving as an SME Operations & Business Manager, she possesses firsthand insights into the challenges of business management. Her skill set encompasses resolving matters concerning commercial property, employment, contracts for goods & services, as well as disputes among directors and shareholders - among other essential areas.

Gavin is a qualified Sustainability Professional with the Global Reporting Initiative. Gavin has provided advice to a wide range of clients from multi nationals to small charities. Each assignment is unique and every client is treated as such. Taking a holistic approach to sustainability, he believes that climate action on its own will not fully address the problems the human race is facing and hence he also champions biodiversity and circular business systems. Gavin says: ‘our role is to educate, initiate and manage positive change within the business community’. He worked in mergers, aquisitions and project finance in the city for 20 years and has a good understanding of corporate strategy.