After more than 20 years in HR and a successful chapter with face2faceHR, Kathryn Aylott is stepping forward under her own independent brand, CuriousHR. Here, she explains what is changing, what is staying the same and why this relaunch feels personal as well as professional.
Change is something I have helped businesses and employees navigate throughout my career. Now, it is my turn to embrace a significant change of my own.
After a positive and rewarding time as part of the face2faceHR franchise, I am delighted to introduce CuriousHR: my new independent HR consultancy supporting businesses across the North East and beyond.
Leaving the franchise was not a decision I took lightly. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, relationships and support I received from face2faceHR and the wider franchise network. It has been an important part of my journey and helped me build strong relationships with businesses throughout the region.
CuriousHR is not about leaving that experience behind. It is about building upon it and creating a brand that reflects the way I work today.
Why CuriousHR?
Curiosity is one of the most valuable qualities we can bring to the workplace.
Good HR should never begin with assumptions, generic templates or a list of reasons why something cannot be done. It should begin with questions.
What is really happening here? How does the situation feel from the employee’s perspective? What does the business need to achieve? Is there a more constructive way forward?
Taking the time to understand the full picture often reveals solutions that a purely procedural approach would miss.
The name CuriousHR reflects my belief that effective people management requires us to listen, explore and understand before we advise. Every workplace is different, so the support offered should be shaped around its people, culture and objectives.
A professional and personal relaunch
You may notice another change alongside the new business name: I am now Kathryn Aylott again.
That makes this feel like more than a business rebrand. It is a personal relaunch too, bringing together a new name, a new identity and the opportunity to shape the next chapter on my own terms.
Although the branding and my surname have changed, the person behind the business has not.
I remain a Chartered CIPD member, trained workplace mediator and HR professional with more than 20 years’ experience across a variety of sectors. My approach will continue to be friendly, practical and grounded in the realities of running a business.
CuriousHR will support employers with everything from contracts, policies and employment-law compliance to performance management, workplace conflict, mediation, restructures and people development.
Businesses can access flexible support, whether they need guidance on one difficult situation, help with a particular project or an ongoing HR partnership.
Independence gives me greater freedom to develop services around the changing needs of the businesses I work with. It allows me to be more flexible in how support is delivered, how services are priced and how I collaborate with other trusted professionals across the region.
More than policies and paperwork
HR is sometimes viewed as the department that produces policies, manages problems and tells people what they cannot do – AKA the Fun Sponge.
While compliance and clear processes are essential, they are only part of the picture.
Great HR can help businesses recruit the right people, build confident managers, address issues before they escalate and create a culture where employees understand what is expected of them. It can help individuals feel heard and supported while giving business owners the clarity and confidence to make fair decisions.
At CuriousHR, the focus will be on four connected areas: people, performance, partnership and progress.
That means supporting people to thrive, helping teams perform at their best, working alongside businesses rather than simply advising from the sidelines and creating positive improvements that last.
There will be no unnecessary jargon, fear-based advice or tick-box exercises for the sake of appearances. Instead, CuriousHR will offer clear guidance, honest conversations and practical solutions that work in the real world.
This new chapter may come with a different business name, a fresh look and a familiar surname, but the purpose remains the same: helping businesses take care of their people while protecting and strengthening the organisation.
I am excited about what comes next, curious about the opportunities ahead and incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the journey so far.
To find out more about CuriousHR or discuss your workplace needs, connect with Kathryn Aylott or get in touch for an informal conversation