People Strategy, Hiring & Onboarding Checklist
People Strategy, Hiring & Onboarding Checklist

Running and growing an SME is hard enough

without the added stress of hiring challenges, HR headaches, or disengaged teams.

That's where I come in.

Enabling Growth for Founders

Growing businesses tend to struggle with the same three headaches:

Smarter Hiring, Better Onboarding & Talent Retention

Yet research shows that structured onboarding alone can increase retention by 50% and productivity by 62%, which is why how you bring people into your business matters just as much as who you hire.

Hiring the right people, in the right roles and at the right time

Bringing new hires up to speed quickly

Keeping teams engaged when the pressure is on

Tailored People Strategy & Practical Support

Hello! I’m Cath Patterson, operating as People4Growth.

I help ambitious founders and SME leaders build people strategies that fuel sustainable growth.

Cath Patterson
Cath Patterson

People4Growth

Pragmatic Approach

Drawing on 25+ years as both an SME founder and hiring strategist, I work alongside small business leaders to create practical, no-nonsense approaches to hiring, onboarding, and employee engagement - so you can scale with confidence, not chaos.

I help you move from reactive hiring to intentional team building, turning people from a pressure point into your greatest competitive advantage.

Working with Cath feels like having a strategic hiring partner on your team. She doesn’t just help recruit; she challenges our thinking, refines our approach, and ensures every decision supports our long-term goals.

Her communication, encouragement, and expertise throughout the process have been invaluable in helping us hire the perfect people for our PR agency.

Anthony Bullick
Managing Director

Outwrite PR Ltd

Client Feedback: Outwrite PR

Anthony Bullick, Managing Director of Outwrite PR
Anthony Bullick, Managing Director of Outwrite PR

HR Services

How I help SMEs solve hiring and people challenges...

Workforce Planning

Develop strategic people plans - aligning current and future workforce needs, to ensure the right skills, roles, and capacity at the right time.

Talent Attraction Strategies

Advise on talent pools and best channels and methods, to reach, engage and attract ideal candidates.

Hiring Process Design

Design compliant, culturally-aligned recruitment and onboarding processes, to identify and engage talent, reducing costly hiring mistakes.

Interviewer Coaching

Equip managers to conduct effective interviews, enabling informed hiring decisions and improved experience for all.

Employee Retention Strategies

Provide guidance on impactful engagement and initiatives, to boost workforce loyalty and productivity.

Recruitment Campaign Management

Lead talent attraction activities and early-stage selection, to swiftly identify suitable candidates and save your time.

From No-Shows to 100% Interview Attendance - and Better Candidates!

Recruitment had become a real pain point for us.

Cath didn’t overcomplicate things - she helped us put a clear, practical hiring process in place that delivered immediate results.

The difference in candidate quality and commitment was obvious, and the hiring manager finally felt supported rather than frustrated. We now have a solution we can actually build on.

Dan James
Managing Director

Valley Transports Ltd

Client Feedback: Valley Transports

Dan James of Valley Transports Ltd
Dan James of Valley Transports Ltd

Let's Take on Your Hiring and HR Challenges Together

Unlock business growth through your people.