

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.


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


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


