Peninsula is a really good sounding board for me


A company logo that says Barker and Stonehouse in a circle.

Barker and Stonehouse

a woman having a meeting with two people
  • Business size

    Large business

  • Industry

    Retail

  • Support

    HR documentation and support

Introduction

Barker and Stonehouse is a luxury furniture retailer with stores and warehouses across the UK. HR Manager Linda Purdie uses Peninsula to lower her risk and reduce time spent on HR admin.

The situation

Linda Purdie manages HR for just under 500 Barker and Stonehouse staff.

It’s an intense workload. And while Linda is experienced in HR, taking responsibility for so many employees can come with a lot of pressure.

Every day, Linda tackles a huge workload – from operational tasks like sorting probation periods to managing risky procedures, like disciplinaries. It’s why she appreciates having access to unlimited HR support…

The situation

To relieve the pressure, Linda regularly reaches out to her Peninsula adviser, Vicky.  

That’s because, even though Linda already has a good grasp on HR law, it’s never worth taking a risk. Before Linda carries out a complex HR task, she discusses it with Vicky, who will flag up any potential pitfalls.

Linda appreciates having a trusted contact to share her thoughts with and bounce ideas off – she never has to carry the burden alone.

Since Peninsula advice is insured, she has reassurance that her decisions won’t put the business at risk. It means she always remains 100% confident that she’s on the right track. And sometimes, Vicky helps Linda identify an easier or more cost-effective solution to achieve her desired outcome.

My adviser is a really good sounding board

I ring Vicky and discuss my thoughts, and whether there are other points to consider. Vicky is a really good sounding board, and will ask “Have you considered doing it this way?”

- Linda Purdie / HR manager at Barker and Stonehouse

The value

Linda enjoys working collaboratively with Peninsula.

Because, while Linda has HR expertise, her busy schedule doesn’t always allow her time to put all her plans into action.

It’s why Linda outsources her time-consuming admin to Peninsula, like writing up workplace policies. Linda has a clear vision of perks and procedures she wants to roll out for staff – and Peninsula brings them to life by providing legally-watertight documentation.

Then, she has the freedom to adjust them, and works with her advisers to make sure it suits her vision.

I work together with Peninsula

I like to look through policies to ensure they’re in line with our business, and then work together with Peninsula to make any changes

- Linda Purdie / HR manager at Barker and Stonehouse

Feefo Customer Rating 4.8 out of 5

4.8/5

Independent Service Rating based on 1444 verified reviews.

FeeFo Logo
Read all reviews

Try Brainbox for free today

When AI meets 40 years of Peninsula expertise... you get instant, expert answers to your HR and health & safety questions

Tens of thousands of business owners reduce risk and worry with Peninsula support. Discover their stories below…

  • A woman helping a customer on a mobility scooter.

    Human resources

    Thistle Help

    I felt confident going into meetings knowing I was doing it right

    Laura is Director at Thistle Help – a retailer that sells mobility equipment. When she experienced issues with a new employee, she turned to Peninsula for support…

    • 15 employees
    • Retail
  • A woman looking at her phone.

    Human resources

    Advantage Smollan

    If we used a solicitor, we would pay a lot more

    Nelli is HR manager at Advantage Smollan, a global marketing agency. Faced with a costly tribunal claim from an ex-employee, Nelli worked with Peninsula to save time and reduce the risk to the business.

    • 150 employees
    • Marketing
  • Peninsula Group Limited - Peninsula client Rob Ballie smiling at the camera

    Human resources

    Cartwright Care

    Not being decisive would have bankrupted the company

    Cartwright Care owns two nursing homes. Rob Baillie, Head of Operations, oversaw the business’s first acquisition with Peninsula support.

    • 2 care homes
    • Health and social care
  • A smiling man in a suit.

    Human resources

    iFacility

    Customers want to work with us, knowing they are getting safe engineers

    Ben is Head of People at iFacility, a security solutions business. He describes how Peninsula supports his team with their HR and Health & Safety priorities.

    • 80 employees
    • Professional services
  • A woman with dark hair and a green jacket.

    Human resources

    Pachamama Group

    Peninsula help us grow and learn – for half the cost of hiring an HR person

    Maria is Head of People at Pachamama Group, a restaurant group in London. She discusses how she works with Peninsula to free up time and boost HR confidence within the business.

    • 140 employees
    • Hospitality
  • A man wearing a suit standing outside the entrance of a building,

    Human resources

    Sunderland Counselling Service

    We enhanced our family policies with Peninsula

    Toby is Chief Executive at Sunderland Counselling Service, a charity that provides talking therapy services across the North East of England. He discusses the value of HR documentation support from Peninsula.

    • 170 employees
    • Non-profit
  • A woman wearing a striped shirt looking at a laptop.

    Human resources

    Sales Consult

    Working with Peninsula saved me over £30,000

    Lisa set up a new sales consultancy. When an employee began to create issues for the business, Lisa used over £30,000 worth of legal and HR services – for a fraction of the cost

    • 9 employees
    • Professional services
  • A woman with blonde hair and a black sports top.

    Human resources

    Salford City FC

    It’s good to have that reassurance there

    Hannah is Director of People & Culture at Salford City FC. The football industry is fast-paced, so when Hannah is focused on HR, staff welfare, safeguarding, and a busy fixture schedule, it can be hard to keep up with employment law changes…

    • 38 employees
    • Leisure
  • A man in a shirt standing against a wall.

    Human resources

    Caroo

    Peninsula helped us to grow the business in a better way

    Gareth is managing director at Caroo, a tech platform that matches candidates with employers. Here’s why he chose Peninsula to help scale up his start-up…

    • Start-up business
    • Tech
View all case studies

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the latest news & tips that matter most to your business in our monthly newsletter.