HR Excellence
The History of Our Company
A brief history
Established in 2016
Birch-HR is a Birmingham-based HR consultancy founded in 2016 by Samantha Hulson Birch-HR provides HR Consultancy services across the UK. Our HR consultancy provides expert support across all sectors.
Birch-HR is known for its bespoke, flexible services in Employee Relations, executive coaching and mentoring, workplace investigations, leadership development, training and mediation.
Samantha Hulson is the Managing Director of Birch-HR and a Fellow of the CIPD. She holds an ILM Level 7 qualification in Executive Coaching and Mentoring and brings over 25+ years of senior HR leadership and Managing Director experience. Her professional career includes leading transformation projects across sectors.
We are proud to have a talented team of HR professionals who bring significant experience and knowledge with a diverse range of skills to every client engagement.
Our consultants are CIPD qualified and have a proven track record in navigating complex leadership and people challenges. Whether supporting workplace investigations, delivering executive coaching, or facilitating mediation, leadership development or training our team is committed to delivering flexible, high-impact solutions that make a real difference.
Our Values
- Integrity – Acting with honesty and strong moral principles.
- Professionalism – Maintaining high standards in all interactions and services.
- Collaborative – Working together with clients and partners to achieve shared goals.
- Social Responsibility – Supporting causes and promoting ethical practices.
- Excellence – Striving for outstanding quality and results.
- Courage – Providing bold, responsive support in complex HR and leadership challenges.
“Your HR team are amazing”
Veronica Gosling, Headteacher, St John Vianney Catholic Primary School
Our Blog
News & Events
We provide regular HR news, briefing and training events for our clients. We provide thought leadership articles for HR, education and business national media.
Employment Rights Update – 6 April 2026
Big changes are here. For HR professionals and leaders, staying ahead is no longer just about compliance—it’s about building resilient, people-first organisations. Day-One Rights Statutory Sick Pay: Available from day one—no waiting period. Family Leave: Parental and...
Hundreds of GPs say they have never refused a fit note for mental health.
The Fit Note Dilemma: When "Not Fit for Work" means "Not Fit to Talk" Hundreds of GPs say they have never refused a fit note for mental health. At the same time, there were 850,000 more fit notes issued last year than six years ago. For those of us working in HR, this...
Thought Leadership Style
Many managers are promoted because they perform well. But very few are trained to develop people. Leading a high-performing team requires more than technical expertise. It requires the ability to: Coach or mentor individuals Build trust and accountability Develop...
Enquire Today
We look forward to arranging a convenient time to establish how we can best support your current leadership with the delivery of both current and future HR priorities.