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At STEP HR, our team is all about people — yours and ours. Together, we bring decades of experience across HR, coaching, training and organisational development, but what really sets us apart is our approach. We’re practical, down-to-earth and genuinely invested in helping businesses and teams thrive. Whether it’s navigating tricky employment law, supporting wellbeing or shaping long-term people strategies, our goal is simple: to make HR human.
Kirsty Love, CIPD HR Consultant
Kirsty joined STEP HR with a strong background across retail, food and drink, and the public sector — bringing a wealth of experience in both HR practice and people development. An Associate CIPD member, Executive Coach, and Mental Health First Aider, Kirsty has a particular passion for wellbeing, mental health, and helping people feel supported at work.
Known for her empathetic and solution-focused approach, Kirsty works closely with clients to resolve challenges, build confidence and create positive, resilient workplace cultures. Her experience across small and mid-sized businesses gives her a grounded understanding of the real issues employers face — and the practical steps that make a difference.
“I absolutely love working at STEP — HR and the wider team are such a friendly, down-to-earth bunch! Every day brings something new, so there’s never a dull moment — it keeps me on my toes and smiling!”
Yvonne Rawlinson, CIPD HR Consultant
Yvonne joined STEP HR in 2019, bringing over a decade of HR experience and a calm, practical approach that clients instantly trust. Before joining STEP, she managed the HR function at Sainsbury’s, supporting large teams, leading on performance management, and ensuring compliance in a fast-paced environment.
A CIPD-qualified HR professional and trained workplace mediator, Yvonne is experienced in employee relations, employment law and people development. At STEP, she works with business owners and managers across all sectors, offering straightforward, confident guidance that helps them handle challenges and grow stronger teams.
“I love working for STEP HR because it’s a company that genuinely values people — both the clients we support and the team behind the work. Every day brings something different, and I get to make a real impact by helping organisations navigate HR challenges with confidence and care. The culture is open, collaborative, and supportive, with a focus on doing the right thing and helping everyone succeed. It’s rewarding to
Vicky Murphy, FCIPD HR and Organisational Development Director
Vicky joined STEP in 2016, when STEP HR was still in its early days — just 11 clients and a big ambition to make professional HR support accessible to every business that needed it. She saw an opportunity to build something different: a people-focused service that offered real, practical guidance rather than off-the-shelf templates.
With over a decade of experience developing people through coaching, mentoring, and accredited training, Vicky brought both expertise and energy to the role. She’s since grown STEP HR into a trusted service, now supporting more than 80 clients across Scotland, England and Wales.
A qualified executive coach, Vicky delivers ILM-accredited Level 5 and Level 7 Coaching and Mentoring programmes and uses Myers-Briggs (MBTI) in her practice to help leaders understand and improve how they communicate and work with others. Her experience covers everything from complex HR cases to large-scale change projects, leadership development, and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
What drives her most, though, is helping business owners and leaders unlock their potential — both in themselves and their teams. Having coached hundreds of entrepreneurs and senior managers across the SME sector, she’s passionate about helping people and organisations grow with purpose.
“STEP was founded on the idea of supporting local businesses to succeed and being a part of that was what attracted me to the company. The unique approach STEP takes when working with businesses to help them flourish is what makes it so enjoyable and rewarding”.
Jan MacDonald, Assoc CIPD HR Consultant
Jan joined STEP HR with over 16 years of experience across a range of industries including sports manufacturing, law, the third sector, and oil and gas. A member of the CIPD since 2013, she brings a wealth of knowledge in recruitment, employee relations, wellbeing, and management support — always with a focus on building strong, supportive workplace cultures.
Having graduated from Robert Gordon University with a degree in Management and HR, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in HR Management, Jan’s approach combines strategic understanding with practical experience. She’s known for her calm, professional manner and her ability to tailor advice to fit each organisation’s unique context.
“I love working with such a rage of businesses—it means I get to draw on my 17 years of HR experience across a variety of industries. We’ve such a supportive team which really makes a difference to my working life and the quality of service I can offer my clients.”
