Fractional HR leadership fuels confident tech growth
Overview
VoCoVo is a fast-growing tech company, renowned for revolutionising how frontline retail teams stay connected. Saying goodbye to noisy tannoy announcements and disjointed phone systems, the business has brought flexibility and freedom through the power of voice, with a growing range of devices designed to enhance team communication and improve the customer experience. And its impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Alongside an impressive list of customers including John Lewis, Dunelm, and Sainsbury’s, the team has garnered several awards to cement its status. But with big plans to scale even further, faster, it needed a trusted HR partner to keep people-powered growth in focus.
The challenge
It’s a common misconception that outsourced HR needs to be all or nothing. The reality is, fractional HR support can be a powerful complement to existing teams, adding extra human oomph exactly when and where it’s needed. This was the case for VoCoVo. The business already had a capable people and talent team in place – engaged, hands on, and deeply embedded in the day to day. Yet, with ambitious growth plans to navigate, it knew experienced HR firepower would be invaluable at the top. This is where hoomph stepped in.
As VoCoVo’s fractional HR director, working two to three days a week as part of the executive team, it was our job to support leadership through a strategic review, shape the people agenda, and build the foundations for a high-performing, future-ready business.
The solution
We quickly embedded ourselves into VoCoVo’s rhythms, getting to know the business’ objectives, operational nuances, and culture before turning our attention to where people strategy could make the biggest impact. Focused on joining the dots between people and business priorities, we worked closely with the executive team and senior leaders to bring clarity, consistency, and direction to the way people were led, supported, and developed.
Here’s how this translated in practical terms:
Designed the people strategy to drive scale
We created a focused, actionable people strategy aligned with VoCoCo’s three-year growth goals. This wasn’t a lofty manifesto but a working roadmap – covering culture, structure, performance, reward, development, leadership, and capability – all carefully designed to help the business scale with pace and intention.
Built and launched a new remuneration framework
As VoCoVo grew, it needed a remuneration approach that could grow with it – one that was scalable, transparent, and motivating for top talent. We developed a strong remuneration strategy, linked performance and behaviours to drive clarity and motivation, and introduced consistent internal levelling to create consistency around job roles and progression within the business.
Led organisational design and blueprinting
To scale well, shape and structure matter. We led the design of future-focused organisational blueprints, mapping out growth triggers, key processes, skills and capability needs, and performance metrics. Our work helped define clear spans of control and align every role, team, and function to the company’s wider strategic goals.
Cultivated a performance-focused culture
Moving from informal conversations to a more structured and future-focused culture, we implemented a series of changes to embed clarity and accountability across the business. This included redesigning the review process with consistent performance ratings and behaviours, giving teams a shared language for success, while introducing skills mapping to provide constructive guidance around development and growth. Plus, with tailored coaching for leaders and line managers, we built the confidence to lead performance-focused conversations.
Upskilled leaders and line managers
We know real change sticks when leaders champion it with confidence. So, we delivered hands-on training to help senior employees guide through change and shape high-functioning teams. Then, by rolling out bite-sized line manager training, grounded in everyday scenarios and tailored to VoCoVo’s needs, we made sure managers felt equipped to embed new ways of working on the ground.
Results
As a fast-moving tech company powering some of the UK’s best-loved retailers, VoCoVo needed strong people practices that could keep pace with its ambition. By embedding experienced, strategic HR leadership at the heart of the business, we helped it unlock the next stage of its growth with clarity and confidence. And all without the commitment or overhead of a full-time hire.
Now, armed with a practical people strategy, future-fit organisational design, and renewed high-performance culture, VoCoVo has a strong foundation that’s primed to scale with it. Leaders and line managers are equipped to lead change from the front, employees know exactly what’s expected to develop and grow, and the business has the structure and tools to move forward with purpose – and with people firmly at the centre.
