Moving into HR consultancy is exciting, freeing and full of possibilities. You get to choose your clients, shape your working week and build a career that fits your life. But even for the most experienced HR professionals, stepping away from an in-house role and into independent work can shift your sense of connection more than you expect.
As part of our December theme of community, connection and career purpose, it is the perfect moment to reflect on a question many new consultants quietly ask:
Where do I find my people now?
Because although you are working for yourself, you do not have to work by yourself. Building a supportive and values-aligned HR consultant community is one of the most important parts of creating a sustainable and fulfilling consultancy career.
Why connection matters when you work independently
Internal HR roles naturally come with connection built in. You have colleagues to sense-check decisions with, teammates who understand the pressures of a difficult case and people who share the highs and lows of the week. Those informal moments often do more for your resilience than you realise at the time.
When you go into consultancy, those automatic interactions disappear unless you intentionally rebuild them. The work becomes yours alone to manage, and without a team around you it can feel isolating at times.
A strong HR consultant community gives you:
- someone to sanity-check complex scenarios;
- a space to share ideas and broaden your thinking;
- reassurance that other consultants face the same challenges;
- motivation and accountability; and
- a sense of belonging that protects your wellbeing.
You may not have a traditional team anymore, but you can still build a network that feels like one.
What your HR consultant community might look like
Your community as an HR consultant will look different from an internal HR team, but it can be just as meaningful and often far more intentional.
Fellow HR consultants
They understand consultancy life in a way others can’t. They know the juggling act, the client pressures and the independence you’re shaping. These relationships often become your closest source of practical advice and emotional support.
Specialist HR and employment law partners
Having experts to call on for tricky or unusual areas gives you confidence and supports high-quality client service.
Other small business owners
Running an HR consultancy is still running a business. Connecting with other entrepreneurs gives you insight into marketing, finance, pricing and the practicalities of self-employment.
A coach or mentor
Someone who helps you stay aligned with your purpose and navigate decisions with clarity.
Values-aligned communities
Membership bodies, online groups or co-working spaces where people genuinely share, support and encourage one another.
Practical ways to build your HR consultant community
Building connection in consultancy takes intention, but even small steps can make a big difference.
Get clear on what kind of support you need
Before joining networks or contacting people, spend a moment reflecting. Do you want practical business advice, technical HR discussions, emotional support, accountability or simply a sense of belonging? This clarity helps you choose the right spaces.
Consider whether a franchise environment could support you
Some HR professionals find that joining a franchise, like face2faceHR gives them an immediate HR consultant community. Instead of building everything alone, you become part of a group of consultants who share resources, support each other and understand the reality of consultancy life. Even if you decide a franchise isn’t the right path for you, exploring these models can help you understand the type of support structure that would best suit your working style.
Join active HR networks
Look for communities where members show up consistently and are open, supportive and generous with their knowledge. These are signs of a genuinely helpful environment.
Build peer connections
A simple virtual coffee can be the start of the relationships that matter most. Peer groups, WhatsApp chats and informal circles often recreate the best bits of having colleagues again.
Find a mentor or sounding board
Your mentor might be another consultant, a business coach or someone whose judgement you trust. What matters is that they bring clarity, reassurance and perspective.
Try co-working or shared online working sessions
Whether in person or virtual, these can create structure, accountability and a sense of being around others again.
Build your extended team gradually
Over time, you’ll naturally gather trusted specialists. They become part of your wider support network and help your consultancy grow with confidence.
When your community is strong, everything feels easier
With the right people around you, consultancy feels less isolating and far more energising. You approach complex challenges with confidence, stay grounded during busy periods and feel connected to a wider professional world. A strong HR consultant community won’t remove every challenge, but it does make them much easier to navigate and far less lonely.
Final thoughts
Going it alone professionally does not mean going without support. The consultants who thrive long term are the ones who intentionally build a community that reflects their values, goals and working style.
As we close the year, take time to think about who you want around you and what kind of connection will help you move into the next stage of your HR career with purpose and confidence.
Thinking about whether consultancy could be your next step?
If you are exploring a career path with more flexibility, purpose and connection, our prospectus is a great place to begin. It offers a clear, honest overview of what consultancy can look like with the right support network around you.
Download our prospectus or get in touch if you would like to talk through what HR consultancy could look like for you.