When you step out of corporate HR and into consultancy, one of the biggest surprises isn’t the freedom (lovely), the flexibility (even lovelier) or the variety (arguably the best part). It’s the realisation that you’re suddenly the person doing everything.
From business development to ER cases, from proposals to pricing, from being your own IT department to being your own cheerleader, consultancy can feel like a lot to shoulder alone. And yet, you really don’t have to.
As part of our December theme of community, connection and career purpose, this article explores why building an HR consultant support network is one of the most important things you can do, whether you’re brand new to consulting or have been doing it for years. This isn’t about joining a franchise, although that can be one option. It’s simply a reminder that even when you work for yourself, you don’t have to work by yourself.
You’re not starting over, you’re expanding your world
Leaving corporate HR can feel like stepping away from your team and your sounding board. The people who knew your strengths, understood your workload and could give you an honest “Yes, that’s the right approach” when you needed it.
But consultancy doesn’t shrink your world. In many ways, it expands it.
You start meeting consultants with different sector backgrounds. You talk to people who have solved similar challenges in ways you hadn’t considered. You come across specialists in coaching, wellbeing, reward, L&D and DEI who are happy to share insight. Instead of one internal HR team, you now have access to dozens of small networks full of people who genuinely get the work you do.
What feels like the loss of a team often becomes the start of a much bigger, richer community.
You don’t have to carry all the knowledge in your own head
A common belief among new consultants is that independence means handling absolutely everything alone. But consultancy isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about knowing where to find them.
Senior HR professionals often place huge pressure on themselves to be both the expert and the entire infrastructure around the expert. That’s unrealistic and unnecessary.
A strong HR consultant support network gives you access to ideas, clarity and reassurance exactly when you need them. Former colleagues, specialist advisors, trusted peers or a franchise community can all act as extensions of your expertise. They help you move more confidently, more quickly and with much less mental strain.
A helpful rule is this: if you’ve spent more than twenty minutes stuck on something, someone else could probably help you solve it faster.
Shared thinking makes you a better consultant
One of the fastest ways to improve your practice is to talk things through with someone who understands the HR world. Not because you’re unsure, but because HR involves nuance, judgement and reading context.
When you’re working independently, having someone to sense check with isn’t a crutch. It’s a professional safeguard.
Shared thinking gives you:
- clearer decision-making;
- broader perspectives;
- more creative solutions;
- space to process tricky or emotional situations; and
- a reminder that you’re not the only one navigating complex work
Even a quick voice note exchange can bring a surprising amount of clarity. It helps you avoid second-guessing and keeps your thinking grounded.
You can still have the best bits of team life
If there’s one universal truth from consultants we support, it’s this: people don’t miss the office, but they do miss the people.
The small things.
The short chats.
The “Quick question…” moments.
The tiny bursts of encouragement that remind you you’re not doing it alone.
The good news is that consultancy doesn’t mean giving those up. You can recreate them in ways that feel lighter, more personalised and far more positive.
You might have:
- A WhatsApp group with two or three consultants you click with.
- A monthly virtual coffee with someone whose thinking you value.
- A specialist buddy you go to for ER, wellbeing or coaching conversations.
- A mentor to help you zoom out instead of getting stuck in the day-to-day.
- A small peer circle where you share wins and challenges.
You still get a connection, but without the corporate noise. It becomes team life, redesigned to actually support you.
You also deserve support, even as the expert
HR work carries emotional weight. Consultants are often the steadying presence, the reassuring voice, the person clients turn to in difficult moments. But you’re still human, and the work can be a lot to hold.
You deserve spaces where you can ask questions freely and talk things through without feeling like you “should already know.” You deserve the kind of support you’ve spent years giving to others.
And crucially, you deserve to feel that you are not doing important, meaningful work in isolation. A healthy support network helps you maintain perspective, resilience and confidence. Your clients rely on those things, and you rely on the people who help you sustain them.
Practical ways to make sure you’re not doing it alone
Creating support doesn’t need to be complicated. A few intentional habits can make a big difference.
Build a micro-circle: choose two or three people you trust and stay in touch regularly. They become your core support.
Keep your bench visible: have a short list of go-to specialists for ER, coaching, employment law or anything else you refer to often.
Reach out early: don’t wait until something becomes stressful. A quick conversation can save hours of worry.
Treat connection as CPD: talking shop with peers isn’t a distraction. It’s reflective practice and part of staying current.
Community isn’t a luxury, it’s part of your purpose
For many HR professionals, consultancy is a conscious step toward more meaningful work. But purpose is easier to hold when you’re not carrying everything alone.
An HR consultant support network keeps you grounded, supported and connected to something bigger than your own client list. It helps you grow, stay resilient and continue doing work that genuinely matters to you.
Consultancy can absolutely be a solo venture. But it never needs to be a lonely one.
If you’re exploring what support could look like for you
If you’re curious about consultancy, or already working independently but looking for a more connected way of doing it, you might find it helpful to explore the different support models available.
Download our prospectus or get in touch to learn how we support HR professionals to build a consultancy career that is confident, connected and sustainable.