At Parke Lane People, we’re known for our recruitment work across HR, Finance and Marketing roles. But behind the scenes, much of our value is delivered long before a vacancy goes live.
A recent consultancy project with the Managing Director of a growing SME in Thame was a perfect example of this. It wasn’t about filling a role, it was about helping the business get future-ready, with the right people, structures and benefits in place to support growth.
Working on a consultancy-fee basis, we sat down with the MD to review the current team, upcoming needs and long-term ambitions. From there, we produced a practical report covering:
✅ Salary Benchmarking for Multiple Roles
We reviewed and benchmarked salaries for roles including:
- Sales Admin
- Admin Manager
- Office Manager / Accounts Controller
- Finance Manager
Using our knowledge of the local job market, current placement data and insight from recent assignments, we could give the client a realistic view of what other businesses in Oxfordshire are paying right now.
“Our benchmarking isn’t based on generic online salary surveys,” says @Andrea Owen, Senior Consultant at Parke Lane People. “It’s based on real conversations and live market activity. We know what companies are offering today, not what they were paying last year.”
This gave the client a clear picture of where they stood competitively and how to plan financially for future hires.
✅ Review of Benefits and Employee Offer
The business was already offering several strong perks, including an on-site gym, regular bonuses and free produce. We helped identify a few low-cost, high-impact areas for improvement:
- Increase annual leave from the statutory 20 days
- Introduce hybrid working, which is now a strong expectation for many roles
- Explore additional options such as a birthday off, EAP schemes or external mortgage advice
“We often find businesses underestimate how valuable these softer benefits are when it comes to attraction and retention,” says @Andy Parke, Founder of Parke Lane People. “It’s not always about a pay rise. Sometimes it’s about creating an offer that reflects the way people want to live and work today.”
✅ Strategic Planning for Growth
The consultancy also covered broader areas that will support recruitment and retention as the business expands, including:
- Planning for upcoming maternity cover
- Identifying gaps in Marketing, HR and Commercial leadership
- Improving job descriptions to reflect the company culture, not just the task list
- Enhancing the employer brand through a stronger LinkedIn and website presence
These changes don’t just help attract better people, they also help prospective candidates understand the values, personality and future direction of the business.
The Outcome?
The feedback was really positive, and we’ve already been asked to support on a future hire.
This project is a great example of how recruitment consultants in Oxfordshire can add value beyond placing candidates. As a finance recruitment agency in Oxfordshire, we’re often called in to help businesses think more strategically about their people, before, during and after the hiring process.
“Sometimes the most valuable work happens before a role even hits the market,” says Andrea. “That’s when businesses have the space to reflect, plan and make decisions that really support long-term growth.”
If you’re reviewing salaries, thinking about your structure or just want a sounding board for your next stage of growth, we’d love to help.
Andy Parke & Andrea Owen
Parke Lane People
Recruitment, consultancy and advice, built around people first