About us
The outstanding HR provider with the personal touch
A trusted HR partner committed to your success
Founded in 2009, Totally HR was built to give growing businesses access to experienced, commercially grounded HR support without the cost or complexity of a traditional in-house function. Drawing on more than 25 years of senior HR experience, we work closely with businesses across East Anglia to provide practical advice tailored to the way each organisation operates.
We do not believe in off-the-shelf HR or unnecessary retainers. Instead, we deliver the right level of support for where your business is now and where you want it to go next. Whether supporting a one-off project or acting as an ongoing extension of your team, we focus on building stronger people practices, transferring knowledge and helping businesses manage growth with greater confidence.
Our vision
To see more SMEs become truly great places to work.
We believe that every business, regardless of size, should be able to create an environment where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to do their best work. Where good leadership, clear structure, and a positive culture come together to drive long-term success.
Our mission
Our mission is to help SMEs manage their people with clarity and confidence through practical, hands-on HR support, strategic guidance and project-based support.
From day-to-day issues to more complex challenges, we work alongside businesses to provide clear advice, steady support and solutions that make sense in real situations.
Whether it’s ongoing support, strategic input or help with a specific project or issue, the aim is always the same: to make people management simpler, more structured and easier to manage.
Totally HR leadership
Penny Tansley
Director & Principal HR Consultant
Penny Tansley is a CIPD-accredited HR professional with more than 25 years of experience supporting businesses across sectors including manufacturing, engineering, transport, healthcare, charities and SMEs. Her career spans both strategic leadership and operational HR, including board-level roles where she helped organisations navigate growth, organisational change and long-term people planning.
Today, Penny works closely with business owners and leadership teams to provide practical, commercially focused HR support that reflects the realities of running a business. Known for her straightforward and pragmatic approach, she delivers clear advice, sound judgement and people solutions that work in the real world, helping businesses build stronger teams, better workplaces and a solid foundation for future growth.
Our philosophy
The way we work is shaped by a straightforward belief: good businesses look after their people, and good people management supports strong businesses. That plays out in a few simple ways:
Keep things clear
Clear expectations and consistent communication make everything easier, especially when issues arise.
Keep things practical
Advice should work in real situations, not just in theory. If it is not usable, it is not helpful.
Be fair and consistent
People deserve to be managed in a way that is balanced, respectful, and grounded in sound judgement.
Balance people and performance
Supporting your people and running a successful business go hand in hand. One should never come at the expense of the other.
Client experiences that speak for themselves
“Totally HR has taken the stress out of managing people matters. Penny is knowledgeable, approachable and always on hand with clear, patient guidance. Her support gives us real peace of mind so we can focus on running the business.”
“The HR support we receive from Totally HR is outstanding. Penny’s advice is clear, practical and tailored to our needs, giving us confidence in managing even complex situations. We would not hesitate to recommend them.”
“We have worked with Totally HR for many years. Their responses are always professional, helpful and easy to understand. They are friendly, supportive and excellent at explaining issues and how to resolve them.”
“Penny made our contracts process straightforward and stress-free. She was professional, responsive and clear throughout, preparing documents quickly and tailoring them perfectly to our business needs. I would highly recommend Totally HR.”
“We have always received a thoroughly professional HR service from Totally HR, with exceptional support at every stage. Penny is always available, nothing is too much trouble, and we can rely on prompt, helpful responses.”
“We have worked with Penny and Totally HR for many years. As our business has grown, their advice has remained excellent, clear and easy to understand, even on complex matters. They give us real peace of mind.”
“Working with Penny has been a huge support to me and the business. She is calm, knowledgeable and genuinely caring, giving honest, practical advice without overcomplicating things. I know I can rely on her whenever I need guidance.”
“Penny has provided exceptional local HR support to our practice. She is highly responsive, clear and practical, and her guidance has strengthened my own confidence. Her support during a recent redundancy process was comprehensive and invaluable.”
“Totally HR is an integral partner to our business. Their guidance is clear, insightful and tailored to our needs, combining professionalism with a personable approach. They understand our business, anticipate challenges and provide practical solutions that add real value.”
