Carla Read’s HR consultancy business was named Newcomer Business Consultancy of the Year at the Greater Manchester Business Awards!

Congratulations to Carla Read, Our HR People Ltd Regional Director for Manchester Central & North. The win follows Carla’s completion of the Our HR People’s comprehensive ‘Business Accelerator Programme’.

In just her first 6 months with Our HR People, Carla has made a real impact, bringing over a decade of HR leadership experience to support Manchester’s growing technology sector, with practical, people-focused solutions.  This well-deserved recognition reflects Carla’s passion, expertise and commitment to helping businesses thrive.

Congratulations, Carla – here’s to an exciting future ahead! 👏

Carla joined the franchise after a decade as a trusted HR partner and consultant to business owners and senior leadership teams, providing ongoing HR advisory services, problem-solving support, and practical guidance tailored to each organisation’s size and maturity.

This includes roles as Chief People Officer and Head of People, leading the design and delivery of long-term people strategies aligned with business growth, establishing a scalable, people-first culture and spearheading the transition from manual processes to automated, technology-driven solutions.

Her passion is working with and helping to grow tech companies (a thriving industry in Manchester) through robust HR strategy. She especially enjoys implementing policies and procedures, working on mergers and acquisitions and boosting employee engagement and culture. You can find out more about her tech HR expertise on her webpage and by connecting with her on LinkedIn where she posts regular insight.

A native Mancunian, Carla now lives near Chorley, where she enjoys the countryside with long walks and horse riding. After work you’ll find her at the gym or exploring Manchester’s independent restaurant scene – recent recommendations include Bruco and Forbici.

Carla’s personal values are honesty, clarity, adaptability, curiosity and authenticity, which sit well with her home town because, as she says, “Manchester is known for being a city that gets things done. Built on centuries of industry and hard work, it values delivery over hype, straight talking over formality, and practical solutions over theory.”

“Business here is shaped by the worker-bee ethos; collective effort, resilience, and accountability. Founders and business owners are ambitious but grounded, expect honesty and fairness, and want partners who respect their time and understand the realities of growth.”

Carla says: “I was drawn to Our HR People because the model allows me to deliver my services, with 1-2-1 support, in a way that aligns with my values. While other franchises felt more prescriptive, this approach gives me the freedom to remain authentic. From my first call with Steve, the conversation felt open and honest, with no pressure and no topics off the table.”

“Operating as part of a franchise allows me to combine the personal, hands-on approach of independent consulting with the strength, resources, and credibility of a wider professional network.”

Stephen Wright, managing director of Our HR People said: “We are delighted to welcome Carla to our Franchise Partner team. We are also immensely proud to have been trusted with growing her HR consultancy – and this win shows the amazing progress she has made. Carla’s extensive experience and enthusiasm for all things HR in the tech industry will be of great benefit for Manchester businesses and the Our HR People network.”

Our HR People, an BFA Expanding Member, offer practical, pragmatic HR, legal advice and training & development to businesses of all sizes. Our team of HR Directors are currently working with our clients to prepare for the Employment Rights Act 2025, the most significant revision of employment law for a decade. Book a no obligation meeting or just ask us a question.