Overview
Rise HR was appointed the trusted people partner for Stripe OLT, an IT and Cyber Security business, back in 2009. Over a 17-year relationship, Rise HR have provided flexible and strategic HR support that has been cost effective and tailored to the company’s evolving needs. The partnership helped streamline HR administration, support employee retention, successfully manage organisational change and maintain strong HR compliance throughout the company’s growth journey.
Built on trust, adaptability and a deep understanding of the business, the relationship became a valued long-term people partnership and an extension of the senior leadership team.
Background
Stripe OLT, specialists in IT and Cyber Security, were one of Rise HR’s first client’s back in 2009. At the time, both businesses were in the early stages of their journey. Stripe was a small team, and Rise HR (then operating as Reabur) consisted of just two directors; Kirsty and Georgina.
What began with drafting the company’s first employee contracts quickly developed into a trusted, long-term partnership. Over the years, Stripe OLT has grown significantly to a team of more than 70 employees, with Rise HR evolving alongside them to provide both operational and strategic HR support at every stage of growth.
How Rise HR Supported Stripe OLT
Over the years, Rise has provided flexible and tailored support to help Stripe navigate growth, change and complex people matters, including:
- Drafting employee contracts, new starter documentation and privacy notices
- Developing and maintaining employee handbooks and HR policies
- Reviewing legislation updates and ensuring policies remained compliant
- Supporting two TUPE processes, including contractual changes, restructuring advice and employee communications
- Salary and benefits benchmarking
- Implementing HR software to streamline holiday management and administration
- Supporting an employee relocation to New Zealand
- Delivering management training, including:
- Absence management
- Anti-bullying and harassment
- GDPR
- Preventing sexual harassment
- Performance management support
- Strategic HR guidance through attendance at quarterly senior leadership business review meetings
As the business evolved, so did the relationship. While Rise HR continued to provide HR support as and when needed, the partnership increasingly became more strategic in nature.
By attending Quarterly Business Review (QBR) meetings with the management team, Rise HR gained a deep understanding of Stripe’s culture, goals and operational challenges. This close working relationship built trust across the wider management team, who felt confident seeking direct HR support whenever needed.
The Impact
Over the course of the partnership, Rise has helped Stripe build a strong and compliant people framework while supporting the business through significant growth and organisational change.
The partnership has delivered several measurable benefits, including:
- Supporting Stripe’s growth from a small start-up team to more than 70 employees
- Streamlining HR administration through the implementation of HR software, significantly reducing manual admin time
- Supporting employee retention by helping create consistent people processes, policies and management support
- Successfully managing two TUPE processes smoothly and with minimal disruption to the business and employees
- Maintaining ongoing HR compliance, with no major employee relations or legal compliance issues encountered throughout the partnership
- Providing commercially focused HR advice that enabled leaders to make confident people decisions quickly and effectively
The Operations Director of Stripe, Mark Dale commented:
“Rise HR successfully balances the needs of the individual with the needs of the business. Having reliable, well-informed HR support helps us avoid difficult legal situations while keeping HR practical and straightforward. They also offer a pricing model that works well for SMEs, it’s affordable and flexible – I’m grateful to them for that.”
This partnership reflects Rise’s commitment to flexibility, adaptability and building lasting client relationships. By tailoring support as the business evolved, Rise HR became a trusted extension of Stripe’s leadership team.
HR Consultant, Sherry Jacobs that supports Stripe added:
“I’ve enjoyed supporting Mark and the wider team at Stripe. We know their business, culture and team extremely well. We’ve grown alongside them and built a genuinely trusted partnership over the years. I am proud to have been their people partner and part of their journey.”
Looking Ahead
Following the recent acquisition of Stripe OLT by Littlefish Group, this long-standing partnership is naturally coming to an end. However, this marks a positive milestone, an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable success of the business and the role Rise HR played in supporting that growth over the years. We’re proud to have been part of the business’ growth journey.
If you’re looking for a trusted, long-term people partner to support your business through every stage of growth, Rise HR can help. From day-to-day employee relations to strategic HR guidance, and maybe some complex HR issues in-between; we work alongside businesses to provide practical, commercially focused solutions, tailored to your business needs. Please get in touch to find out how we can support your team and become an extension of your business: hello@risehr.co.uk