Episode 15 - Running HR with Kate Marchant

Episode 15 - Running HR with Kate Marchant

Author: Stuart Wallis September 24, 2025 Duration: 48:31

Summary

In this episode, Stuart and Kate Marchant discuss the intricacies of HR, focusing on the importance of mediation and personal connection in resolving workplace issues. They share insights on handling grievances, making reasonable adjustments, and the challenges of managing HR in both corporate and consultancy settings.



HR, mediation, workplace issues, grievances, reasonable adjustments, corporate HR, consultancy



  • HR is about people, not just policies.
  • Mediation can resolve many workplace conflicts.
  • Personal connection is key in HR.
  • Reasonable adjustments are crucial for inclusivity.
  • Corporate HR often involves managing egos.
  • Consultancy offers a more personal HR approach.
  • Grievances are rarely straightforward.
  • Effective HR requires understanding individual circumstances.
  • Communication is vital in resolving HR issues.
  • HR can be rewarding and impactful.



  • The Art of Mediation in HR
  • Making HR Personal Again
  • Navigating Workplace Conflicts with Mediation
  • HR Insights from Corporate to Consultancy
  • The Power of Personal Connection in HR
  • Resolving Grievances: Beyond Policies
  • HR Challenges and Solutions
  • Mediation: A Key Tool in HR
  • Understanding Reasonable Adjustments in HR
  • HR: More Than Just Policies



"HR is about people, not just policies." "

Mediation can resolve many workplace conflicts."

"Personal connection is key in HR."

"Reasonable adjustments are crucial for inclusivity." "

Corporate HR often involves managing egos."

"Consultancy offers a more personal HR approach."

"Grievances are rarely straightforward."

"Effective HR requires understanding individual circumstances."

"Communication is vital in resolving HR issues."

"HR can be rewarding and impactful."




Stuart Wallis has spent a career at the intersection of people and industry, and in Hard Hats and Head Space with Stuart Wallis, he brings that entire world to the microphone. This isn't a theoretical discussion; it's a series of real conversations drawn from Stuart's own network, featuring guests whose experience is as diverse as it is deep. You'll hear from figures in construction and recruitment, sure, but also from unexpected quarters like egg-farming and publishing. Each episode digs into the tangible connections between work, personal wellbeing, and the dynamics of the modern workforce, deliberately sidestepping fluffy jargon and corporate speak. The discussions are grounded, often challenging, and designed to pull practical insight from every story. By focusing on the human elements behind the job titles, this podcast reveals how different paths can offer surprising lessons for leadership, resilience, and finding purpose. Tune in for candid talks that feel more like a coffee with seasoned professionals than a formal interview, always aiming to leave you with a clearer perspective on your own work and headspace.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Hard Hats and Head Space with Stuart Wallis
Podcast Episodes
Happy New Year - Danny Mac Special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
Filmed over the Christmas Break, Stuart got together with his friend Danny MacMillan, proprietor of the Mac's Farm in Ditchling, for a chat about the pressures of running a business, working 24/7 as a farmer and how the…
Episode 22 - 2025 Recap! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:57
Here is a look back at Stuart's 2025 on the first season of Hard Hats & Headspace. Wishing everyone all the best for Christmas, and Health, Wealth & Happiness in 2026!
Episode 21 - HS Trimmers - "You don't have to love 'em to care" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
SummaryIn this episode, Stuart and his colleagues Johnno, Colin and Thomas discuss their involvement in Movember, a movement to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, particularly prostate cancer. They share…
Episode 18 - The need for Health to match Safety - Jennie Armstrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
Linkshttps://constructionhealth.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniearmstrong/Keywordsmental health, anxiety, depression, work, well-being, open conversations, diagnosis, supportSummaryIn this conversation, Stuart di…
Episode 17 - Robert Seaward - Sparking Resilience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:43
SummaryIn this episode of Hard Hats and Headspace, host Stuart interviews Robert Seaward, an electrical estimator at Heathrow with an inspiring story of resilience. Robert shares his journey from hospitality management t…
Episode 16 - From Electrician to Advocate: Steve Walsh's Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:04
SummaryIn this episode of Hard Hats and Headspace, Stuart Wallis welcomes his lifelong friend Steve Walsh, an electrician and mental health advocate. They discuss Steve's career journey, his contributions to mental healt…
Episode 14 - Steve Kerslake and the Journey of Construction Sport [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:39
SummaryThis conversation explores the critical importance of mental health in the construction industry, highlighting the founding of Construction Sport as a charity aimed at promoting wellbeing through sports. The discu…
Episode 13 - Empowering Conversations: A Mental Health Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
SummaryIn this solo podcast episode, Stuart discusses theimportance of mental health awareness, particularly in the context of suicide prevention. He shares his personal journey with mental health challenges, including h…