Essex-based HR consultancy, Impact HR Consulting Limited, has announced the acquisition of Tugela People, a leading HR and payroll systems consultancy based in Milton Keynes.

The acquisition brings together Impact HR’s national HR consultancy, compliance and people advisory capability, with Tugela People’s expertise in HR and payroll technology implementation and optimisation.

Under the deal, Tugela People founder and CEO Thomas Schilling will remain with the business as a Strategic Advisor. Greg Guilford, Group CEO of Impact HR, will assume the role of CEO at Tugela People. All Tugela People employees will continue in their current roles.

This latest acquisition follows Impact HR’s recent rebrand and a period of sustained national expansion through strategic acquisitions.

Originally founded in 2018 as Kingswood Group, Impact HR unveiled its new name and brand in October after successful acquisitions in Essex, Leeds and Leicester. The business now operates nationally, supporting SMEs with HR strategy, complex employee relations, organisational change, training and fully outsourced HR support.

Founded in 2013, Tugela People has grown into a £2 million turnover business delivering cloud-based HR and payroll systems to businesses.

Commenting on the acquisition, Greg Guilford said: “I’ve known Thomas for a number of years and it became clear that our businesses serve a similar audience and could genuinely strengthen each other.

“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter focused on investment, innovation and long-term growth while continuing to deliver the trusted, practical support our clients rely on.

“Tugela People has built an outstanding reputation for HR systems expertise and client delivery. This acquisition accelerates our ambition to build a true end-to-end HR ecosystem for SMEs and HR leaders, covering strategy, systems, compliance and people development.”

Thomas Schilling added: “Tugela People will retain its well-established brand and our clients will continue to work with the same trusted, experienced team.

“By joining the Impact HR group, we are combining Tugela People’s specialist HR technology capability with Impact HR’s national consultancy, compliance and people advisory strength. Together, we can help clients properly connect strategy, systems and people, creating a fully integrated HR experience that drives performance and engagement.

“This partnership provides the scale, investment and shared vision to take Tugela People to the next stage of growth while maintaining the quality and integrity our clients expect.”

Impact HR now operates across the UK, with offices in Essex, Leicester, Leeds and London, serving SMEs across all sectors.

For more information on both companies, visit https://impacthr.co.uk and https://tugelapeople.com.