Rachel Collar
FOUNDER | CONSULTANT HR DIRECTOR | EXECUTIVE COACH
Hi, I’m Rachel.
Let’s get the boring bit out of the way first. I hold both a Degree and a Masters in HR Management, and I’m a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
I’m also a qualified and accredited Executive and Leadership Coach, as well as an NLP Coach Practitioner. You can find out more about my coaching services by visiting Haus of Coaching.
More importantly I’ve got the experience back it up. Frightening to say, but I have over 25-years' in HR, leading people strategies and delivering successful HR programmes across the full employee lifecycle. I've also led HR teams across the UK, EMEA and USA.
Over the years, I’ve partnered with SMEs, global corporations, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations. I’ve led HR across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, IT outsourcing, telecommunications, insurance and financial services.
I’ve also been an established member of senior leadership teams across several organisations, including my last corporate role as Head of HR for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, where I also sat as a Board member.
Alongside Haus of HR, I’m Vice President and Non-Executive Director for both the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce, supporting the CEO and President with with governance, performance and representing the interests of Chamber members.
Supporting People, Careers and Communities
I’m also a Trustee Board Member for Worktree, a Milton Keynes-based charity on a mission to create thousands of conversations between young people and working people. Through these conversations, Worktree helps young people build career awareness, develop positive and realistic aspirations, and strengthen their employability skills.
Mentoring is also a big part of what I do. I’m a CIPD Mentor, supporting fellow CIPD members and ambassadors of the people profession. I also mentor aspiring entrepreneurs through the NatWest Accelerator Programme, as well as final-year students at the University of Northampton as they navigate their first career steps.
When I do have spare time, I love hiking in search of geocaches and getting out on my mountain bike. I also enjoy tai chi, yoga and pilates for a bit of much-needed downtime.
I live in a motorsport-mad house, so being able to hear the action from Silverstone while working from my desk is ideal. Last but not least, I’m fur baby mummy to my rescue cat Buddy, AKA the Chief Happiness Officer at Haus of HR. He may even make a special Zoom appearance - for a fee, of course!
Professional Qualifications and Affiliations
Bachelor's (Hons) Degree in Business and Human Resource Management (First Class)
Masters in Human Resource Management (Distinction)
Chartered Fellow of the Institute of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)
ILM Level 7 Executive and Senior Level Coaching & Mentoring
Association for Coaching Accredited Advanced Diploma in Coach Training
Association for Coaching Accredited Executive Coach
European Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Accredited Practitioner
NLP Coach Practitioner
Accredited MiRo Practitioner
Meet the rest of the team
Steph Underwood
HR OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE
I’ve got over 10 years’ experience working in recruitment and HR, in large corporate organisations and smaller companies, from shared service centres to partnering with Director’s, in all sorts of sectors.
I then moved into recruitment (not the agency type), but supporting Independent Consultants with their client’s recruitment needs.
That’s when I found my passion for supporting and being part of a journey that adds value and somewhere that you can truly be yourself!
I’ve got 2 daughters and if there’s a chance of sun, at the weekend, you’ll find us on a beach (often the cold and windy UK ones).
I love travelling and the water and have my PADI diving license and I hope that as the girls get older, we’ll be able to explore the world and ocean together!
Contact me at steph@hausofhr.com
Nicky Sheppard
HR CONSULTANT
I’m CIPD Level 5 qualified and have worked within HR and Recruitment since I was 26. My strengths are HR administration, employment law and working with HR employee platforms, and my particular passion is full-cycle recruitment.
I’m very interested in supporting neurodiversity and mental health both during recruitment and within the workplace.
I live on the sunny South Coast (I’m reliably told we’re one of the sunniest places in the UK) and love being able to take a walk with my dog along the beach before I start work. I’m a bit of a couch potato so you won’t find me in the gym or doing high octane activities, but I do like being out and about and exploring the UK and further afield.
I’m a keen (very) amateur photographer, and like nothing more than a solitary wander with my earphones in taking pictures of random flowers and landscapes.
Lauren Gatenby
HR CONSULTANT
I’m an Associate CIPD member with 10 years of experience across various industries, where I have built my knowledge and expertise in all aspects of HR.
I’m particularly passionate about driving positive change in employee relations and engagement.
I love travelling, and my mantra is ‘life is too short, and the world is too big!’
Fun fact: my husband and I have visited over 30 countries in the past 6 years – always happy to share travel tips!
Business Award Success
2026
HR Consultancy of the Year 2026 – East Midlands
We are super excited to announce that Haus of HR has been named HR Consultancy of the Year 2026 - East Midlands at this year’s UK Enterprise Awards, hosted by SME News Magazine.
2025
Business Woman of the Year Gold Winner - SME Northamptonshire Business Awards
Towcester Business of the Year Silver Winner - SME Northamptonshire Business Awards
Best Boutique HR Consulting & Coaching Partner - Business Elite Awards
HR Consultancy of the Year - UK Enterprise Awards
HR Consultancy of the Year Central England (Northamptonshire) - Central England Prestige Awards
Best Nationwide HR Consultancy Firm - Midlands Enterprise Awards
2024
HR & Coaching Business of the Year - Southern Enterprise Awards
HR Consultancy Firm of the Year - Central England Prestige Awards
HR & Coaching Business of the Year - East Midlands -UK Enterprise Client Service Excellence Awards
Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in the UK - Small Business Britain
2023
2022
Best New Business Silver Winner - Northamptonshire SME Business Awards
Towcester Business of the Year Silver Winner - SME Northamptonshire Business Awards
New Business of the Year Finalist - Northamptonshire Business Awards
SME Startup of the Year Finalist - Women’s Business Awards
Young Business of the Year Finalist - Ethical Awards
B2B of the Year Finalist - Northants Life Awards
Want to pick Rachel’s HR brain?
Get in touch to book some time with Rachel with our free HR consultation.
Find out how she can get your HR Haus in order!