Thinking PersonnelReady to move beyond reactive HR support?

See how we helped Discovery Multi Academy Trust build a stronger, more consistent and resilient people function.

Thinking Personnel began working with Discovery Multi Academy Trust in October 2025, initially providing flexible HR Officer capacity alongside senior HR consultancy support.

The relationship quickly grew and by December 2025, Discovery had moved to a retained partnership model, with a named HR lead, regular on-site support and access to wider specialist expertise whenever it was needed.

But this was about more than adding extra HR capacity.

As a three-school multi-academy trust, Discovery wanted to strengthen the way its whole people function worked from day-to-day employee relations and formal processes to policy, leadership support, documentation and longer-term workforce resilience.

The result is a more joined-up HR model, giving leaders practical support today while putting stronger foundations in place for the future.

Client snapshot

Discovery needed an HR model that could do two things at once: provide dependable support with immediate people issues and create greater consistency across the Trust.

That meant looking beyond individual cases.

Leaders wanted clear advice when sensitive situations arose, but they also needed stronger processes, practical documentation and a more resilient structure behind them.

The aim was to move towards an HR function that felt proactive rather than reactive with the right support available at the right time, without relying too heavily on any one person.

Our approach

Thinking Personnel worked alongside Discovery as an extension of its team, combining practical HR delivery with senior oversight and specialist expertise.

Support spans the employee lifecycle, helping leaders deal confidently with current priorities while improving the systems and processes that sit behind them.

A stronger, more resilient HR model

Discovery has a named HR lead who provides continuity and develops a detailed understanding of the Trust, its schools and its people.

That day-to-day relationship is backed by the wider Thinking Personnel team, providing additional capacity, cover and specialist input when required.

It means Discovery gets the familiarity of a dedicated HR partner without becoming dependent on one individual.

Tiffany Doughty Davi, Chief Executive, Discovery Multi Academy Trust said:“Thinking Personnel have helped Discovery develop a more resilient and collaborative HR model, giving us access to specialist advice and practical support when we need it.”

Complex casework, confidently managed

Thinking Personnel supports employee relations matters from early-stage advice through to investigations, formal meetings and hearings.

Clear case strategy, practical documentation and senior oversight help leaders understand their options, manage risk and progress sensitive matters fairly and efficiently.

Rather than simply advising from the sidelines, the team provides practical support throughout the process.

Policies and processes that work in practice

Alongside casework, Thinking Personnel is helping Discovery create a clearer and more consistent HR framework.

This includes policy review, advice on terms and conditions, bespoke correspondence and practical guidance for managers.

The focus is simple: give leaders the tools, clarity and confidence they need to manage people matters consistently across the Trust.

The impact so far

• Practical, education-specific advice is helping leaders make informed decisions and move sensitive matters forward with greater confidence.

• Casework, policy and documentation are increasingly following a clearer Trust-wide approach.

• A named HR lead provides continuity, while wider team support ensures additional capacity, cover and specialist expertise are always available.

• Immediate HR challenges are being addressed alongside the longer-term work needed to strengthen Discovery’s systems and ways of working.

Ready to build a stronger HR function in your trust?

Good HR support should give you more than help when something goes wrong. Thinking Personnel works alongside schools and trusts to build trusted and solution focused functions, with day-to-day support, senior expertise and specialist advice when you need it.

Let’s talk about what stronger HR support could look like for your trust; info@thinkingsolutionsforeducation.co.uk