People Focused. Commercially Minded. Confident H.R.

Clear, practical H.R. services that save you time, cost and keep your business safe.

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Compass Strategy is a boutique H.R. consultancy that helps local businesses navigate the complexities of employing people with clarity and confidence. By combining deep commercial insight with practical H.R. expertise, we deliver employment practices that are compliant, pragmatic, and tailored to your business needs.

Our Story

Compass Strategy was founded in 2024 with a clear mission: to help Isle of Man businesses navigate employing people with confidence, clarity, and commercial insight.


Our purpose is simple — to give leaders the direction they need to build strong teams and avoid the costly pitfalls of ineffective people management.

What sets us apart is the depth of real world experience behind the service.


Compass Strategy is led by Vicki Hotchkiss, a commercially focused consultant and non-executive director, with a career spanning global financial institutions, regulator approved pension trustee roles, and broad independent consultancy work.


This international, multi-sector experience means she understands business far beyond traditional HR boundaries. Vicki has led major change programmes, partnered with senior executives, and navigated complex commercial environments, giving her the pragmatic insight needed to show how people decisions directly drive performance, manage risk, and protect the bottom line.


Now a trusted partner to a wide range of regular clients, Compass Strategy has established itself as a leading commercially minded, pragmatic, H.R. consultancy. 

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Choosing Compass Strategy is a strong commercial decision 

Experienced leaders know that bringing in external expertise isn’t a weakness – it’s competitive advantage. 


When you partner with Compass Strategy, managing one employee or a hundred becomes simpler, safer, and more efficient. We cut risk, prevent costly missteps, lift productivity, and free you to focus on what you need to do instead of getting pulled into time consuming people matters. 


For entrepreneurs and first time business owners, we act as your HR compass from day one—helping you avoid early pitfalls, build solid foundations, and set a clear course for sustainable success.

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Compass clients are small and medium sized businesses that need experienced HR capacity or specialist expertise. Many of our clients are growing organisations where in-house HR is focused on day to day operations and needs extra capacity for a specific topic or senior commercial insight to support strategic progress. Others have no in house HR at all — these smaller, successful businesses know outsourcing their H.R needs is the smartest, most commercial choice. 


We also work with confident, experienced Heads of HR who know the value of bringing in an external specialist for high risk, sensitive, or complex people matters.


If you’re starting up, scaling fast, juggling HR pressures, or simply need expert backup, Compass is built for you.


Compass Clients

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Client Testimonials

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'Vicki brings a wealth of business acumen to the role of Independent Non-Executive Director.'

Alice Watson

Regional Manager, The FA

Wembley Stadium, London

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 'Vicki is trustworthy, conscientious and ultimately she delivers.'

Sean Christian

M.D. and Executive Director, Canada Life

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'Professional and efficient, Vicki guided our executive team through a complex H.R. Matter.'

Mark Kiernan

CEO, Boal & Co

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'We cannot recommend Vicki highly enough.'

John Walker

Head of Corporate Solutions, LMS Partners

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'Compass Strategy has become a trusted and valued partner to me and the wider Boston business.'

David Karran

Group Head of HR

Boston Multi Family Office

Compass Services

Project Based


A short - finite contract to resolve a specific problem or deliver a specific outcome. 




Examples of project-based services:



  • Employee grievances, dismissals or redundancies managed through to conclusion 
  • Delivery of training
  • Build out of a new strategy or implementation of a new way of working.



Best for clients with a one-off problem to resolve. 


Retained Services


A long-term contract to provide services for a set number of days at a fixed cost per month.



Examples of retained services:



  • Part-time, or fractional Director services
  • Pension Scheme Trusteeships
  • Independent Non-Executive Director positions



Best for clients who prefer a cost-effective solution and the assurance of having time secured for them.





Open-ended


A contract with no fixed timescale, for services provided as and when required.





Examples of project-based services:



  • Employee grievances, dismissals or redundancies managed through to conclusion 
  • Delivery of training
  • Build out of a new strategy or implementation of a new way of working.



Best for clients with a one-off problem to resolve. 


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Insights

A person with glasses writes at a desk with a laptop and plants in a sunlit room.
By Victoria Hotchkiss April 5, 2026
Major employment law changes in 2025–2026 mean your HR documents could be outdated. Learn what’s changed, the risks of non-compliance, and how Isle of Man employers can stay protected.
Three people sit at a table under a hanging light, focused on their open laptops in a dimly lit, contemporary workspace.
By Victoria Hotchkiss March 5, 2026
HR consultancy boosts IT project success by managing change & enhancing adoption. Contact us to learn how we can help your business.
Four people sit at a desk in a dark, backlit room, working on laptops in a meeting.
By Victoria Hotchkiss February 5, 2026
Ineffective performance management can waste time & money. Learn how to align your team’s performance with business goals. Contact us today!

Get in touch

“In any moment of decision, the worst you can do is nothing.”   Theodore Roosevelt 

Contact Us

Phone

01624 604516

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