People decisions feel easier with the right support beside you.

Having taken the decision last year to restructure our business, we realised we needed professional guidance and support to achieve our vision and goals.  A colleague recommended we contact Dakota Blue. From the very first meeting with Jackie Brooker we were impressed with her knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism.  Through her support and guidance we have completely restructured our business to ensure that we are able to achieve the goals she helped us set so that Introland can be run by a strong Senior Management Team to allow the Directors to take a step back; confident in the knowledge that the business will continue to be run effectively and profitably. 

Throughout the entire process Jackie has been extraordinarily supportive which has given us the comfort of knowing that every issue that may arise is dealt with professionally and in a way that protects both us and our staff to provide the best outcome for everyone.

I have no hesitation in recommending Dakota Blue to anyone that needs business and HR guidance and support to develop and improve their business and personal goals.

Since finding Dakota Blue through a regional search on Google for HR advice, we have been building a relationship with them ever since. At the outset we were just getting to the size where we needed some HR advice and got Jackie and Kim in to have a chat and they started to review our HR processes.

It soon became apparent that Dakota Blue had far more than just HR experience to give and have now become an invaluable, trusted partner to our business with not only HR processes, but also the business as a whole - developing our management skills, business advice, strategy and someone to bounce ideas off.

Their approach is very proactive, not waiting to hear from you but keeping in touch between visits and also they want to help you, help yourselves – you get the feeling they really want to see you and your business develop with the skills required to take it to the next level. So I’m not sure we would be where we are right now without their input and I thoroughly recommend getting them in for a chat.

Jackie works extremely well as an integral part of the Leeds Castle People Team.  She is well respected, knowledgeable and extremely pragmatic.  Jackie has also delivered an excellent programme of Management Skills Training for our line managers, which has been well received and has skilled team leaders up to do their jobs even better.

Jackie's support, throughout the year is so valuable to us as a small business. It allows me time to work on what I need to, whilst knowing I'm compliant with the most up to date HR guidance, with quick, expert advice when necessary.

Having used Dakota Blue for a couple of years now, I cannot express how helpful and kind they have been.Jackie is very easy to talk to and has a way with dealing with scenarios in such a professional, but kind manner. As a company, we would highly recommend Dakota Blue. 

I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Jackie during a crucial and highly sensitive period in our business. 

The decision to work with Dakota Blue was absolutely vindicated, the confidence Jackie inspired across the management team was priceless. We trusted in her and the process she installed which delivered the outcome we wanted and more. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Dakota Blue to any business that is at a critical juncture with their people and need an experienced and confident hand to lead them through it with empathy and calm.
We will be working with Jackie again, no doubt.

Dakota Blue runs an excellent communication training session which is based around understanding your own disc profile and also recognising the different elements of disc profiles in others.   Ineffective communication can a cost a business time, money and damage relationships.   

Fully understanding my own communication style and recognising the communication styles of others has been nothing but beneficial. I pride myself on communicating with clients in a way that works for them.     

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic we found ourselves in the unfortunate situation of having to make one of our employees redundant. We were introduced to Jackie Brooker of Dakota Blue Consulting who helped us manage the delicate redundancy process from start to finish with calm practical assurance and support.   

Jackie helped us to understand the legalities and potential pitfalls within the process.  She was up to date with changing regulations. She acted as a sounding board and was always available to discuss possible outcomes and their implications. She provided advice and support in conducting and managing redundancy consultations and provided the right documentation tailored to the circumstances of our small business.  She also provided note taking resources for meetings. 

Jackie is both professional and personable and we would have no hesitation in recommending her services. 

Historically our approach as a company to HR was outdated and reactive at best. With employee numbers growing fast, it was clear we needed a fresh approach. Jackie has provided clear guidance on how to get ahead, and create structure within our team.

With the continued support of Dakota Blue, we have up skilled our managers, and shown them creative ways to proactively assist with their roles and grow as individuals.

Partnering with Dakota Blue has definitely been a great experience. As a result, we have been able to maintain focus on where it is needed most, meaning our future as a company is looking incredibly bright.

The work undertaken by Dakota Blue made a spectacular difference within my company Affinity Fostering Services.

Staff were educated in a friendly non-threatening manner and really enjoyed the process. The work undertaken explicitly highlighted the gaps within the company, thus giving a clear and united way forward. It was an extremely cost effective service.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this company to any business that is looking for diagnosis of skills gap, or developing and implementing growth.

Since going through Jackie’s coaching sessions I feel I have a much better relationship with my Senior managers and I can reach my goals in a smoother way. Jackie was able to coach me on managing difficult and political situations within the organisation. This included giving me a better understanding of how to network with key players and build alliances with them, as well as how to communicate in an effective way - both up and down - within the organisation. If you are looking for an Executive coach, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Jackie.

We believe the success of our businesses is due to our people. People are our biggest asset. When we were looking to enhance our HR Management two years ago and be more proactive we were recommended the services of Jackie Brooker, Dakota Blue.

With Jackie's support and advice, we are well on our journey of implementing many aspects of the Employee Life Cycle. Managing people in any business can for many be a challenging responsibility, and can also be so rewarding. Jackie’s experience, professional approach and coaching at all levels has enabled us to prepare ourselves for the growth and development we aspire, for our businesses and importantly our team.

Biobest UK started 3 years ago and is a new subsidiary of the established Biobest Group, a world leader in biological control and pollination in commercial crops.

I recently joined as General Manager and because the focus of the business to date had been very much on sales it was clear to me as a small team we needed assistance to help us with our human resources.

We approached Dakota Blue Consulting, a local company, to help implement an employee handbook, including the introduction of clear company policies covering all aspects of our business. They helped us to review staff contracts to ensure full compliance with the latest UK employment law. Kim Smart a specialist in this area helped us achieve all this in a matter of weeks and temporarily became a part of our team. Dakota Blue also helped us successfully recruit a new member of staff with involvement through the whole process including the interviews.  

As a small team without dedicated human resources, Dakota Blue have provided an invaluable service to us to date and it is good to know we are able to call on them for the very latest employment information and HR assistance.

Our business has a very ambitious growth plan and we realised that the only way we would achieve it, is to heavily invest in our people. We engaged the services of Dakota Blue to conduct an HR audit and assessment. The outcome of this has provided us with very clear direction on the practices we need to put in place and what we need to focus on over the next few years. The Dakota Blue team are helping us to put some of these actions in place that suit our business needs and will enhance our business culture.

Jackie has also been coaching some of the key leaders within the business. Over the last 6 months these individuals have made tremendous improvements to both their personal and professional lives, the results of which we are seeing daily within the business.

If you want professional, practical and results driven HR support, Dakota Blue are definitely the people to call.

As Amron Architectural Ltd grows so do our staff, and we as the management team have a duty to them to make sure we keep their needs and expectations of us in check. So last week we had an Organisational People Planning day with the quite excellent Jackie Brooker form Dakota Blue Consulting Ltd. It was truly enlightening and almost emotional! I recommend it to anyone thinking of doing something like this with their team!

Dakota has been a huge help in navigating difficult HR situations, and the training and ongoing support have made me far more confident in my role. 

Jackie, is extremely knowledgeable and approachable — she has been invaluable in my growth into a General Manager position

“Working with Dakota Blue feels like having an extension of our leadership team rather than an external supplier. They take the time to understand our business, our people, and the way we operate, which means their advice is always practical, relevant, and aligned with our goals. 

Their support has been invaluable from navigating complex people issues to strengthening our policies and processes, they’ve provided clarity, confidence, and reassurance at every step and knowing we have expert guidance when needed has made decision-making far easier and more robust. 

The biggest difference has been the peace of mind - Having HR, people management, and wider business support taken care of allows us to focus on running and growing the business, rather than getting caught up in compliance or reactive issues. It’s freed up time, reduced risk, and helped us build a more confident, well-managed team.  

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any business looking for trusted HR support.” 

“Working with Dakota Blue has always felt like having a trusted extension of our own team. You give sound, practical advice whenever we need it, and just as importantly, you’re there when things are complex or sensitive and need careful handling. That reassurance makes a real difference. 

Knowing we can rely on you to help us navigate people, HR and wider business issues means we’re able to focus our energy on running and growing the business, with confidence that people related things are being dealt with properly and thoughtfully.” 

“Dakota Blue have been a fantastic support to our business. They’re excellent at helping you step back and see the bigger picture, while also dealing calmly and pragmatically with the more difficult individual HR issues as they arise. Their advice is always practical and proportionate, and they genuinely understand the challenges faced by owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Having them by our side gives real reassurance and allows us to focus on running and growing the business.”