Trade union access rights: How SMEs should prepare

I am the founder of Affordable Support, providing practical HR, employment support and mediation services (workplace | civil & commercial) to SMEs and individuals across the UK. With over 19 years of experience in HR and business, I help clients manage people issues confidently, fairly and with a clear understanding of both the practical and commercial realities involved. I focus on giving clients clarity, structure and reassurance at times when decisions need to be made carefully and without unnecessary delay. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and I also hold an LLM and an MSc in Human Resource Management along with workplace, civil and commercial Mediator certified with CMC and IMI. My background combines hands-on in-house leadership with advisory support, giving me broad experience across employee relations, disciplinary and grievance matters, performance management, absence management, workplace policies, investigations and general HR problem-solving. I established Affordable Support to make professional HR support more accessible, responsive and genuinely affordable. I understand that workplace issues can be stressful, time-consuming and disruptive, particularly for smaller businesses and individuals who may not have immediate access to trusted support. My approach is therefore straightforward, practical and down to earth, focused on helping clients find sensible solutions that work in practice, not just on paper. I take pride in offering clear guidance, professional standards and reliable support tailored to each client’s needs. Whether I am helping a business navigate a sensitive employee matter or supporting an individual with a workplace concern, my aim is to provide calm, credible and effective advice that helps clients move forward with confidence.