Magic Hat HR

Magic Hat HR was founded on the belief that HR support whether policies, practices or culture; can enhance work for people, businesses, and their local communities.
With lived and professional experience in Devon and Cornwall, Magic Hat offers over a decade of expertise in key sectors across the region, including hospitality and manufacturing. 

The Magic Hat mission is to make HR accessible to businesses of all sizes through transparent, flexible pricing, while using business as a force for good. Developing responsible, inclusive, and future-focused workplaces where people and organisations can thrive, and where a positive impact on communities and society is always at the heart of what we do.

Our approach is intentionally human and refreshingly straightforward. We start by listening to understand your world and what matters most, whether that’s developing a future organisational design with no clear route to get there, managing employee challenges, supporting an employee you're unsure how to assist, navigating a difficult conversation you're not confident in approaching, or finding a tailored learning and development solution for your business. Let us help you. 

You can grow and develop yourself, or your team, or take some time back, 

to concentrate on other pressing matters. We know, you are busy!

We then co-create practical, ethical solutions shaped around your goals while ensuring you remain compliant and risk aware where necessary. 

Finally, we support you in embedding lasting change, building confidence, capability, and healthier workplaces over time.

You can expect clear, timely, and dependable support; no jargon, no judgement, just grounded HR expertise from over a decade of experience.

You’ll be working with someone who understands the realities of running a business in Devon and Cornwall, who recognises the pressures you face, and who collaborates with you to create positive, sustainable change for your people and your community by being there for you when need, how you need.

Hi, I’m Vanessa the founder and Director of Magic Hat HR.

I’m a HR professional with a generalist background and over a decade of experience across various sectors. I’ve been fortunate to work in some great places; multinational, global organisations, FTSE 50 companies, and SMEs. This mix has given me a grounded, practical view of how people, culture, and capability really drive performance, regardless of business size, something I wanted to be sure transcended through my own business via my pricing structure.

Whilst I have worked across sectors, I’ve spent large chunks of my career in manufacturing and hospitality. These are two areas I’m especially passionate about. Both bring so much to our local communities and economies, and I care deeply about supporting them to grow, adapt, and thrive. I know the pressures that businesses are faced with in the current day and can offer practical HR support to help manage costs, retain and develop talent, strengthen leadership, and build resilient, future-ready workforces that can navigate change with confidence.

I grew up in Exeter, moved between ski seasons abroad and summers back in the South West, and eventually settled where my heart feels happiest, in Truro with a dog , three cats, and a wonderful family.

The South West has a certain magic to it, and I feel very lucky to call it home. It felt right to align my purpose and vision for Magic Hat with supporting businesses in this region in a way that feels grounded, meaningful, and values led. To recognise this I’ve consciously chosen to align Magic Hat to B Corp principles and the belief that business should be a force for good.

To sum me up, I believe that HR sit right at the heart of the workplace. What it encompasses touch employees, culture, and experience every day. The impact of how you do HR really matters, it shapes how people feel, how they grow, and how they belong. And that influence doesn’t stop at today’s workforce; it carries forward into future generations.

Because life’s too boring for another classic HR consultancy. It’s time to add 

some magic.