Can you believe we’re already in July? It feels like just yesterday we were kicking off 2025, and now we’re over halfway through!

As I reflect on the past six months at Sparks HR, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s been a whirlwind of exciting developments, and I’m thrilled to share some highlights with you.

Award Season & Meaningful Moments

This year has seen Sparks HR named a finalist in two prestigious awards:

• HR Hero in The Freshies
• New Business in the Enterprise Vision Awards #EVAs2025

The awards evening for The Freshies, HR Hero was on my Dads birthday and for those who have followed my journey, know what a huge part of Sparks my dad is.  Having lost my Dad a few weeks before I launched my business, he is the original Sparks and features in all that I do.

I didn’t bring a trophy away from The Freshies but I know that my Dad would be so proud of me, celebrating his birthday as a finalist!

The next one is for the Enterprise Vision Awards and I am a finalist in the New Business category. Even so far, this has been an amazing journey including a visit to the House of Commons the day before my Dad’s birthday. I’ve had my interview and now its over to the public to vote so if you’d love to see me win the New Business category, please vote for me when voting opens on Monday 14th July!

Igniting Conversations: My New Podcast

If that’s not enough, there’s more…

I’ve recently launched my podcast – Find Your Spark: Real Life Menopause Moments (my Dad had to feature here too – I wonder how he would feel about constantly being connected to conversations about menopause 😂).

If you haven’t already, please give it a listen. The first series is live with a new episode landing every second Friday. I am currently looking for individuals who would love to join me as a guest to share their ‘real life menopause moments’ for the second series – I would love to chat to you about this, don’t be shy, get in touch. The more stories that we can share, the closer we get to normalising the conversations and removing the stigma and taboo that is attached to menopause.

If you don’t want to share your story but want to support me, please download, listen and share with anybody and everybody who may benefit from these honest conversations, and I’d be ever so grateful for a review!

Introducing Your Essential Companion for Navigating Menopause with Confidence

As always, I’ve been working on something new to bring you.

I have had so many conversations whether that’s with my HR clients, being asked to speak at events, through my menopause workshops, or through conversations in a local coffee shop… whoever I speak to, it often comes around to the conversation of menopause.

However, the amount of women who say to me…

• they don’t know if they are in their menopause journey
• they feel so disheartened as the conversations they have had with health professionals have led to further feelings of disillusionment because they feel dismissed, not taken seriously
• they’re told they are too young, “come back when you are 45 and then we’ll discuss it” (yes that really did happen recently to a family member)
• they look on the internet and feel overwhelmed and it goes on…

So, over the last few months, I have been working on creating a Menopause Journal – ‘Find Your Inner Spark, A Menopause Reflection Journal’.

I have worked with an incredible lady who has worked with me to turn my ideas and words into creating a journal that I am incredibly proud of. If you didn’t know, I am not the most techy person, if it was down to me, it would be flip chart paper and pens every day 😂 I tell everyone about the wonderful work that Michelle Farrell does, and as I often say, everyone needs a Michelle! If you don’t know her, check her out.

My journal has been out with testers for a few weeks and here is some of the feedback that I have received;

It made me feel so validated!

I’ve been sat with my journal this morning, woke up 5.18 for the 3rd time sweating and total sensory overload. 

Got up and came downstairs, sat in tears, felt like a zombie, 6.30 sat with a coffee and my journal, honestly this is so validating.

I honestly feel like I don’t know who I am anymore and seeing this written in the book made me feel so validated. There was so many things to read that I thought ‘yup that’s me’.

What I love is that from a real insight not some medical jargon. The help in approaching healthcare is great. I completed my first day and tracked some goals

I liked the bit, don’t wait until things are unbearable!!!! I think I have reached that point.

It’s like having a calm, honest chat with yourself (and with Alison!)

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of A Menopause Reflection Journal by my amazing friend Alison Allen — and honestly, it’s brilliant!

It’s not just a journal, it’s like having a calm, honest chat with yourself (and with Alison!) about everything we go through during menopause. The prompts are really thoughtful and help you slow down and check in with how you’re feeling — mentally, physically, emotionally.

It made me realise how little we actually pause to understand this part of our lives. This book gives you space to reflect, feel supported, and not feel so alone in it all.

It’s out next month and I honestly can’t wait for more women to get their hands on it. You’re all going to love it!

Thank you so much, Alison, for giving me the book and trusting me to give an honest review 💜

It’s helped me to feel a bit more in control…

I’ve been testing the menopause journal from Sparks HR and honestly, it’s been such a helpful little tool. Everything you need is in one place, and it’s clear it’s been created by Alison, an expert who really gets it.

I’ve found it brilliant for checking in with myself each day – not just physically, but emotionally too. It’s helped me notice patterns, regulate my mood, and feel a bit more in control. There’s a calmness that comes from having that space just for you.

Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for something simple, supportive and genuinely useful.

I am incredibly proud to be bringing this to you, in a user friendly, easy to understand and relatable way.

This journal will…

• Provide an understanding of what is going on in your body, why are you feeling the way you are, you’ll realise that it is normal, you aren’t alone and you definitely are not going crazy.
• Give you self help tips and help you to gather the evidence to speak to a health professional in an informed, confident and prepared way.
• Take you through three months of coaching and when you reach the end of these three months, you’ll have a better understanding of what is happening, what you can do to help yourself and face your menopause with confidence and self kindness.

For anyone who would prefer one to one coaching, I also offer that, please get in touch.

Chartered Fellow & Strategic HR Partnerships

As you know, I am a HR Consultant and have recently achieved Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and the letters after my name have now changed from MCIPD to FCIPD.

You’re probably wondering what this means but Chartered Fellow is ‘a clear sign of your proven strategic abilities, people expertise and business impact. It shows you are committed to inspiring and shaping the future of the people profession. You are recognised as a thought leader, influencer and expert change agent in today’s evolving workplace. You are advancing people strategy as a positive force for good, and proving its value in the world of work’.

I might talk about menopause most of the time but I am a HR Consultant with a passion of raising awareness of menopause. Whilst I do a lot of work in this menopause space, I also continue to support many organisations with their HR needs which covers a vast array of areas including:

• Carrying out impartial investigations
• Policies creation and reviews
• Mediations (I am an accredited mediator)

…and working with my clients to grow their organisation through their people – working proactively as part of their organisation rather than reactively as an advice line. I do offer this but I am a firm believer that if you treat your people right, you will avoid much of the ER challenges that many organisations face.

I have recently started working with a couple of new clients who are growing and have values aligned with mine of growing their business through their people.

I volunteer as a HR Director on a CIC Board, Spring into Action – we provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic adults to take a meaningful and active role in society in all aspects of their life.

And, I am extremely proud to say that I have been asked to be on the board of another CIC to support their strategic growth through their people too.

My main values are – adding value and doing meaningful work, volunteering and giving back fully supports my personal values.

What Next For Sparks?

Well, I am working with some great clients who are all proactively preparing for the Employment Rights Bill and the introduction of Menopause Action Plans, as outlined in the Implementation Plan that will be voluntary from April 2026, and mandatory from 2027.

As always, I am working on more plans behind the scenes to bring more Sparks of offerings.

If you want to chat about anything I’ve mentioned in this newsletter, please feel free to get in touch today.

Alison