HR Consultant - Mel Kinsella

I’m Mel Kinsella, Director of Kinsella HR Solutions, an HR consultancy based in Carlisle and working across Cumbria, Southern Scotland and the UK. I help business owners, leaders and trustees deal with the people issues they’ve been putting off – in a way that is fair, commercially sound and true to their values. With over 25 years’ experience across manufacturing, the care sector, education (FE & HE), the voluntary sector, public sector and the Civil Service, I bring calm, expert support to even the messiest HR situations.

My story:

I grew up in West Bromwich in a Jamaican family where hard work, respect and community were non‑negotiable. Those roots shaped how I show up as an HR professional today: straight‑talking, down‑to‑earth and unafraid to name what others are skirting around – but always with dignity and care. I know what it feels like to navigate workplaces as a Black British woman, and I understand first‑hand how race, class, faith and background can affect people’s experience at work. That lived experience, combined with my professional training and senior HR roles, means I can help you build workplaces where everyone is treated fairly and your business is protected.

After working at a senior level across multiple sectors, I founded Kinsella HR Solutions in 2022 so that organisations of all sizes could access high‑quality, practical HR support without needing an in‑house team. Today I partner with SMEs, charities, social enterprises and larger organisations to resolve people problems piece by piece and strengthen their foundations for growth.

How I work:

Honest and genuine
I am clear, open and straight with you – no jargon, no judgement. You will always know where you stand and what your options are.​

Calm in a crisis
Whether you’re facing a grievance, disciplinary, performance issue or a complex complaint, I bring structure and calm so you can move forward with confidence.

Culturally aware and inclusive
I combine strong knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion with lived experience of navigating bias and difference at work, helping you create workplaces where people feel respected and able to contribute.

Flexible and accessible
You can work with me on a fixed‑fee piece of work, project, daily rate or retainer – whatever suits your needs and budget.

What I’m known for:

Resolving complex employee relations cases (grievances, disciplinary, performance, absence, conflict).
Getting HR basics in place: contracts, policies, procedures and handbooks that keep you compliant and practical.
Coaching and developing managers so they can have difficult conversations well.
Supporting organisations on equality, diversity and inclusion, including creating positive, psychologically safe cultures.​

I specialise in supporting

Small and medium‑sized businesses who don’t have internal HR.
Charities, CICs and social enterprises who need values‑led but commercially grounded HR support.
Organisations in sectors such as care, education, manufacturing and public services who are under pressure to deliver more with limited resources.

If you want a trusted partner to help you do the right thing by your people and protect your organisation, we should talk

Mel Kinsella FCIPD - Director - HR Consultant