Putting people first pays off for Sunderland-based Oculus HR

Louise Kennedy with Councillor Graeme Miller from Sunderland City Council.

Sunderland software centre-based Oculus HR, which provides bespoke human resources support to firms across the UK, reported record growth last year.

The company, founded six years ago, is the brainchild of managing director, Louise Kennedy, who spotted a gap in the North East market for flexible and innovative HR solutions.

Having clocked up 12 years working for companies in the automotive and manufacturing sector, such as EEF and Nissan-supplier Valeo, she took the bold decision to branch out on her own.

Since then, she has developed the firm to help clients across the UK and overseas through Oculus’ virtual HR solution, employing three members of staff and charting year-on-year growth.

“Staff are the most important part of any business, so it made sense to take what I had learned over a decade working in such high-pressure industries and to use it to develop and embed good practice in other companies and industries,” she said.

“Oculus provides a comprehensive suite of HR solutions. Whether it’s developing new contracts or terms of employment, to handling disciplinary proceedings or working with a business to create its vision and values – we can deliver it.”

Louise’s commitment to putting people at the heart of everything the company does has led to the firm notching up year-on-year growth and, following the company’s best year to date, the entrepreneur has bold ambitions for the year ahead.

Oculus recorded a rise in turnover of 50% last year and over the next 12 months, Louise is aiming to recruit a new HR assistant as well as continuing to increase revenues. The company is also looking to expand into a new, larger office at Sunderland Software Centre to cater for its continued growth.

She added: “It has been another fantastic year for Oculus and we couldn’t be happier with the direction the company is heading in. Not only have we recorded a rise in revenue, we’ve also welcomed new clients on board and have continued to expand our service offering.”