A HOLMFIRTH-based human resources consultancy has completed a four-month project.

The Personnel Partnership has been overseeing a merger between two leading West Yorkshire not-for-profit mediation services, Mediation Yorkshire and Mediation Leeds.

The new company will operate under the name Yorkshire Mediation Services and will be one of the largest providers of community mediation services in the UK with a staff team of eight and more than 50 volunteers.

The organisation will work to resolve conflict across the region, focusing on neighbour dispute resolution, peer mediation and workplace mediation. It will also provide training in mediation, communication and other conflict resolution skills.

The Personnel Partnership was appointed to advise on all employee-related issues arising from the merger, including overseeing redundancies and providing guidance on the Transfer of Undertakings, (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

The project, which began in January, was managed by Helen Straw, founder of The Personnel Partnership. As well as providing all the strategic and practical advice, she supplied the relevant paperwork relating to an effective restructure.

Complex legal advice on the application of TUPE was provided by Amanda Beaumont, of Seabury Beaumont LLP.

Bridget Rowe-Sykes,chief executive of Yorkshire Mediation Services said: We engaged The Personnel Partnership to provide professional HR support throughout the merger as we knew it was crucial to give staff confidence that the process was being handled fairly and in accordance with legislation.

“I found it really useful to be able to refer to Helen’s expertise when questions arose about terms and conditions. She always gave excellent, knowledgeable advice and created a programme of activity for us which helped us meet the TUPE transfer date on time.”

Helen said: “I am happy to say that the merger process, which can be very emotional and difficult for employees and managers alike, went smoothly and to the timetable identified in the original plan.

“I really enjoyed working with Bridget and the new board of YMS. It was a pleasure to help them get to where they needed to be in a fairly tight timescale, whilst ensuring legal compliance and best HR practice. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”