— About HONED
Expertise for people and performance
HONED is a carefully selected network of independent specialists who help SMEs solve people, workplace and performance challenges.
You do not need to diagnose the problem before speaking to us. Start with what is getting in the way, and we will help you find the right expertise.
Who we are
HONED gives SMEs access to experienced specialists without having to build every capability in-house. Think of us as a senior team you can call on when you need a particular area of expertise.
Each specialist works through their own organisation, and we always show the person alongside the organisation they represent. You know who you are speaking to, what they specialise in and who will deliver the work.
We are not an open directory. Every specialist is considered for their expertise, relevant skills and ability to support the practical needs of SMEs.
Most organisations represented in HONED are independent businesses. A small number are connected to Aetas, and we identify those relationships clearly on the relevant pages.
How the network works
- The network
- Carefully selected, not an open directory
- Every specialist
- Named alongside the organisation they represent
- Your relationship
- Scope, terms and fees agreed directly with the specialist
- Referral or introducer fee
- None
What we help with
Whether you are growing a small team or leading an established SME, the same things shape how well it performs: how people feel, how they are led and whether the support around them works.
Our expertise covers six connected areas:
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Financial Wellbeing
Helping your people feel more in control of money, pensions and benefits, so financial concerns take up less of their working day.
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Wellbeing
Supporting mental and physical health, psychological safety, stress prevention and energy, so people are better able to perform at their best.
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Leadership
Developing founders, managers and leadership teams who provide clear direction and bring people with them.
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People & Talent
Supporting recruitment, HR, engagement, employment practice and retention, so good people join, contribute and choose to stay.
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AI & Technology
Providing practical help with technology, data protection and AI, reducing friction and helping organisations work more effectively.
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Performance
Improving strategy, commercial performance, customer experience and the ways teams work together to deliver.
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Business Development
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Curated Conversations
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Money Saving
Business problems rarely arrive neatly labelled. A retention problem might have its roots in leadership, wellbeing or the way work is organised. You do not need to decide which discipline it belongs to before approaching us.
We do not ask anyone to be a generalist. We help you reach someone who does that particular work every day, while drawing on the wider network when a challenge crosses more than one area.
How we work with you
We start by sharing useful knowledge through our insights, events and conversations. This lets you understand how our specialists think before deciding whether you need their help.
When you are ready to act, we help you identify the specialist whose experience best fits the challenge.
There is no hard sell. HONED receives no referral or introducer fee. If work follows, its scope, terms and fees are agreed directly between you and the specialist.
How we work together
We meet monthly in relaxed, informal sessions. These meetings help us understand one another's work, identify opportunities to collaborate and make informed introductions when a client needs expertise beyond one specialist's area.
That relationship between members matters. When we recommend someone, we understand what they do and how their expertise may help.
You can see our upcoming sessions and public events on the Events page. If you are an independent specialist interested in joining the network, visit the For Specialists page.
Finding the right help
There are three ways to explore HONED, and none requires you to know the answer before you begin.
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Start with the challenge
Explore the services available across the network and find the areas most relevant to what is getting in the way.
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Start with the specialist
Browse the people in the network and filter them by area of expertise.
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Start with the organisation
See the organisations represented in HONED and understand what each one delivers.
Starting a conversation
A Workplace Review is a confidential, no-obligation conversation about what is getting in the way for you and your team and what might genuinely help.
You should come away with a clearer view of the challenge and a sensible next step, whether or not you decide to work with a HONED specialist.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what is happening in your business. You do not need to choose a service or diagnose the cause first. We will listen and help you identify a useful next step.