A new chapter: Greg Guilford joins impact HR as Group CEO

From 1st October, I am proud to be stepping into the role of Group Chief Executive Officer at impact HR. This month also marks another milestone, the rebrand of the business from Kingswood Group to impact HR. Together, these changes signal the start of an exciting new chapter, both for me personally and for the SMEs we support across the UK.

Why I’m joining impact HR

For more than 20 years, I have worked in HR consultancy, leadership, and strategic advisory roles. My career has been shaped by one belief: businesses grow when people thrive. At my previous consultancy, I spent 17 years as CEO, scaling the business, leading mergers and acquisitions, and delivering award-winning client service.

But I have always been most passionate about supporting small and medium-sized businesses, helping them navigate compliance, build strong workplace cultures, and unlock growth through their people. That’s exactly what I will be focusing on at impact HR.
From Kingswood Group to impact HR

This month, the business has rebranded from Kingswood Group to impact HR. The new name reflects our mission more clearly: to provide HR consultancy that doesn’t just tick boxes but makes a genuine impact on the businesses and people we work with.

The rebrand is about more than a new look, it’s a statement of intent. It reflects our commitment to going beyond compliance, helping SMEs scale with confidence, and delivering HR support that truly adds value. As I begin my role as Group CEO, I see this as the perfect moment to take impact HR forward into its next stage of growth.

My vision for SMEs

My mission is simple: to make high-quality HR consultancy accessible, practical, and impactful for SMEs.

I know first-hand how challenging it can be for business owners and leaders to balance compliance, employee relations, and culture alongside growth. My role at impact HR will be to take that weight off their shoulders, ensuring they have trusted advice, scalable systems, and clear people strategies that align with their goals.

This isn’t just about solving HR problems. It’s about giving business leaders the freedom to focus on growth, knowing their people and compliance are in safe hands.
The Strength of the impact HR Team

One of the reasons I am so excited to join impact HR is the strength of the team already in place. Our consultants are highly experienced, CIPD-qualified, and trusted by SMEs across multiple sectors. They bring a wealth of practical knowledge in areas such as employee relations, organisational design, recruitment, training, and leadership development.

What impresses me most is not only their technical expertise, but also their ability to build relationships. The impact HR team take the time to understand each client’s culture, challenges, and ambitions. They don’t deliver “off the shelf” solutions; they provide advice and support that is tailored, pragmatic, and delivered with genuine care.

As Group CEO, I will be working alongside this outstanding team to expand our services, strengthen our resources, and ensure that every SME we support has access to best-in-class HR consultancy services. Together, we will make impact HR the partner of choice for growing businesses across the UK.

Beyond the Role

Alongside my work at impact HR, I will continue to serve as a Mentor on Enterprise Nation – Help to Grow programme, and an Employer Advisory Board Member with TechSkills as well as advisor to organisations tackling workforce, technology, and growth challenges. I also care deeply about the link between education and employment, and I have recently taken up a new role as a school governor again. Supporting the next generation of talent and helping to bridge the gap between education and the workplace is something I feel strongly about, and I see this as an important part of preparing young people for the future world of work.

Work with me and the impact HR team

October marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for impact HR. With our rebrand now live, a strong and experienced team in place, and my leadership to drive us forward, our focus will be clear: to have our services make an impact, provide strategic support, and to be scalable as our clients grow.

If you are an SME owner, leader, or advisor and want to learn more about how impact HR can support your business, I’d love to hear from you.