Ann Rowley is not your typical HR consultant. A sci-fi nut with Star Trek tattoos and hair as red as the Welsh dragon, The Founder of Lighthouse HR is a far cry from sensible suits and stuffy policy documents.
Underneath the unconventional style is a serious businesswoman with a unique USP: to make HR services easier to navigate for smaller businesses who do not have, or cannot afford, a full-time HR operation.
After 20 years in the industry, leading HR for companies of all sizes, Ann grew frustrated watching her clients increasing frustration while dealing with complex legalities, inflated fees, and cold, robotic service.
So Ann set out on her own and founded Lighthouse HR. She said: “People often expect HR to be cold and full of legal jargon. I think it should be the complete opposite. My job is to help businesses solve problems, protect their people, and make employment law understandable. If we can have a laugh along the way, even better.”
Rowley believes in providing no nonsense advice – avoiding jargon and legalese – which in turn makes HR more accessible for her clients. Leaning fully into the business name, she describes running a business as a bit like being in a haunted house, which makes Lighthouse “your friend in the dark”.
Lighthouse works with companies across Wales and the UK. It offers a dedicated monthly retainer as well as ad hoc services and project support, all delivered in straight talking plain English, with a deliberately human approach.
Ann believes that HR is ultimately about human relationships, something that artificial intelligence cannot recreate. AI can’t compete with lived experience, with the one on one connection. She says: “I understand that my clients make more than money, they create belonging, they help communities thrive, they help individuals that had never been recognized before feel empowered professionally. They tell a joke in a boardroom that made someone’s mood lift when nothing else would. Yes they make money but they make so much more than just that.”
The founder’s unique style and approach recently saw her shortlisted Individual Impact at the HR in Wales awards.
