What Forrest Group does

Forrest Group is a UK-based, privately held business support services firm founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with a service footprint across London and South East England. The company sells a bundled suite of four service lines — Forrest HR Services (outsourced HR support, company restructures, employee management), Forrest Legal Services (employment law advice for employers and individuals, including tribunal insurance arrangements), Forrest Training Academy (bespoke online and in-person people management training), and Forrest Health & Safety (H&S consultancy, audits, fire risk assessments, and ISO/SSIP accreditation support) — to SMEs as its primary customer segment, with start-ups and larger corporations as secondary segments.

The underlying technology stack is not proprietary: Forrest Group integrates third-party cloud-based HR software (Breathe HR) into its monthly retainer package and partners with Humanscale to deliver ergonomic assessments via the ergoIQ platform. No public API, no proprietary AI/ML systems, and no app product are offered; the core asset is consultant expertise rather than software IP. The company itself is the integration layer between SME clients and best-of-breed compliance tooling.

Revenue is generated through a mix of subscription monthly retainers (which include Breathe HR software), pay-as-you-go ad hoc HR support, hourly and fixed-fee H&S consultancy, per-course training delivery, and employment law fees. Go-to-market is sales-led, direct to B2B clients via referrals, professional networking (TN2 Card), CEO thought leadership in Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, and a monthly newsletter. The company has no disclosed parent, no subsidiaries, no external funding rounds, and no acquisitions on record.

Name

Forrest Group

Legal name

Forrest Group

Website

https://theforrestgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forrest Group is a UK-based business support services firm founded in 2018, offering bundled HR, employment law, training, and health & safety consultancy to SMEs across London and South East England through monthly retainers and ad hoc engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Royal Tunbridge Wells

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ad Hoc HR Support: Pay-as-you-go HR consulting service for occasional or one-off HR needs with no minimum service or tie-in period
2. Monthly HR Retainer: Regular monthly support package for clients requiring more regular HR assistance, includes free Breathe HR software subscription and additional benefits
3. Health & Safety Consultancy: Flexible support models including hourly consultancy rates, monthly retained support, and fixed fees for one-off projects
4. Training Academy: Bespoke people management training solutions delivered online or in-person, charged per course or workshop
5. Employment Law Services: Legal advice and support services for employers and individuals on employment law matters

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forrest Group provides outsourced HR support, employment law advice, people management training, and health and safety consultancy to SMEs across London and South East England. Services are delivered through ad hoc, hourly, monthly retainer, or fixed-fee engagements and include complimentary Breathe HR cloud software for retainer clients and ergonomic assessments via partnership with Humanscale.

Product overview

Forrest Group is a business support services company offering a suite of interconnected professional services for SMEs. The core portfolio consists of four main service lines: Forrest HR Services (outsourced HR support and HR software including Breathe HR), Forrest Legal Services (employment law for employers and individuals), Forrest Training Academy (bespoke training including online and in-person courses on management, HR compliance, and workplace skills), and Forrest Health & Safety (consultancy, audits, fire risk assessments, and ISO/SSIP accreditation support). Services are delivered flexibly through ad hoc support, monthly retainers, hourly consultancy, or fixed fees, and include complementary add-on offerings such as ergonomic assessments via the Humanscale partnership and employment tribunal insurance. The company positions itself as a complete, seamless solution combining HR, legal, training, and health and safety support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forrest HR: Bespoke outsourced HR support and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Forrest Legal Services
• Forrest Training Academy
• Forrest Health & Safety

Products and services

• Forrest HR Services Bespoke outsourced HR support and solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, covering HR software provision, company restructures, and ongoing employee management, delivered ad hoc or via monthly retainer.
• Forrest Legal Services Employment law support and advice for both employers and individuals, including tribunal insurance arrangements, delivered by expert legal consultants.
• Forrest Training Academy Professional, bespoke people management training solutions for companies of all sizes, delivered online or in-person via per-course or per-workshop charges.
• Forrest Health & Safety Health and safety consultancy and audit services to help businesses comply with legal obligations, reduce workplace risks, and promote a positive safety culture, offered via hourly, retainer, or fixed-fee pricing.
• Ergonomic Assessments (via Humanscale) Online self-assessed ergonomic assessments using ergoIQ software plus in-person and virtual ergonomic assessments delivered in partnership with Humanscale.
• ISO Accreditation Support Consultancy support for achieving and maintaining ISO management system accreditations including ISO 45001 (Health & Safety), ISO 9001 (Quality), and ISO 14001 (Environmental).
• SSIP Accreditations Support Consultancy support for recognised safety scheme accreditations including CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline, Achilles, Acclaim, and SMAS.
• Employment Rights Act Training Training course covering Employment Rights Act changes, with Stage 1 and Stage 2 modules for upcoming legislative changes.
• Managing Absence Training Half-day course for managers responsible for handling employee absence, providing practical guidance on managing absence effectively within their organisation.
• Appraisals Workshop Half-day workshop preparing managers to conduct meaningful, constructive appraisal conversations that motivate and support teams.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training Training covering the nine protected characteristics within the Equality Act 2010, types of discrimination, and approaches to promoting an inclusive workplace.
• Introduction to Management Course Online course delivered across two half-day sessions teaching new managers practical strategies for leading with confidence, setting SMART objectives, coaching teams, and delivering results.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% of HR professionals experiencing burnout according to Ultimate Resilience report, highlighting demand for outsourced HR support
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Taylor-Made DreamsminorOthers · 1 February 2025Charity that helps children with life-limiting illnesses fulfil their dreams and provides vital support to their families. CEO Sophie Forrest-Lavery serves as an ambassador for the charity. Forrest Group proudly supports this cause.
• Breathe HRcoreTechnology or IntegrationHR software partner providing cloud-based HR management system. Forrest Group offers Breathe software as part of their monthly retainer packages, providing document management, absence tracking, and employee records for retained clients.
• HumanscalecoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal award-winning designer and manufacturer of ergonomic products. Partnership enables Forrest Group to offer in-person and virtual ergonomic assessments to clients, with access to ergoIQ platform for self-assessed assessments.
• Brilliant BusinessesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness networking and podcast platform. CEO Sophie Forrest-Lavery appears on the podcast to discuss business leadership and journey, reaching business audience.
• TN2 CardminorOthersBusiness networking card scheme in Tunbridge Wells area, providing access to local business community.
• HirefulminorOthersHR recruitment partner with badge displayed on website, indicating partnership for HR recruitment services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Croner (Wilmington plc): Established UK HR, employment law, and H&S consultancy within Wilmington plc. Competes with Forrest Group for SME HR advisory and compliance work, with broader product breadth and longer operating history.
• Citation ISO / Alcumus: Provider of compliance, ISO certification, and SSIP accreditation services that overlap with Forrest Group's H&S accreditation support. Relevant as both a competitor and a potential partnership target for the H&S line.
• Peninsula Group: One of the largest UK providers of outsourced HR, employment law, and health & safety services to SMEs. Highly comparable service mix and customer base to Forrest Group, but at national scale and with substantially larger resources.
• Citation: UK provider of HR, employment law, and health & safety compliance services to SMEs. Directly overlapping service lines (HR + H&S + training) with Forrest Group, but operating at national scale with a more mature partner/franchise model.

Emerging players

• Breathe HR: Cloud HR software vendor for UK SMEs and a Forrest Group technology partner. Relevant because Forrest Group resells Breathe and could be disintermediated if Breathe expands direct advisory services.
• Personio: European HR software platform targeting SMEs. Adjacent to Forrest Group's HR software-adjacent service model; relevant as a longer-term competitive threat as more HR functions move into self-serve SaaS.

Direct peers

• BrightHR: UK HR software and outsourced support provider serving SMEs. Combines HR technology with advisory services, comparable to Forrest Group's Breathe-bundled retainer model but with a stronger proprietary software layer.
• WorkNest: UK HR, employment law, and health & safety services provider targeting SMEs. Closely aligned with Forrest Group's service suite and customer profile, particularly in regional UK markets.
• HR Duo: UK-based outsourced HR consultancy serving SMEs with retainer and project-based support. Closely comparable in customer segment and service delivery model to Forrest Group's HR line.
• Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS): UK employment law and HR support provider for SMEs. Directly overlaps with Forrest Group's Legal and HR service lines and targets the same SME decision-maker buyer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheForrestGroupUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theforrest-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forrest Group