Howlett Brown

What Howlett Brown does

Howlett Brown Limited is a privately held professional services firm headquartered at 10 Coldbath Square, London, founded in 2019 by Charlene Brown. The company operates as a "people intelligence" firm delivering a portfolio of advisory engagements spanning workplace investigations, culture and sustainability, learning and development, business intelligence and people analytics, strategic advisory, connected communications, and specialist support for founders and family offices. The customer base includes enterprise and mid-market organisations across pharmaceutical, media, financial services, professional services, and music industry verticals, with named engagements including microaggression training delivery to 830 employees at a pharmaceutical client in 2020 and a grievance procedure review for an anonymous large media organisation.

The firm's capabilities are anchored in a combination of legal expertise, HR advisory, organisational culture work, and people analytics. Proprietary frameworks include the four-pillar KEAR methodology (Knowledge, Empathy, Action, Review) used in learning and development delivery and the Cor3 Code used in culture sustainability assessment. The Business Intelligence service offers workforce data transformation, DEI metrics, predictive modelling for attrition and burnout risk, and data ethics advisory. Regulatory standing is reinforced by authorisation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which enables legal advisory work in a category where most boutique competitors are unregulated. Co-produced intellectual property includes the Workplace Wellbeing Deficit Report developed with HumanOS and a diversity, inclusion, and compliance report produced jointly with Baker McKenzie based on a survey of more than 600 compliance leaders.

Revenue is generated through bespoke, quote-based professional services engagements typically structured as multi-year contracts or project-based retainers, delivered by senior practitioners rather than associate-heavy pyramid models. The go-to-market combines direct sales with content-led demand generation through the Intelligence Hub publishing platform, downloadable service brochures, newsletter subscriptions, social media presence, earned media (including The Guardian, Stylist, Reuters, Raconteur, and Music Week), and thought leadership events such as the ERG Blueprint Conference. Strategic partnerships with Baker McKenzie, HumanOS, iCAN, and &samhoud consultancy extend reach without significant capital deployment. The firm operates with approximately 15 employees and bootstrapped ownership concentrated in the founding team.

Name

Howlett Brown

Legal name

Howlett Brown Limited

Website

https://howlettbrown.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Howlett Brown is a London-based people intelligence firm providing workplace investigations, culture advisory, learning and development, and business intelligence services to enterprise and mid-market organisations across multiple sectors, alongside specialist support for founders and family offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR and People Advisory Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor Relations & Employment Practice Advisory (BPAHAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Whistleblowing, Speak-Up Culture & Investigations Training (EDABADAL)

Keywords

• People intelligence consulting
• Workplace investigation services
• Culture transformation advisory
• DEI strategy consulting
• HR advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services & Advisory: Howlett Brown generates revenue through fee-bearing advisory engagements, consulting projects, independent investigations, culture assessments, and HR strategy engagements with enterprise and mid-market clients. Services are delivered by senior specialists and billed on a project or retainer basis.
2. Learning & Development Programs: The company offers global training, coaching, and development programmes delivered in-person, online live, and on-demand. Revenue is generated through bespoke training delivery, coaching sessions, bootcamps, and development programmes tailored to client needs.
3. Report & Content Licensing: The company produces proprietary research reports such as the Workplace Wellbeing Deficit Report, available for download, suggesting revenue generation through report sales or gated content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Howlett Brown is a people intelligence firm that delivers professional advisory services spanning workplace investigations, culture and sustainability assessments, HR and legal advisory, business intelligence and people analytics, learning and development programmes, and connected communications support. The firm combines legal, HR, culture, behavioural, and data expertise through senior practitioners using proprietary methodologies such as KEAR and the Cor3 Code. Engagements are scoped bespoke and delivered primarily to enterprise and mid-market organisations globally.

Product overview

Howlett Brown is a people intelligence company offering a portfolio of professional services rather than a single unified software product. The core offerings span Investigations, Culture & Sustainability, Advisory, Business Intelligence (including people analytics and data engineering), Learning & Development (training, coaching, and facilitation), Connected Communications, Families/Family Offices services, and the Founders Forum programme. The company also produces research reports such as the Workplace Wellbeing Deficit Report and maintains the Intelligence Hub content platform. Services are delivered through consultants and experts combining legal, HR, cultural, and data expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investigations Independent investigation services for allegations of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and misconduct, staffed by experienced investigators with legal and people expertise, for employers and organisations requiring impartial workplace inquiries.
• Culture and Sustainability Services focused on cultural transformation, values alignment, and sustainable organisational change, including culture diagnostics, behavioural mapping, and generational alignment for employers and family enterprises.
• Advisory Strategic advisory services combining HR strategy, culture, employee relations, conflict resolution, privacy, governance, and commercial law expertise for employers and service providers.
• Business Intelligence People analytics and data intelligence services including workforce data transformation, DEI metrics, predictive modelling for attrition and burnout risk, interactive dashboards, and data ethics advisory for employers and service providers.
• Learning and Development Global training, coaching, and development programmes tailored to employer needs, delivered in person, online, and on demand, using the four-pillar KEAR methodology (Knowledge, Empathy, Action, Review).
• Connected Communications Strategic communications support for employers and service providers during change, crisis, and reputational situations, including crisis protocol development, leadership messaging, and internal and external stakeholder communications.
• Families, Family Offices and Their Businesses Specialist support for families, family offices, and family enterprises including HR advisory, culture and values alignment, reputation and risk management, legal governance, and training for family-led organisations.
• Founders Forum A behind-the-scenes partner programme for startups and founders providing legal minds, commercial advisors, concierge support, HR services, legal advisory, and peer networking for early-stage and growth-stage leaders.
• Workplace Wellbeing Deficit Report A strategic research report produced in collaboration with HumanOS, combining behavioural data, organisational analysis, and lived employee experiences to uncover root causes of the UK's workplace wellbeing deficit with actionable solutions for employers and service providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered microaggression training to 830 employees at a pharmaceutical client in August 2020 with positive feedback on facilitator quality and session impact.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HumanOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowlett Brown partnered with HumanOS, a 360-degree health optimisation platform, to co-produce the Workplace Wellbeing Deficit Report. The collaboration combined Howlett Brown's people intelligence and culture expertise with HumanOS's behavioural data and health optimisation capabilities to produce research exploring the root causes of the UK's workplace wellbeing deficit.
• Baker McKenziecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowlett Brown partnered with global law firm Baker McKenzie to produce a joint report examining the connection between diversity, inclusion, and compliance. The report was based on a survey of over 600 compliance leaders in global organisations and identified four compliance-critical gaps hindering corporate D&I ambitions: the maturity gap, action gap, consistency gap, and integration gap.
• iCANcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharlene Brown, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Howlett Brown, co-hosts the ERG Blueprint Conference with Ajay (founder of iCAN). The partnership positions Howlett Brown as a partner host and thought leader at a cross-industry event for ERG and HR professionals, driving brand awareness and business development within the HR and culture community.
• &samhoud consultancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowlett Brown collaborated with Dr Wieke Scholten of &samhoud consultancy to deliver a joint webinar on establishing a resilient anti-racist workplace culture. Dr Scholten contributed a behavioural model framework covering behavioural patterns, drivers, and outcomes, which was discussed alongside Howlett Brown's advisory perspective.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Baker McKenzie: Baker McKenzie is a global law firm with broad employment, compliance, and investigations capabilities. It is both a partner of Howlett Brown (joint D&I compliance report) and a broader incumbent offering overlapping legal-advisory services to multinational clients.
• Deloitte (Human Capital practice): Deloitte's Human Capital practice offers organisation transformation, culture, DEI, and people analytics services globally. Represents a much larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise culture and people-risk mandates.

Direct peers

• Walking the Talk: Walking the Talk is an international culture transformation consultancy that designs culture strategy and change programmes for global enterprises. Comparable to Howlett Brown's Culture & Sustainability service line and Cor3 Code framework.
• EW Group: EW Group is a UK-headquartered D&I consultancy delivering training, strategy, and advisory work to large organisations. Comparable to Howlett Brown in D&I advisory and bespoke enterprise training.
• PDT Global: PDT Global is a UK-based DEI and anti-racism advisory firm offering training, consulting, and culture programmes to enterprise clients. Highly comparable to Howlett Brown's culture, L&D, and anti-racism training offerings.
• Inclusive Employers: Inclusive Employers is a UK membership and advisory organisation helping employers build inclusive workplaces through training, consultancy, and benchmarking. Closely comparable to Howlett Brown's culture, DEI, and employer advisory work.
• YSC Consulting: YSC is a global leadership and people consultancy focused on culture, leadership development, and organisational change. Comparable to Howlett Brown's advisory, culture, and leadership capability offerings for enterprise clients.
• The Chemistry Group: The Chemistry Group is a UK-based culture, brand, and employee experience consultancy that combines research with bespoke culture programmes. Comparable in offering culture diagnostics and enterprise advisory engagements.
• &samhoud consultancy: &samhoud is a Netherlands-based culture change and behavioural consultancy with deep expertise in anti-racism, behavioural models, and culture strategy. Directly comparable to Howlett Brown's culture and DEI advisory work; the two firms have already co-delivered a webinar.

Emerging players

• Culture Amp: Culture Amp is a people-analytics and employee engagement platform with adjacent culture and DEI measurement capabilities. Represents an emerging, productised competitor encroaching on Howlett Brown's Business Intelligence and culture diagnostics offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HowlettBrown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howlettbrown
• Instagraminstagram.com/howlett.brown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Howlett Brown