A family-run HR business based in Oswaldtwistle is on a mission to treat clients as more than just numbers.
Husband-and-wife team Jason and Amrita Govindji-Bruce set up the NORi HR in July 2019 – just six months before Covid struck – after both previously working in HR-related roles in major firms in the UK.
Jason said: “Businesses were being treated like just another number, and we wanted to provide a first class service that looked out for business owners and their managers.”
The couple were recommended to contact Boost – and they’ve never looked back.
Jason said: “Being new to business, we didn’t really know what we were really doing.
“Boost really helped us focus on what we needed to achieve as a new business, and how to get our name out there in the marketplace.
“With so much competition in the market, we needed an edge that would put us ahead of the other players in the market.
“The initial support from Boost allowed us to really focus on what was needed to get ourselves established in the market.
“Without this support we wouldn’t have been able to really understand what was required to get a foothold in the market and start to expand.”
The advice served the couple in good stead and they’re now a £1m turnover business with nine full-time members of staff.
Boost was founded in 2013 and BusinessCloud will be showcasing some of the thousands of businesses to have benefited from their help in the following decade.
Boost’s help didn’t end there as the couple also received fully-funded mentoring support and were matched with Boost growth mentor David Eccles, a specialist in business planning and strategy.
Eccles supported them by taking an overview of NORi HR, providing valuable insight into its branding and product portfolio offerings.
In April 2024, Duncan Wolverson joined the business as managing director to support the next stage of NORi HR’s growth.
Jason and Amrita have also become patrons for two charities, as well as fundraising and donating over £250,000 for a dozen local good causes.
“We truly believe that being business owners comes with a responsibility to the local community, and we put that belief into practice through our actions,” said Jason.
NORi HR also offer a white label service designed to allow other businesses, particularly accountants and recruiters, to provide a full suite of HR solutions under their own brand.
Asked what his advice would be to anyone considering using Boost he said: “Simple, just do it.”
• Led by Lancashire County Council, supported by Government and 10 local authorities, Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, one of 37 Growth Hubs in the UK. Boost’s mission is to help Lancashire businesses thrive. Since 2013, Boost has supported over 14,000 businesses, helping create 3,500 jobs while adding £100m to the local economy. From September 1, 2023, Boost is funded by Lancashire County Council, Department for Business & Trade (DBT), and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations from 10 Lancashire local authorities (Boost local authorities partners). Boost’s local authority partners are Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Wyre Council. Boost offers six core services including:
• Business Support Helpdesk
• Business Advice Service
• Growth Catalyst
• Scale to Thrive
• Flying Start
• Access to Finance
The Business Support Helpdesk offers advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business and all new and existing businesses in Lancashire.
Businesses located in the 10 Boost local authority partner areas are eligible for the Business Advice Service, Flying Start, Growth Catalyst, Scale to Thrive and Access to Finance.