https://acacialearning.com/ specialise in bringing you diverse, dynamic and world-class learning programmes, helping you transform your knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence. So you can enjoy achieving your own development goals, whilst making a real impact to an ever-changing world and workplace.
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Acacia Learning Podcasts
The HR Connection Podcast with Sabrina Baker is your go-to resource for all things HR in the small business world. Hosted by Sabrina Baker, founder of Acacia HR Solutions, this podcast is designed especially for those wearing multiple hats—whether you’re the only HR person at your company, a business owner figuring out HR as you go, or someone who just got handed the HR file and a wish for good luck. Launching the week of May 19, 2025, each episode will bring real talk (no corporate fluff), ...
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How to Hire with Confidence – Without 5 Rounds of Interviews
20:13
20:13
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20:13The number of interviews doesn’t equal confidence. Clarity does. And clarity starts long before the job post ever goes live. In this episode, Sabrina breaks down how small businesses can create a lean, repeatable hiring process that actually helps you make strong, confident hiring decisions — without dragging candidates through endless rounds. She’…
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Best Time Management Tips for HR Leaders that work!
9:13
9:13
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9:13If you’re handling HR in a small business — officially or unofficially — chances are you're overwhelmed. Not because you’re bad at time management… but because you’re spending time on things you shouldn’t have to. In this episode, Sabrina Baker breaks down the real reasons HR leaders in small companies feel stretched thin — and why AI alone won’t s…
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Small, But Mighty – What We’ve Learned About Small Employer HR
13:13
13:13
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13:13You don’t need a huge team, a massive budget, or some fancy HR title to do HR the right way. What really matters is knowing how HR works in a small business. In this season finale, Sabrina’s breaking down the biggest takeaways from Season 1 — including why HR in a small company comes with its own unique challenges and what you can do about it.…
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Employee Relations Issues Hit Different in Small Businesses
21:06
21:06
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21:06Employee Relations Issues Hit Different in Small Businesses It’s louder, messier, and harder to ignore. With fewer policies and less hierarchy, when things go wrong, everyone feels it. In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Acacia HR Business Partner Marie Rolston to talk about the unique challenges of managing ER in small organizations and share …
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Understanding Employee Benefits: A Guide for Small Businesses
32:47
32:47
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32:47Pop quiz: What’s one thing employees look for in a job besides pay? You guessed it—benefits. But for small businesses, the traditional “big company” benefit model often isn’t realistic. So how do you build a package that employees love without breaking the bank? In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Acacia HR’s resident benefits expert, Christine…
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Why Payroll Matters So Much in a Small Businesses
29:35
29:35
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29:35Payroll mistakes? They hit way harder in small businesses. One missed paycheck, one “oops” with a contractor classification, and suddenly you’re dealing with broken trust — and maybe even compliance headaches. In this episode, Sabrina chats with Acacia’s own Payroll & Operations Manager, Penelope Angulo, about what it really takes to run payroll li…
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Can AI manage HR for small businesses? Sure — if we’re talking about the way most small employers handle HR today: reactive, administrative, checking boxes. But what if your HR could be more than that? What if it could actually drive your business forward — not just keep it compliant? That’s where AI hits a wall. So the real question is: Are you ma…
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Founder vs. Hired CEO: How Leadership Style Impacts HR in Small Businesses
14:59
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14:59When you’re in a small company, the CEO usually is your go-to person—but let’s be real, not all CEOs are wired the same. In this episode, we’re getting into the difference between a Founder CEO and a Hired CEO, and why your HR game needs to shift depending on who’s in charge. Whether you’re trying to roll out a new HR system, pitch a culture initia…
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Preparing for Growth – Scaling HR as Your Business Expands
32:54
32:54
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32:54Today’s topic is one that comes up all the time in conversations with our clients: “What do we need to put in place before we grow?” Or more often… “We’re growing fast and it’s getting messy—what do we do now?” Growth is exciting. It means your business is succeeding, scaling, expanding its impact. But growth also exposes every crack in your HR fou…
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Today we’re diving into a topic that can either be a game-changer or a giant headache—HR technology for small employers. If you’ve ever wondered how to make smart HR tech investments when your budget is tight, or how to streamline your processes without losing your mind, this episode is for you. We’re going to talk through what to look for in a sys…
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The Power of an HR Network – You’re Not Alone
33:34
33:34
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33:34In this episode of The HR Connection, we’re getting real about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the loneliness of managing HR in a small business. Whether you're an HR department of one or juggling HR with five other hats, it can feel isolating — and exhausting — to navigate all the people stuff solo. I’ve been there. From being laid…
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Building a Strong Company Culture with Limited Resources
34:58
34:58
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34:58In this episode of The HR Connection, we unpack why company culture is a retention superpower—especially in small employers where every relationship, interaction, and habit is amplified. Host Sabrina Baker shares her candid take on what culture really means (hint: it’s not snacks or slogans) and how to start curating it intentionally, even when you…
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Hiring & Retaining Talent on a Small Business Budget
53:36
53:36
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53:36Think you can’t compete with the Googles and Amazons of the world? Think again. In this episode of The HR Connection, host Sabrina Baker debunks the myth that small employers can't win the war for talent. If you're working with limited resources (or no HR budget at all), this episode is for you. We’ll talk about: The real value candidates look for …
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What Are the Most Common HR Gaps in Small Employers (And How Can You Fix Them)?
43:00
43:00
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43:00In this episode of The HR Connection, we explore the HR "messes" that most small employers encounter—and the underlying gaps that lead to them. From compliance violations and inconsistent workflows to the total absence of HR strategy, we break down what’s going wrong and how to make it right. Whether you’re dealing with outdated handbooks, reactive…
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HR As A Business Partner, Not Just As An Admin
27:17
27:17
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27:17If you're an HR professional in a small business—or someone wearing multiple hats including HR—this episode of The HR Connection is for you. Host Sabrina Baker unpacks one of the most common frustrations in small companies: HR is often seen as just administrative support, not a key driver of business growth. In this episode, you'll learn: Why HR is…
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What does good HR look like in a Small Employer?
34:42
34:42
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34:42Join Sabrina Baker, HR expert and founder of Acacia HR Solutions, as she dives into the essential HR principles for small businesses. In this podcast, Sabrina shares actionable insights on how to adapt HR practices to fit unique team dynamics, foster employee engagement, and build loyalty—all while working with limited resources. Learn why personal…
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Welcome back to The HR Connection Podcast! In this episode, host Sabrina Baker—CEO and founder of Acacia HR Solutions—dives into what makes managing HR in a small business (think 1 to 500 employees) so vastly different from doing it in a large organization. From the “wild, wild west” of HR structures in startups to the deeply personal, small-town f…
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Welcome to The HR Connection! In this first episode, Sabrina shares why managing HR in small businesses is a whole different world—and why this podcast is here to help. Whether you're HR, a CEO wearing all the hats, or someone who just “fell into” HR, you're not alone. Let’s talk real challenges, soft skills, and building the support you’ve been mi…
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Expert Advice on studying CIPD Level 7 Qualification
48:40
48:40
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48:40CIPD tutors, Dr Kay Maddox-Daines and Tristan Callaghan answer your questions about studying the CIPD Level 7 qualification with Acacia Learning. In this podcast they unravel some of the myths regarding postgraduate study, discuss how to prepare for study at this level, reveal some common challenges experienced by new learners and help you to decid…
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Building a HR pandemic plan Q&A | COVID-19 | Acacia Learning Webinars
47:20
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47:20https://acacialearning.com/ tutors answers your HR questions about COVID-19 and how to approach different situations professionally. Stephen Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Exeter Business School and also a Chief Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He teaches HRM an…
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Acacia Learning Webinar Audio: New CIPD Profession Map
45:42
45:42
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45:42https://acacialearning.co.uk/ 's tutors and HR practitioners answer your questions about the new CIPD Profession Map. Slides are available for you to view at: https://sites.google.com/acacialearning.co.uk/acacia-cipd-map-webinair/home
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