Where the impossible becomes possible.
Meet the team
About us
We’re a super passionate award-winning team partnering with ambitious small businesses and SMEs to deliver game-changing People Development and innovative HR Solutions that keep your business compliant and drive measurable business results through people.
We're thrilled to be recognised as the
Best Small Business HR Solutions Company 2024
Best HR & People Development Consultancy 2024
Most Trusted SME People Development & Coaching Business 2024
Most Dedicated Professional Coaching Leader 2024
Our leadership team
Breen & Associates was created with one purpose: to help small businesses and SMEs succeed by making HR and People Development straightforward, practical, and impactful. Founded by people who’ve walked in your shoes, we bring not just years of HR and People Development/Coaching expertise, but a genuine drive to see your business thrive.
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We started this business because we know the real-world pressures small businesses and SMEs face – balancing compliance, managing teams, and trying to build a workplace where people want to stay and perform at their best, all while keeping an eye on the bottom line. We wanted to take what we’ve learned in the corporate world and turn it into real-world solutions that work for businesses like yours.
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Our motivation? Results. We’re driven by seeing businesses grow, improve, and thrive when they have the right tools, advice, and support. From saving you time and money on Employment Law compliance to helping you create high-performing teams, our goal is to deliver solutions that make a measurable difference.​
Why we're different
At the heart of everything we do is driving business growth by helping people succeed.
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Our holistic approach to people means that we don’t just cover all things HR including Employment Law, Strategic HR, Employee Relations, HR Training, HR Software, Recruitment (and much more) but also offer specialised Team Development Programmes and Coaching designed to help your team grow and succeed.
Our mission is to reduce your risks, keep you compliant with UK employment law, boost team dynamics, promote wellbeing, build strong teams, improve employee performance and drive measurable business results through people.
We believe small businesses and SMEs deserve the same level of HR and People support that big companies have – without the red tape, hefty price tags, or one-size-fits-all approaches.
Joanna Breen FCIPD
Co-Founder & CEO
HR & Employment Law Expert, Corporate & Executive Coach
Joanna Breen is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience helping businesses unlock the potential of their people. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, she brings deep expertise and a passion for empowering small businesses and SMEs to thrive. She is a fully qualified and accredited Personal Performance Coach and Executive/Leadership Coach.
After a successful corporate career, Joanna co-founded Breen & Associates to provide small businesses with high-quality, practical HR and people development solutions – without the complexity or cost of larger organisations.
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Known for her approachable style and results-driven mindset, Joanna has helped countless businesses navigate employment laws, improve team performance, and build positive workplace cultures that drive both people and profits.
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She enjoys walking in nature, listening to music and spending time with her black labrador Barney.
Sonja Kirschner
Co-Founder & CMO
Personal & Business Coach, Mindset & Human Behaviour Trainer
Sonja is a multi award-winning, 5-star rated coach and a Top 10 Business Coach in Cambridge, England. She is a fully accredited Business & Personal Performance Coach, Executive/Leadership Coach, NLP Practitioner, and licensed DISC Human Behaviour Trainer. She is passionate about mindfulness, meditation, and spirituality.
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Sonja has trained with renowned industry leaders such as Tony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Marie Forleo. She is the author of resources on overcoming anxiety, including The 3-Step Blueprint to Stop Anxiety & Panic Attacks and The 6-Step Manifesto to Transform Anxiety Into Personal Power.
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Sonja is the founder of APower 3 - Coaching, Training & Mind Freedom®.
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As co-founder of Breen & Associates, Sonja delivers tailored people development solutions to small businesses and SMEs, helping leaders create thriving workplace cultures. Known for her empathetic and results-focused approach, she is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who also advises on creative marketing strategies.
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In her free time, Sonja enjoys sports, meditation, cooking, and exploring nature.
Barney
Chief Happiness Officer & Food Lover
Barney became part of Breen & Associates in October 2020 at just 8 weeks old, and he’s been spreading happiness ever since. His natural ability to radiate joy and bring smiles to everyone around him makes him the perfect Chief Happiness Officer.
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With Puppy and Junior Dog Training under his belt, Barney takes his role seriously – whether it’s boosting morale, being a great listener, or leading the team on revitalising walks. Off the clock, he loves playing with his favourite sticks (an entire selection from his walks in the forest), napping in sunny spots, and indulging in his favourite treats: pigs' ears and air-fried salmon skin.
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Barney is more than a pet. He’s a symbol of the positivity, care, and connection that Breen & Associates is all about.
We’re proud to have a great team of pros behind us allowing us to offer personal, flexible and affordable People & HR solutions.
Our extended team
From our home in Essex and Hertfordshire, we’ve been proud to help businesses across the UK (and beyond) grow by focusing on their most important asset: their people. To make this happen, we’ve built a trusted and passionate team of skilled professionals spread across the UK, ready to provide the support your business needs, when you need it.
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Our team brings together expertise in HR, recruitment, people development, and coaching, working closely with you to create tailored, practical solutions for whatever challenges come your way. Whether it’s staying compliant with employment law, finding and keeping great talent, improving team performance, developing leadership through coaching, or building a positive workplace culture, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We’re passionate about helping businesses and their people thrive. We keep things simple, personal and effective – wherever you’re based.
