The Dental Practice Diagnostic Podcast

Welcome to the final episode of Season One of The Diary of an HR Consultant! I’m Victoria, and if you’re a woman running a dental practice in those early years of ownership, this one’s for you. As we head into the quieter summer stretch, I’m sharing five practical focus areas that can help you reset, regroup, and return stronger in the autumn — from tightening up your team structure to tackling those niggling HR jobs that always fa...

This week I’m joined by resilience coach and executive mentor Julian Roberts, to explore a topic close to my heart — how women in small dental practices can build resilience in the face of leadership pressure, emotional labour, and external responsibilities. From imposter syndrome to navigating conflict, juggling caring responsibilities to making courageous decisions — we unpack it all. If you're a woman running a dental practice...

When Policies Feel Pointless — Making HR Actually Work in Small Teams If your staff handbook is gathering dust — or worse, causing confusion — this episode is for you. In Part 3 of our 'People Puzzle in Your Practice' mini-series, I unpack why traditional HR policies often don’t work in small, independent dental practices… and what to do instead. ✅ Why generic policies don’t protect your team or your business ✅ The hidden cost of u...

Starting and running a small dental practice is a rewarding but challenging journey—especially for women juggling leadership, clinical care, and a team. In this episode, Victoria Thomson of Ambridge HR shares the five most common HR mistakes dental practice owners make in their first five years and practical steps to avoid them. From tackling early performance issues to managing associate contracts, Victoria’s insights will help yo...

In this episode, Victoria Thomson turns the spotlight on the dental profession, exploring the unique HR challenges facing dental practices today — from associate contract confusion to team tensions, compliance gaps, and culture concerns.

Drawing on real-life scenarios and her experience supporting healthcare clients, Victoria breaks down the top issues affecting dental surgeries and shares how Ambridge HR can provide practical, cal...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In today’s episode, I'm diving into a hot topic for UK businesses: how to prepare for the digital skills gap in an increasingly competitive global talent market. From building future-ready teams to embracing remote hiring and upskilling strategies, I’ll share practic...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In this special episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria shines a spotlight on working carers – the often-unsung heroes balancing employment with the demands of supporting loved ones. We explore the new Carer’s Leave legislation, other types of statutory le...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In this episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria explores the new UK–India trade deal and what it means for UK businesses and employment. From visa changes to skilled worker pipelines, outsourcing trends to cultural inclusion—this is your essential briefing...

In this week’s episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, we’re diving into the lesser-known world of employee leave in the UK. Sure, you know about sick leave and annual leave—but what about carer’s leave, emergency time off for dependants, and ordinary parental leave? Join Victoria from Ambridge HR as she unpacks the full list of paid and unpaid leave types that UK employers need to be aware of—plus a few common mistakes (like mi...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In the latest episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria from Ambridge HR responds to recent remarks made by Nigel Farage about autism — and explains why businesses need to take neurodiversity seriously. Farage’s suggestion that autistic individuals are “not ...

In this episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria dives into theThis episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

evolving world of absence management — and why it's more than just tracking sick days. Since the pandemic, the workp...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

With no legal retirement age in Britain, how do you even begin a conversation about retirement with your team? In this episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria from Ambridge HR explores this delicate but important topic — from why many people don’t want to ...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In this episode, Victoria from Ambridge HR unpacks the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the legal definition of 'woman' refers to biological sex—and what it means for businesses navigating inclusion, compliance, and workplace culture. We dive into the heart of diversit...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

In this episode of The Diary of an HR Consultant, Victoria breaks down the ripple effects of President Trump’s new tariff policies and what they mean for UK businesses and the employment landscape. From economic shifts and supply chain challenges to workforce plannin...

This episode was recorded before the podcast focused specifically on dental practices. The principles discussed still apply broadly to people management and retention.

Ever wondered what an HR consultant **actually** gets up to in a day? In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes for a no-filter look at the real-life wins, curveballs, and everything in between that make up a typical day in my world at Ambridge HR.

💡 Need he...