The Career Owl was set up by HR professional Kathryn Hall in 2019 to help people build careers that work with their lives rather than against them.

Founded from a combination of extensive HR experience, coaching expertise and a genuine passion for people development, the business supports professionals who feel stuck, undervalued or uncertain about their next step.

Through a highly personalised and coaching-led approach, Tamworth-based Kathryn helps her clients gain clarity, confidence and direction so they can make career decisions with purpose.

Before launching The Career Owl she spent over 13 years working in HR across industries including logistics, manufacturing, fashion retail and technology. Earlier experience in retail management with Sainsbury’s developed her leadership, communication and people management skills.

Following the birth of her son Kathryn took a career break which gave her the opportunity to reflect on what had energised me most throughout my career. She decided she was at my best when helping people recognise their strengths, build confidence and progress in their careers. Friends, former colleagues and referrals increasingly approached her for support with CVs, LinkedIn profiles, interviews and career direction. What began as informal guidance quickly evolved into a business.

The Career Owl was built around the belief that career support should go beyond simply helping someone apply for jobs.

Kathryn said: “Many people come to me feeling successful on paper but deeply unfulfilled, while others are navigating redundancy, returning to work after a break or questioning whether the career they have built still fits the life they want now.

“I help clients understand themselves before making their next move, exploring their strengths, motivations, values and long-term goals so their decisions are intentional rather than reactive.

“What differentiates my business from many traditional CV writing or coaching services is the combination of strategic HR expertise and emotional insight. I understand recruitment and leadership from the inside, but I also recognise the confidence barriers and self-doubt that often prevent talented people from progressing.

“My approach blends practical support with honest, supportive coaching so clients leave not only with stronger applications, but with greater belief in themselves.”

Every client journey is tailored. Kathryn works closely with professionals at different career stages, including aspiring leaders, senior executives, career changers and those rebuilding confidence after setbacks. To complement her one-to-one coaching and career support she has developed accessible self-led resources for individuals who may not yet be ready for coaching or who want additional guidance between sessions. These include practical toolkits for early career professionals and those transitioning into leadership roles, alongside free resources designed to help people gain clarity and confidence.

Kathryn has focused heavily on building a supportive and accessible online presence. Through consistent, value-led content across social media she has achieved more than 120,000 impressions and more than 15,900 article views in the past 12 months. Since its launch in December 2023 her podcast, Your Path to Career Success, has achieved more than 3,000 downloads and reached listeners in 79 countries across six continents.

The business has continued to grow through reputation, referrals and meaningful results.

Kathryn added: “I have now supported almost 1,000 clients, with approximately 95% securing a new role within three to six months. These outcomes reflect far more than job applications; they represent people rebuilding confidence, stepping into leadership positions, changing direction with purpose and creating careers that better align with their lives and values.

“One of the achievements I am most proud of is creating a business that combines commercial success with genuine social impact. Career uncertainty can affect confidence, wellbeing and identity, yet many people feel they must navigate these challenges alone. Through The Career Owl, I aim to normalise career change, provide accessible guidance and create a supportive space where people feel heard, valued and empowered.

“As a solopreneur, I have intentionally built a business rooted in authenticity, trust and long-term relationships rather than volume or one-size-fits-all solutions. Many clients continue working with me beyond their original goals because the support evolves alongside their career journey.

“Whether someone is pursuing promotion, recovering from redundancy, changing career direction or stepping into leadership for the first time, my focus remains the same: helping people recognise their value and move forward with clarity and confidence.”

This month Kathryn will publish her first book, bringing together practical career frameworks, coaching insights and lessons from supporting hundreds of clients, alongside reflections from her own leadership career.

Kathryn has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and has entered The Career Owl into the Small Business of the Year category.