Meet The Team

Zoe Jones

Owner | HR Director

Manor Resources was founded by my Father, so as a teenager, pursuing HR as a degree felt like the natural choice. I entered the industry and went to work for an executive search company, before moving to the global financial services firm, Lehman Brothers. After two years there, I was taken on at a smaller stock broker, and by the time I left (ten years later), I was Head of HR for Europe.

It was at this point in my career that I took a year off from ‘people’, and retrained as a PT, but it wasn’t long until I felt the need to return to my roots. In 2017 I took over as founder and set to work on pivoting Manor Resources from a consultancy that primarily advised large corporations on change management, to a dynamic business geared towards the needs of the SME market.

My background in financial services means I’m incredibly interested in the commercially focused side of HR, and approach all my work with an awareness of how people can truly impact a business's bottom line. Our belief that it’s possible to protect your profits while still doing right by your employees makes Manor Resources particularly progressive within the current HR space.

Sarah Newland

Ops Director

Throughout my career I’ve consistently gone beyond the remit of a role to uncover what truly makes an organisation function well. I’ve never been afraid to ask “why,” and I dig deep to find answers to the operational challenges that impact both performance and people. Starting in small businesses where collaboration and adaptability were essential for growth, I quickly developed a natural ability to drive meaningful change.

Today, I pride myself on delivering simple, strategic solutions to complex problems in ways that are cost-effective and sustainable. My focus is always on aligning operations with business growth while ensuring the organisation has the right people structure, tools, and processes to succeed.

Crucially, I believe that strong operations aren’t just about efficiency - they’re about creating an environment where people can thrive. When employees have clarity, the right resources, and a culture that supports their best work, retention becomes a natural outcome. Businesses that want to stay competitive understand that operational excellence and employee experience go hand in hand. Building systems that empower people isn’t just good for individuals - it’s good for business.

Jo Childs

HR Business Partner

I began my HR journey in the early 90s, probably around 1992. I spent my entire career with Tesco, progressing through various HR roles across both stores and head office. By the time I left, I was a Lead People Partner, overseeing HR Partners for large stores in the South East and South Coast. I stumbled into HR while working in a retail role and was later promoted to Personnel Manager of my own store at 22. Through different opportunities, I grew into an exciting regional HR role.

The aspects of HR I love the most are partnering with teams to bring their strategies to life, helping individuals feel confident in their roles, and developing solutions/processes to support the creation of excellent work environments. HR can be challenging, but I lead with empathy, planning, and thoughtfulness, ensuring support for everyone involved. Taking time to reflect and not jumping to conclusions or decisions is a really important part of how I work. To make sure I stay balanced and positive, I like to 'walk it off', be that a long stroll by the sea or a quick spin around my little garden!

Steph Mico

HR Operations

I am an experienced HR Admin with a strong background in supporting senior leadership and managing HR operations across various industries. With over a decade of experience, I have developed expertise in recruitment, employee onboarding, HR compliance, and employee engagement.

My career has allowed me to work closely with diverse teams and contribute to creating positive workplace cultures. I am highly organised, adaptable, and passionate about ensuring smooth HR operations and an excellent employee experience in every role I take on.