Building an HR Community: HR on The Solway!
When Jennie Griffiths (Founder of Foster Your People HR Consultancy) and I first got talking in early 2024, we kept coming back to the same observation: there just wasn't enough for HR professionals in Dumfriesshire.
No regular networking. No local CPD. Nowhere to go when you needed to talk through a tricky situation with someone who actually gets it.
Jennie, had been feeling it. I'd been hearing it from candidates here at Foxgroves. So instead of waiting for someone else to do something about it, we did something about it ourselves.
We ran a virtual Focus Group and asked HR professionals in the area what they wanted, listened to what came back, and then set up HR on The Solway.
What is HR on The Solway?
HR on The Solway is a free, bi-monthly networking group for HR professionals who live or work in South West Scotland. It's open to anyone working in the HR space, at any level, with no CIPD membership required.
Each event brings together a group of like-minded HR professionals for a relaxed lunchtime session at a local venue. We pair informal networking with a guest speaker who delivers something genuinely useful, not a sales pitch, not a watered-down overview, but real, practical insight that people can take back to their roles.
The vibe is warm, informal and honest. We wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing challenges and connecting with peers who understand the world they work in. And from the feedback we get, that's exactly what it's become.
How it started
Our first ever HR on the Solway face-to-face meeting was in May 2025 at the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries. No sponsor, no speaker, no agenda beyond getting people in the same room. Just coffee, conversation and the beginning of something we're genuinely proud of.
Since then, we've hosted five more events, each one growing in confidence and ambition, and each one shaped by the people who show up.
The events so far
Event 1 — May 2025, Cairndale Hotel Our launch event. A relaxed coffee and networking session to bring the community together for the first time. Simple, but exactly what was needed.
May 2025 Cairndale Hotel
Event 2 — July 2025, Covetrus, Dumfries We were delighted to welcome Gail Davidson, VP of HR for Europe and Latin America at Covetrus, as our first ever guest speaker. Gail shared her journey from HR Manager at a local SME to leading HR across two continents, and gave the room a genuinely honest look at what it takes to earn a strategic seat at the table. Having a speaker of Gail's calibre right here in Dumfries was a real statement of intent for the group.
July 2025 Covetrus in Dumfries
Event 3 — September 2025, The Usual Place, Dumfries We welcomed Estelle Read FCIPD, HR professional, executive coach and author, for a session on overcoming imposter syndrome. It ran as a hybrid event, with 12 people in the room and 25 joining virtually. Estelle shared practical tools including Havening therapy and gave every attendee a copy of her book, workbook and journal. A brilliant session on a topic that clearly resonated.
Event 4 — December 2025, Dumfries Baptist Church Centre With the Employment Rights Bill dominating conversations across the profession, we brought in Stephen Connelly, Partner at Blackadders LLP, to cut through the noise and explain what the changes actually meant. The event was a real success and Blackadders kindly sponsored the event and provided a free lunch for all attendees.
Dec 2025 - Employment Law Update
Jennie Griffiths, Stephen Connelly and Lyndsey Fitheridge
Event 5 — February 2026, The Usual Place, Dumfries L&D Specialist Joanna van Wel, with over 20 years' experience, facilitated an interactive workshop on line manager capability. The conversation was honest, practical and energetic, covering everything from why managers avoid managing to what organisations can actually do about it. One of our most talked-about sessions to date.
Joanna van Wel front Centre - Guest Speaker
Event 6 — May 2026 (upcoming), Tarff Valley, Dumfries We're heading into our sixth event with Erin Wilson, Head of Business at Genesis Occupational Health & Safety, who will be exploring what the April 2026 employment law changes really mean through a health, safety and wellbeing lens. Kindly sponsored by Tarff Valley, who will be providing lunch on the day.
More than networking
What's struck both Jennie and me is how quickly the group has become more than just an event. The same faces come back. People follow up with each other between meetings. Connections made over lunch have turned into genuine professional friendships.
That's what we set out to build. And it's what keeps us doing it.
Join us
If you're an HR professional based in or around South West Scotland and you've not yet made it along, we'd love to see you at a future event. It's free, it's relaxed, and the people are brilliant.
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page and Eventbrite for future events, or drop me an email directly and I'll make sure you're added to our mailing list.
You can book a free ticket for the May 2026 event here.
Lyndsey Fitheridge, CEO & Founder, Foxgroves Recruitment Co-founder, HR on The Solway (alongside Jennie Griffiths, Founder, Foster Your People HR Consultancy)