Founder insights: The story behind e-volveHR's transformation to hoomph

Join our co-founders Sarah Stevens and Lisa Hallewell as they spill the beans on the evolution of e-volveHR to hoomph in this exclusive Q&A session. Get ready for some real talk about the rebranding process and the exciting future ahead…

What’s the story behind the new brand of e-volveHR to hoomph? 

Sarah: We're really excited about our evolution to hoomph. Over the past few years, our business has changed significantly. When we initially built e-volveHR, it was a reflection of our vision at that time. However, as our company grew and adapted to the changing landscape of HR, we realised that our brand needed to aswell.

We wanted a name and identity that not only captured the heart of our business but also reflected the journey we've been on, so we chose hoomph as it really brings our values together – humans with oomph. We bring that oomph to everything we do, from the way we put people at the heart of everything, to how we help our clients scale their businesses. 

Lisa: It's not just a new name; it's a recognition of how far we've come and where we're headed. e-volveHR served us well in our early years, but as we continue to innovate and expand our offerings beyond traditional HR services, hoomph represents the next chapter in our story.

Why now?

Sarah: The decision to rebrand to hoomph wasn't one we took lightly. It's been brewing for a while, but a few key factors pushed us to make the leap now. It feels like the right time. 

Working closely with Scriba – our PR agency – gave us fresh perspectives and clarity, nudging us towards this exciting change. Plus, discovering other companies shared the same name as us? Well, that was a wake-up call. We're all about standing out, not blending in.

Lisa: Looking ahead, we've got big dreams for hoomph. While we're not spilling all the details yet, let's say we're gearing up for some major moves in the future. And to make those moves, we needed a brand that could flex and adapt across different industries—tech, gaming, you name it.

Our old brand was a bit softer and we felt like it didn't quite capture the essence of who we are. We're direct, vibrant, and maybe a little unconventional at times. So, hoomph is more us. It's bold, it's fresh, and it reflects the energy and spirit of our team.

What was your favourite part of the rebranding process? 

Lisa: There were so many cool moments throughout the rebranding journey, but if I had to pick a favourite, the brand workshop really stood out to me. Sitting down and reflecting on who we are as a company, where we've come from, and the journey we've been on—it was a proud moment. 

Sarah: For me, it was seeing the first draft of our colours and branding. It was like watching our vision come to life right before our eyes. Seeing all of the ideas from the workshop take shape in a visual way was really exciting. But honestly, the whole rebranding process was great from start to finish. It's not every day you get to reinvent yourself, right?

Did you experience any challenges? 

Sarah: Surprisingly, it was quite challenging to put into words exactly what we do. Of course, we know, but when you’re asked to put it down on paper in a way that captures how you’re different to everyone else, it makes you think. Also, working through the website process was a bit tricky for us, but with guidance from our team at The Bigger Boat, we got there in the end!

Lisa: For me, I found it hard to decide whether to change our name or not. At first, I was adamant that we weren't budging on that front, as e-volveHR had been with us since day one. But as we delved deeper into the rebranding process, it became clear that evolving our name made total sense. 

How would you describe the personality of your brand? 

Lisa: Vibrant, fun, creative. We’re not your typical HR company. 

Our brand isn't just a logo and some colours—it's a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. We want our clients to feel like they're chatting with a friend, not just another corporate entity. That's why we've made sure our brand speaks directly to them, in a language they understand and connect with.

Your strapline didn’t change during the rebrand ‘people, not processes’, why was it important to keep this? 

Lisa: Our strapline remained unchanged for a reason. There's a lot of chatter about HR data these days, and we're not ignoring that. But at our core, we've always believed that HR is fundamentally about people, not just processes.

Sarah: We get that people are complex, they're complicated, and one size definitely doesn't fit all. That's why we're all about putting people first. Because when you get that part right, everything else falls into place. Processes are important, but they're just the tools we use to help people thrive. So our strapline stays because it's a constant reminder of what really matters—putting people at the heart of everything we do.

If your brand was a superhero, what would its superpower be and why?

Lisa: We’d say its superpower would be "clarity vision”, with the ability to see through the smoke and mirrors, cutting through the fluff to uncover the real issues facing businesses.

Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve as a business in the next five years? 

Sarah: In the next five years, our goals are clear: expand our reach, deliver future-focused and high-quality work for our clients, and remain focused on people-centric solutions. 

Lisa: We're not just about growth; we're about making a real impact and enabling our clients to succeed.

What steps are you taking to achieve this? 

We're taking several proactive steps. We're rolling out a new mental health wellbeing audit, ensuring we stay ahead in supporting our clients' needs. Additionally, we're actively promoting our existing services while developing new ones tailored to client demands. 

Networking also remains a priority, both within our industry and with our founder base, to foster valuable connections and expand our reach. We're also ramping up our presence at events, increasing visibility for our brand. And of course, we're continuing our podcast, engaging with our audience and sharing valuable insights along the way.