When you’re growing fast, HR can’t be an afterthought. That’s why more Canadian companies are turning to a fractional HR + HR tech stack strategy — and why the partnership between Castle HR and Collage HR is helping founder-led businesses scale the right way.
In a recent feature from Collage’s Canadian HR Expert Series, Castle HR CEO Tom Nickalls shared his approach to building intentional people systems before things break. The article dives deep into how Castle helps companies overcome chaos with clarity, especially when growth outpaces their internal HR infrastructure.
“Most companies just white-knuckle HR until they’re forced to deal with it,” Tom explains. “That was the gap I saw. That’s where Castle HR started.”
Why Scale-Ups Need a Better HR Tech Stack Strategy
For companies in the 20–75 employee range, HR challenges start to multiply:
- Leadership gaps appear
- Performance reviews stall
- Job descriptions go stale
- Founders get stretched too thin
Castle HR steps in with seasoned HR leadership and proven frameworks — from EOS to Good to Great — and designs systems that align teams and boost performance. But strategy alone isn’t enough. That’s where Collage HR comes in.
For more on how Castle helps scale-ups solve growing people problems, check out our blog post on When to Bring in Fractional HR.
Modern HR Services + Tools for Canadian Companies
Collage HR is a Canadian-built HRIS that integrates seamlessly into Castle’s strategic HR systems. Whether it’s automating quarterly performance reviews or onboarding new hires, Castle uses Collage to bring structure, speed, and visibility to every client engagement.
“We’re big on automation and customization,” says Tom. “Collage lets us do both. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and the support is top-notch.”
By combining fractional HR leadership (Castle) with modern HR tools (Collage), scale-ups can implement tailored systems that evolve with the business. No more off-the-shelf playbooks. No more reactive HR. Cultivating an aligned fractional HR + HR tech stack strategy is a solid foundation for success.
Learn how we streamline Quarterly Performance Reviews to boost engagement and accountability.
Feedback, Fit, and Fixing HR Before It Breaks
The full article by Mark Bluvshtein captures Castle HR’s ethos in detail: feedback isn’t just a check-in, it’s a growth engine. Job fit isn’t a guess — it’s a system. And top performers don’t stay by accident — they stay when the environment supports what matters most to them.
Castle’s mission is simple: help Canadian companies scale by making HR both strategic and actionable. Collage helps power that mission with the right technology.
“If we can help companies fix the people problems before they stall, we’re doing our job.” – Tom Nickalls
Scaling the Right Way — Together
Whether you’re revisiting performance reviews, building your first leadership team, or just trying to keep your culture intact while hiring at speed, Castle HR and Collage HR are here to help.
Ready to build your HR tech stack for scale? Let’s talk.
