HR support for SMEs
Practical HR support for small and medium-sized businesses.
HR support for SMEs helps small and medium-sized businesses manage employees, employment law, HR policies and workplace issues without the cost of a full in-house HR department. Bespoke HR provides practical outsourced HR support for small and medium-sized businesses across London, the South East and beyond.
This allows business owners and managers to focus on running the business while HR issues are handled professionally, consistently and in line with employment law.
Rated five stars on Google Read our reviews
We can help with
- Disciplinaries, grievances and employee relations issues
- Employment law advice and HR compliance
- HR policies, contracts and documentation
- Absence and performance management
- Recruitment and onboarding
- Day-to-day HR advice for managers
Whether you need day-to-day advice, help with a difficult employee matter, compliant documentation, support with recruitment, or a longer-term people strategy, our HR consultants work as an extension of your business.
How our HR support is priced
Our HR consultancy is usually charged on an hourly basis, giving businesses access to professional HR advice without committing to a lengthy contract.
Pay as you go
Many clients contact us when an HR issue arises and simply pay for the time required. This pay-as-you-go approach makes it easy to obtain HR support whenever you need it.
HR support plans
For businesses that expect to need regular HR advice, we offer HR support plans. A plan is a minimum number of hours each month for 12 months, and the hourly rate reduces as the level of commitment increases.
There is no requirement to take a plan unless you prefer ongoing support.
Fixed price
For a defined piece of work, we can agree a fixed price for the project before we start.
We are always happy to estimate how long a piece of work will take, and we track our time in detail, so we can send you a timesheet describing the work, once or regularly, if you would like one.
What is HR support for SMEs?
HR support for SMEs is outsourced or external HR advice that helps small and medium-sized businesses manage employees, employment law, HR policies, recruitment and workplace issues without employing a full in-house HR team.
Businesses often use outsourced HR support to obtain expert guidance on employee relations, compliance with employment law, HR documentation, recruitment and people management. Support may be provided pay as you go, on a monthly plan, as a fixed-price project, or as a hybrid model alongside an existing internal HR resource.
For many small and medium-sized businesses, outsourced HR support offers a flexible and cost-effective way to manage staff, reduce risk, improve processes and build a stronger workplace culture.
When should a business outsource HR?
Many SMEs decide to outsource HR when people management becomes more complex or when employee relations issues begin taking significant management time. This can happen as a business grows, but it also affects established companies with stable teams where employment law, compliance and workplace issues require more structured HR support.
- You have employees but no in-house HR team
- You need help with employment law and HR compliance
- You are dealing with disciplinaries, grievances or absence issues
- You need clearer HR processes and documentation
- You want expert support without the cost of a full-time HR hire
- You need a trusted adviser for difficult people decisions
Common HR challenges for SMEs
Many small and medium-sized businesses encounter recurring HR challenges as their teams develop and employment law requirements become more complex.
- Handling disciplinary or grievance procedures
- Managing employee absence and performance concerns
- Ensuring employment contracts and policies are compliant
- Supporting managers dealing with workplace conflicts
- Keeping up with changing employment law
- Introducing clearer HR processes and documentation
HR support for SMEs helps businesses address these issues confidently while reducing risk and allowing management teams to focus on running the business.
What does outsourced HR support include?
Our HR support for SMEs is tailored to the size, structure and needs of your business. We provide flexible outsourced HR support that can include ongoing advice on an HR support plan, pay-as-you-go advice when an issue arises, or a fixed price for a project.
Employee relations support
We advise on disciplinaries, grievances, investigations, performance issues, conflict, conduct concerns and other sensitive employee matters. We help you follow fair, clear and legally compliant processes, in line with the Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Employment law and HR compliance
We support SMEs with practical employment law guidance, helping you stay compliant while making sensible commercial decisions. This includes contracts, policies, procedures and manager guidance.
HR policies and documentation
Clear HR documents reduce confusion and risk. We create and update handbooks, policies, contracts, letters, forms and templates that are suitable for your business and your team.
Recruitment and onboarding
We can help you recruit well, improve your hiring process and create a smoother onboarding experience for new starters.
Performance management
We help businesses handle underperformance, set expectations, improve accountability and support managers with clear and practical performance processes.
Training for managers
Line managers often need support to handle people issues well. We provide practical HR training to help managers deal with conversations, policies, absence, performance and employee relations.
Absence and wellbeing support
We advise on sickness absence, return-to-work processes, wellbeing conversations and ways to create a healthier and more supportive working environment.
HR strategy and organisational support
Strong HR structures help businesses operate smoothly. We support SMEs with HR strategy, organisational structure, policies and management processes so that employee issues are handled consistently and the business can operate with confidence.
Who our HR support is for
Our HR support for SMEs is designed for small and medium-sized businesses that need practical HR expertise without building a full internal HR department.
- Businesses managing teams and employee relations issues
- Companies without a dedicated internal HR function
- Management teams dealing with employee relations issues
- Organisations that want regular or fractional HR support on a plan
- Businesses that need help improving HR processes and compliance
- Small businesses hiring their first employees
Supporting businesses with in-house HR
Many businesses already have someone handling HR internally, such as a part-time HR manager, office manager or operations lead. In these situations we work alongside the existing internal resource to provide additional expertise and support.
This hybrid approach combines the benefits of internal knowledge of the business with external HR expertise and experience.
- Support for internal HR managers dealing with complex cases
- Additional expertise on employment law and compliance
- Guidance on disciplinaries, grievances and investigations
- Help developing policies, processes and HR strategy
- Extra HR capacity during busy periods or organisational change
This model works well for businesses that want to strengthen their HR capability without expanding their internal HR team.
Why SMEs choose outsourced HR support
Cost-effective
Access experienced HR support without the salary and overheads of a full-time internal HR team.
Flexible
Use outsourced HR support as and when you need it.
Lower risk
Get support with employment law, documentation and people processes to reduce compliance risks.
Practical advice
Receive clear, commercial guidance that works in the real world.
How our HR support works
Initial conversation
We learn about your business, team and HR challenges.
Recommended support
We suggest the level of HR support that fits your needs.
Practical implementation
We help with advice, documentation, processes and people issues.
Ongoing partnership
We remain available as your business evolves and your HR needs change.
We’ve had a fantastic experience working with Bespoke HR. The team is always there when we need advice or guidance, no matter how big or small the question may be. They are incredibly professional, knowledgeable and, most importantly, kind and approachable.
It’s reassuring to know we have a team we can turn to whenever we need support. Bespoke HR have become a trusted extension of our team, and we really value the expertise and reassurance they provide. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any business looking for a reliable, supportive and professional HR partner.
Common questions
What does an HR consultant do for a small business?
An HR consultant gives a small business the HR expertise it would otherwise need an in-house team for. That covers advice on disciplinaries, grievances and other employee relations issues, employment law, contracts and policies, recruitment, absence and performance. You have an assigned HR consultant who gets to know you and your business, and the wider team also works on your account when needed.
How much does an HR consultant cost for a small business?
HR support plans start from £234 a month plus VAT, and the more hours you commit to each month, the lower your hourly rate. You can also pay as you go with no contract, or agree a fixed price for a project. We are happy to estimate the time involved before we start, and we track our time in detail, so you can ask to see what it has been spent on. See our prices.
Do I have to sign up to a lengthy contract?
No. You can pay as you go with no contract at all. Our plans run for 12 months, and that commitment is what gives you a lower hourly rate. There is no requirement to commit to a plan unless you prefer ongoing support.
Can you work alongside our existing HR person?
Yes. Many clients already have someone handling HR, such as a part-time HR manager or an office manager. We work alongside them, adding expertise on complex cases, employment law and policies, and extra capacity during busy periods.
Do you work on site or remotely?
Both. Support can be on site or remote, whichever suits the work and your business.
Do you only work with businesses in Surrey?
No. We are based in Guildford, Surrey, and work with businesses across London, the South East and beyond.
What happens if my HR consultant is away?
Another consultant from the team covers, so you are never left without support.
Can I get free HR advice first?
Yes, if you are new to Bespoke HR. UK employers who have not worked with us before can book a free 30-minute call with one of our HR consultants, with no obligation. It is not available to existing clients. Book free HR advice.
Need HR support for your business?
If you would like practical advice on employee relations, employment law or HR processes, Bespoke HR can provide flexible HR support for SMEs, tailored to your organisation.