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Spring has sprung As the days begin to stretch a little longer and the first signs of spring start to appear, March often brings a natural sense of renewal. It’s a time when many businesses begin to look ahead with fresh perspective. Reviewing what’s working well, identifying where things could run more smoothly, and thinking about how to support their teams for the months ahead. Just as spring encourages growth in the natural world, it can also be a great moment to nurture

If you are trying to grow but recruitment feels expensive, slow or frustrating, an apprentice can be one of the safest ways to build capacity in your business.   Here is where apprenticeships genuinely help:   1️⃣ You want to grow but cannot justify another full salary   Apprentices join at a lower cost and funding support is often available, which makes expansion feel far less risky.   2️⃣ You are struggling to find people with the right skills   The talent you want is not a

Your questions answered When's the right time to suspend an employee? In our latest guide, we tell you everything you need to know about suspensions and how to safely suspend an employee to protect your business. Read it here 👇

When things get tricky: suspension, absence, and the people issues you can’t ignore Good HR is not about having all the answers. It’s about taking the next right step. Running a business means making people decisions that are not always straightforward. When something goes wrong at work, it can be tempting to act quickly just to regain control. But the best outcomes usually come from a steadier approach, one that is fair, consistent, and properly thought through. This month w

Many of us are feeling the squeeze right now and it's no surprise that more people are bringing money worries to work with them.    Research shows that one in five younger workers say that financial stress affects their performance. But it’s not just younger employees feeling the pressure.   As an employer, you’re probably feeling it too.   So how can you help your team without stretching the budget even further?

Employee contracts aren’t something most business owners think about until there’s a problem.   But outdated contracts can cause real headaches when things go wrong.   Maybe a role has changed over time, a clause no longer fits how the business operates or the law has moved on. When contracts fall behind, it leaves everyone uncertain about what applies and what doesn’t.

We had a case recently where a client was concerned that their employee had gone AWOL. Despite multiple attempts to contact the employee, they didn't hear back and were getting worried. Here's what we told them to do...

When someone leaves your business, it is easy to think the risk ends there. But if their exit is not handled properly, you could still face a claim after they have gone.   Former employees can take legal action for unfair dismissal, breach of contract or even discrimination if they believe they were treated unfairly during or after their exit.   A case in 2024 showed just how costly that can be.   The Leeds United case   In 2024, former technical director, Nigel Gibbs, won ov

When something serious happens at work, it can be hard to know what to do next.   You want to protect your team and your business, but you also want to be fair.   Suspending someone might feel like the simplest option, but it should only be used when there’s no other way to keep things safe and impartial.   Think about alternatives first   Before jumping to suspension, look for practical ways to keep things running:   Could they work different hours or in another area? Could

Here's your employment law and HR checklist for 2026 👇 There's a lot happening in the world of employment law and HR this year which is why we've created our 2026 HR checklist to give you some guidance on what you'll need to focus on.

Most managers get promoted because they're good at their job, not because they've been trained to lead. That's rarely a problem at first. But as teams grow, the cracks can begin to show. Great managers can be built. With the right training, they can lead confidently, support their teams effectively and save you time and stress in the process. In this article we explore the five types of training that make the biggest difference when it comes to building leaders

January always brings a sense of reset. Once the holiday dust settles, many business owners look at their team, their processes and their plans for the year ahead and think, “Right, where do I start?” And it’s a fair question.  2026 is shaping up to be a busy year in HR. Legal changes are moving slowly through Parliament, expectations around wellbeing and flexibility continue to shift, and a lot of people are taking time to reflect on what they want next from their work

When an important or 'critical' employee leaves your business, the impact is immediate... 1: Knowledge and experience walks out of the door 2: It's incredibly expensive to replace and train up an important employee 3: Your business slows down  That's why succession planning is really important. Even for businesses with up to 10 employees. "Succession planning" simply means knowing who could take over key roles and getting them ready before you need them.

What do you do when a client makes a complaint about one of your team members?   It can be tricky to find the balance.   Get it right and you'll maintain the client relationship whilst treating your employee fairly.   But, get it wrong, and you could risk losing the client and damaging team morale. This blog sets out a step by step approach to handle the complaint.

Political and social issues are everywhere right now. You can't escape them in the news, on social media or in daily conversation.   Whatever your own views, political and social debates are causing real problems in workplaces everywhere.   The challenge is managing this without becoming the thought police. You need to maintain a respectful, productive workplace while letting people be themselves. It's about how views are expressed, not controlling what people think.

An employee approaches you with serious concerns about wrongdoing in your business. They're worried about speaking up but feel they have to. Whistleblowing isn't just any workplace complaint. It's specifically about issues in the public interest that fall into six protected categories: Criminal offences Failure to comply with legal obligations Miscarriage of justice Danger to health and safety Damage to the environment Deliberate concealment of any of these

If you only deal with people issues when they become problems, you're not alone. That's reactive HR, waiting until something goes wrong. Your week gets disrupted by things that could have been avoided. On the other hand, proactive HR means having basic systems ready before you need them. It's the difference between constantly managing problems and preventing most of them from happening. When these systems work, you get your time back and you can focus on growing the busine

2026 is weeks away. The changes coming to your workplace can either slow you down or give you an edge.   Here we set out what's actually shifting in the world of HR and whether you need to do anything about it.

Probation isn't a legal requirement. It's a contractual trial period where you can use shorter notice periods (typically one week instead of a month) and may withhold contractual benefits, like private healthcare, depending on your contract terms.   Your new employee still has statutory rights from day one: minimum wage, holiday pay and protection from discrimination. These apply regardless of probation.

As 2025 comes to a close, many small business owners are taking stock of the year and thinking about what needs attention before stepping into 2026. December can highlight gaps you do not always see during the busier months. Key people take time off, long-standing issues surface and festive pressures make everyday challenges feel heavier. This month’s newsletter focuses on the real people matters you are dealing with right now.