Human resource services are sometimes viewed as a luxury by small, owner-managed businesses. That is, until an employee issue explodes, and suddenly you are facing expensive, time-consuming, and potentially reputation-destroying Tribunal proceedings. GAP HR was founded to prevent situations like these from happening by providing ongoing, commercially focused HR advice at highly competitive rates.
Call us now on 01491 598 600 or Click Here to Make An Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
Why Small Businesses Outsource Their Human Resource Services
Most owner-managed businesses reach a tipping point, where dealing with staff takes more time and energy than operational matters. You may not need a full-time HR manager, but you do need advice and support from someone who knows UK employment law and has experience in handling employee issues properly.
Some typical pressure points for small, owner-managed businesses include the following:
- Getting to a point where you need to hire your first employees and require contracts, handbooks, and basic policies to ensure that your relationship with them runs smoothly and is legally compliant.
- Facing persistent sickness absence, poor performance, or conduct issues.
- Handling flexible working requests, maternity or paternity leave, and employee holidays.
- Keeping on top of the constant changes in employment law and the growing number of demands placed on employers, whatever their size.
Worrying about getting something wrong and ending up at an employment Tribunal can be a constant companion to a small business owner. Outsourced human resource services give you access to experienced specialists who can manage your employee relations on your behalf, and are ready to step in when things go wrong, without the cost and commitment of an in-house hire.
Who GAP HR Works With
At GAP HR, we have deliberately built up a niche in supporting small, owner-managed businesses. Many of our clients operate in sectors such as leisure and hospitality, where shift patterns and seasonal work add extra layers of complexity.
The GAP HR Approach
At GAP HR, we do things differently. We become an extension of our clients’ teams, offering no-nonsense guidance whenever they need it. Key features of our approach include the following:
- We are committed to keeping our clients Tribunal-free, taking a proactive approach to employee matters rather than simply addressing problems when they arise.
- Our advice is pragmatic and commercially sensible. We understand that our clients are not interested in the legal principles, but in how they translate into the everyday reality of running a small business.
- We give clear recommendations, not a long list of options, so you can take swift, decisive action. We do not ‘sit on the fence’; we tell you what you should do and why.
How We Work
At GAP HR, we have over 20 years of experience in supporting owner-managed businesses. Over that time, we have learnt that, for most clients, a monthly HR retainer is the simplest and most cost-effective way of getting ongoing human resource services. For a set monthly fee, you get the reassurance that a trusted HR partner is only a phone call or email away.
When it comes to outsourced human resource services, there is no ‘one size fits all’. Different businesses have different needs, based on factors such as their size and sector. That is why we offer a range of different packages tailored to different businesses’ requirements.
As a general rule, a typical GAP HE retainer will cover the following services:
- Specialist HR advice on tap. Our retainers give you access to fast, practical guidance on everyday staffing questions, from holiday calculations to handling lateness or grievances.
- Contracts and handbooks. As part of our service, we will review, draft, or update your employment contracts, handbooks, and core policies, to ensure that they are fair, lawful, and reflect how your business actually operates.
- Updates. We provide regular updates on any developments in employment law and HR practice that may affect your business, so you do not inadvertently fall foul of new rules.
- Support with processes. Our HR specialists will prepare legally compliant step by step processes for you to use when issues such as disciplinaries, redundancies, or performance management arise.
Because our relationships with our clients are ongoing, we get to know their businesses, and can nip potential problems in the bud before they escalate.
Ad-Hoc Human Resource Services
In addition to a monthly retainer, we offer guidance and support on one-off issues. This is a pay-as-you-go service, and we will provide a quote for the work before we start.
Ad-hoc human resource services are ideal for those uncommon situations small businesses sometimes face, such as the following:
- Restructures, TUPE transfers, or redundancies, where the stakes are high and the rules complex.
- An overhaul of their existing practices and processes, for example, because they are outdated and do not reflect the business’s current reality.
- Dealing with problem employees, for example, those with competency or conduct issues.
If you are an owner-managed business looking to get on top of your employment law obligations and free up your time to focus on growth, partnering with GAP HR is an ideal solution.
Call us now on 01491 598 600 or Click Here to Make An Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
