Employing people: a small business guide
Everything you need to know about taking on staff — in plain English.
Most people don't go into business to get tangled up in HR. You started yours because you're good at what you do. But as things grow, the day comes when you can't do it all on your own — and suddenly you're facing contracts, payroll, pensions and a stack of rules nobody warned you about.
This free guide walks you through the whole journey of employing someone, from your very first hire right through to someone moving on. Each part is a practical, plain-English read, and you can start at the beginning or jump to the bit you need. It's written for small businesses across the North East and beyond, and it's kept up to date as the law changes.
Here's what's covered:
Part 1 — Employing your first employee: the overview
What it really means to employ someone, what a hire actually costs, the legal basics that have to be in place from day one, and a checklist to work through before anyone starts.
Part 2 — Recruitment: finding the right person
How to write the role, advertise it, shortlist fairly and interview well — and how to stay on the right side of discrimination law while you do it.
Part 3 — The offer and getting set up
Making the offer, the written contract, right to work checks, registering for PAYE, workplace pensions and employer's liability insurance — the practical setup that turns a "yes" into a properly employed member of staff.
Part 4 — Induction: a good first few weeks
How to welcome someone properly, set expectations, use a probation period well and help a new starter settle in and get productive.
Part 5 — Performance management
Appraisals, giving feedback, developing your people and handling underperformance fairly and confidently.
Part 6 — Grievance and discipline
What to do when things go wrong — following a fair procedure, keeping proper records and staying on the right side of the Acas Code.
Part 7 — When someone leaves
Resignations, dismissals, redundancy and references — how to handle every kind of exit properly and protect your business.
Here to help, whenever you need it
That's the whole journey of employing someone, from first hire to final goodbye. There's a fair bit to it — but taken a step at a time, none of it is beyond you.
At HiThrive, we're business consultants first and foremost — we help owners build better, more resilient businesses. That includes making sense of what employing people involves, thinking it through for your particular situation, and pointing you towards specialist HR or legal advice when that's what's needed. And if you'd like the payroll and bookkeeping that come with taking on staff taken off your hands, we can help there too.
If you'd like a sounding board as you take someone on, we'd love to help. Get in touch and let's talk it through.