Lucy Cotterell – HR Consultant Mogers Drewett
If you’re a business owner or work in a small/medium-sized enterprise (SME) you’ll be aware of the many challenges presented when managing people. Balancing the needs of a growing business with limited resources can be a daunting task. This is where outsourcing HR support to a professional consultancy can prove to be a game-changer, without breaking the bank. In this article, we will explore the numerous advantages of outsourcing HR support, with a focus on the key areas of expertise they provide.
Recruitment:
One critical aspect of HR is growing your workforce efficiently and effectively. Professional consultancies can offer support from strategic workforce planning advice to job design and advertising guidance. They can create accurate job descriptions and person specifications that meet the needs of the business and even provide templates for shortlisting candidates and creating interview records to assist in the recruitment process. Additionally, they can help with psychometric testing, drafting offer letters, and the development of tailored induction programs, ensuring that you not only attract but also retain the right talent for your business.
Training and Development:
Once onboard, keeping your workforce well-trained and motivated is vital for business success. Consultancies offer employment law training, line management training, individual coaching, and mental health first aid training. These services not only enhance the skills and confidence of your employees and managers but also create a positive work environment that fosters growth and well-being.
Legal, Dispute and Grievance Management:
Navigating the complex world of employee relations requires a deep understanding of employment laws and best practices. Consultancies can assist in drafting employment contracts and policies tailored to your business needs. They can also conduct workplace investigations, attend disciplinary and grievance meetings, guide you through redundancy procedures, and provide support in capability/performance management processes. Such expertise helps in mitigating risks and ensuring fair and compliant HR practices and can be enhanced by the availability of experienced employment lawyers.
Reward and Recognition:
Effective compensation and benefits strategies are crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. A qualified consultant can help develop bonus and pay-related policies, draft wellness strategies, conduct benefits and pension audits, and perform salary benchmarking. They can also assist with reporting requirements, such as Gender Pay Gap reporting, ensuring that your business remains competitive and compliant.
Case Study:
Fully Outsourced HR Support to a company of approximately 100 employees. We fully integrated ourselves into the organisation, using the company’s technology and systems. Part of the service includes weekly interactions thereby enabling full accessibility for managers and employees. The service is further supported by the availability of an experienced employment lawyer, on hand to deal with general or specific enquiries swiftly and confidently.
Supporting Existing HR Teams:
Many SMEs already have HR teams in place but may need additional expertise for specific projects or challenges from time to time. Consultancies can provide consistent support to these teams, helping with projects, workplace investigations, employee relations advice, employment law updates, and HR process training. This collaborative approach not only gives an extra helping hand when needed but also enhances the capabilities of existing HR teams.
In our experience, we can see how business owners are able to play to their entrepreneurial and operational strengths by outsourcing HR support to a professional consultancy. Being concerned about the myriad of compliance and regulatory requirements associated with employing staff can be debilitating for a business. By taking a strategic move to source external support it allows the company to immediately tap into a wealth of expertise and experience, often at a lower cost and risk to the alternative options. This can provide a great relief for the management team, ensuring that HR functions are efficient, compliant, and aligned with the business’s growth objectives.
Whether you’re looking to fully outsource HR, support your existing HR team, or invest in training and development, a consultancy can be the key to unlocking the full potential of your workforce and achieving sustained success in today’s highly competitive environment.
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