The HR Starter Pack Every UK Small Business Needs

You did not start your business to become an HR expert. You started it to build something, support your customers and make the business work. But once you employ people, HR quietly becomes part of your role whether you planned for it or not. 

For most small businesses, HR only starts to feel important when something feels uncomfortable. A hiring decision takes longer than expected, sickness absence becomes a pattern, or someone asks a question you are not confident answering. 

Risk often creeps in when, as a business owner, you are doing your best to make sensible decisions without a clear framework to guide you. 

This is why an HR starter pack is not a luxury. It is the foundation every UK small business needs once they employ people, whether that is their first hire or a small growing team. 

The everyday moments that trigger HR responsibility 

HR does not arrive with a crisis. It shows up in everyday situations that feel practical rather than formal. 

Recruiting your first employee and wondering if your job advert is saying the right thing. Deciding what information you should collect from candidates and how long you are allowed to keep it. Managing sickness absence when someone is off repeatedly and you are unsure what conversations are reasonable. Responding to flexible working requests or trying to handle performance without damaging trust. 

These are normal moments in small businesses. The problem is that without clear foundations, each decision feels heavier and more risky than it needs to be. 

Why Google, old templates and well-meant advice often increase risk 

When an HR question comes up, most small business owners do the same thing. They search online, reuse a document from years ago, or follow advice from someone who has “been there before”. 

The issue is not effort, it is accuracy and consistency. Online templates are often generic, outdated or written for much larger organisations. Advice from friends is based on what worked in their context, not what is legally or practically right in yours. 

This often leads to inconsistent decisions, missing steps and a false sense of security. What feels like being proactive can quietly increase risk. 

What an HR starter pack is really for 

A proper HR starter pack is not about giving you everything. It is about giving you the right starting point. 

Our Free Starter Plan is designed to help very small UK businesses get started safely, without pretending that templates alone remove risk or replace judgement. 

It gives you clarity on what good practice looks like, confidence to approach people situations calmly and structure so you are not guessing every time something new arises. 

What is included in the Free HR Starter Plan 

The Starter Plan brings together foundational content across recruitment, compliance, onboarding, law and process. 

On the recruitment side, it helps you recruit your first non-management employee with confidence. You get practical checklists, guidance on writing job descriptions and job adverts, interview and selection guidelines, simple interview invitation and rejection letters, GDPR consent wording and an Equal Opportunities statement. Interview questions and scoring tools are deliberately kept light, so you understand what to think about without being encouraged to run complex or high-risk processes. 

From a compliance perspective, the Starter Plan helps you put sensible foundations in place. You get access to core policies such as disciplinary and grievance procedures, equal opportunities and basic health and safety policies. These provide structure and consistency, while being clearly framed as a starting point, not a substitute for advice or judgement in sensitive situations. 

Onboarding content focuses on preparation and awareness rather than performance management. You are supported with guidance, checklists and forms to help new starters feel welcomed and informed, alongside clear signposting that onboarding is not the same as managing performance or probation. 

The law and process sections help you understand what the law expects at a high level and how HR processes generally work, without pulling you into calculations, legal interpretation or “what to do if” scenarios that require professional support. 

You are not behind, you just need the right foundations 

If you are employing people without feeling fully confident in HR, you are not failing. You are doing what most small business owners do, focusing on the business and learning people management as you go. 

Most HR problems do not come from bad intent. They come from uncertainty, inconsistent decisions and not knowing where the safe lines are. 

An HR starter pack gives you those lines. 

Start with confidence, without pressure 

Our Free Starter Plan is available forever and gives you access to essential HR foundations, written in plain English and designed specifically for UK small businesses. 

It helps you get started safely, understand where risk sits and build confidence before issues escalate, without forcing you into complexity or commitment. 

Register now and explore the resources available to support you.