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How to make your first hire

Look for the signs that your business needs more people, understand the different ways you can add resource to your business, explore your options if you decide to employ someone and find out about government support to help you find the right person.

Check if your business is ready to take on more people

Learn to recognise the signs that your business is ready to bring people on and understand the costs of employment beyond a person's salary.

Deciding if you're ready to hire

As your business grows, you may need extra help. Learn how to spot the signs that you are ready to hire, identify the tasks that you need help with and explore alternatives to taking on an employee.

Understanding the costs of employment

In addition to paying a person their salary, you must pay National Insurance and pension contributions and cover the costs of leave, insurance, equipment and training. This can add another 10-30% to the total cost of employment. Find out what help is available.

Explore your options

Adding people to your business does not always mean hiring a permanent employee. You can hire on a different arrangement or explore flexible ways to add capacity to your business.

Getting flexible help in your business

Flexible help allows you to manage the business's workload without committing to ongoing employment costs.

Choosing the right employment arrangement

Once you have decided to employ someone, you need to decide the type of arrangement that suits your business. This decision influences your ongoing costs, your legal responsibilities and the availability of the people you hire.

Recruiting people for your business and setting up as an employer

Once you've decided to employ someone, explore government help to recruit someone and the legal steps you need to take to become an employer.

Recruiting people for your business

Recruiting as a small business does not have to be expensive. Figure out the best way to recruit for your business and explore advice and support services that can help you find the right person.

Setting up as an employer for the first time

To employ someone for the first time, you must follow certain steps, including registering as an employer, setting up payroll, organising a workplace pension, getting insurance and preparing an employment contract.

Backing you with recruitment support

Whether you have 1 vacancy or 100, our expert recruitment consultants are here to help you:

  • advertise your vacancies
  • sift applications and set up interviews
  • find the right people for your business
  • build your business's future workforce
Backing you with recruitment support

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