FAQ
What areas of the country do you cover?
We are physically based in the South West but have clients across the UK.
How long have you been going?
We are happy to say (as of 2024) we're now in our 14th year.
Are you on call outside normal office hours?
Yes we can be, we have many clients who operate outside office hours, for example in the Hospitality sector.
Do I have to sign up to a monthly or annual contract?
No, the good news is our services are available on a purely ad hoc basis, you only pay us when you use us. We find our clients prefer it this way. It's a bit like having an insurance policy but only paying the premium when you claim.
Do you provide documents such as Employment Contracts, Company Policies and Staff Handbooks?
Yes, we do. We can supply or draft the full range of documents, letters, handbooks and policies to suit your needs and in your own 'house' style.
Can you visit us at our premises?
Yes, Duncan spends a lot of time at client's premises and many clients come to view him as part of the team. Like a virtual member of the board.
A member of staff has just told us she is pregnant, can you help?
Yes, we can. Advice like this is part and parcel of what we do.
How do I know I'll be dealing with someone who I can trust is knowledgeable?
Easy, you'll deal with Duncan personally and there isn't much he hasn't seen in HR. Read some client testimonials here.
I'm starting a new business, can you help me start from scratch?
Yes, we have helped many start-ups with their first employees.
Can you assist us with Recruitment?
Yes, we can. We can help you write attractive job adverts, advise on the best ways to advertise, and also help you avoid highly priced ads that may not work. We can also help you to deal with Agencies.
I'm snowed under, my staff don't have employment contracts, I know they should, things are getting out of hand - Help!
It's OK, you're not alone. But let's meet up and act sooner rather than later. Our service is confidential and it won't be anything we haven't seen before.
Can you handle a disciplinary matter for us?
Yes, we can guide you every step of the way.
Our HR person is on holiday / sickness / maternity leave, can you help advise us in their absence?
Yes, no problem.
We've been quoted what seems like a very reasonable monthly fee from one of your competitors, so why should we use you?
Well firstly we don't charge monthly fees so using us will be cheaper in the long run. Secondly, does their service include being on-call outside office hours? Will they create bespoke documents in your 'house' style? Will they drop everything and come and see you on site, and is that included in their monthly fee? (Clue; it's doubtful). Read more here.
I've got the Contracts and Staff Handbook from my old company knocking around in the boot of my car, they're a bit dated now, but surely I can just adapt those, can't I?
I wouldn't. Apart from these documents being copyright and the property of your old employer, you have no way of knowing whether they are fit for your purposes or are legally compliant. Employment laws often change annually and also from court case decisions.
We've lost count of the number of times people who run smaller businesses have tied themselves in knots and wasted a lot of time trying to adapt documents this way.
So what's this going to cost me?
Well you already know that we don't charge you every month for doing no work (like some HR firms do), so we charge a competitive and transparent segmented hourly rate which is explained in our Terms of Business, which we will send you. In our opinion we'll come in cheaper in the long run and also give you a much better service.
Can we trial your services?
Yes, the good news is that because you're not committing to a contract, if you don't like what we do, simply stop using us. Nobody has so far, but there is always a first time!
We are physically based in the South West but have clients across the UK.
How long have you been going?
We are happy to say (as of 2024) we're now in our 14th year.
Are you on call outside normal office hours?
Yes we can be, we have many clients who operate outside office hours, for example in the Hospitality sector.
Do I have to sign up to a monthly or annual contract?
No, the good news is our services are available on a purely ad hoc basis, you only pay us when you use us. We find our clients prefer it this way. It's a bit like having an insurance policy but only paying the premium when you claim.
Do you provide documents such as Employment Contracts, Company Policies and Staff Handbooks?
Yes, we do. We can supply or draft the full range of documents, letters, handbooks and policies to suit your needs and in your own 'house' style.
Can you visit us at our premises?
Yes, Duncan spends a lot of time at client's premises and many clients come to view him as part of the team. Like a virtual member of the board.
A member of staff has just told us she is pregnant, can you help?
Yes, we can. Advice like this is part and parcel of what we do.
How do I know I'll be dealing with someone who I can trust is knowledgeable?
Easy, you'll deal with Duncan personally and there isn't much he hasn't seen in HR. Read some client testimonials here.
I'm starting a new business, can you help me start from scratch?
Yes, we have helped many start-ups with their first employees.
Can you assist us with Recruitment?
Yes, we can. We can help you write attractive job adverts, advise on the best ways to advertise, and also help you avoid highly priced ads that may not work. We can also help you to deal with Agencies.
I'm snowed under, my staff don't have employment contracts, I know they should, things are getting out of hand - Help!
It's OK, you're not alone. But let's meet up and act sooner rather than later. Our service is confidential and it won't be anything we haven't seen before.
Can you handle a disciplinary matter for us?
Yes, we can guide you every step of the way.
Our HR person is on holiday / sickness / maternity leave, can you help advise us in their absence?
Yes, no problem.
We've been quoted what seems like a very reasonable monthly fee from one of your competitors, so why should we use you?
Well firstly we don't charge monthly fees so using us will be cheaper in the long run. Secondly, does their service include being on-call outside office hours? Will they create bespoke documents in your 'house' style? Will they drop everything and come and see you on site, and is that included in their monthly fee? (Clue; it's doubtful). Read more here.
I've got the Contracts and Staff Handbook from my old company knocking around in the boot of my car, they're a bit dated now, but surely I can just adapt those, can't I?
I wouldn't. Apart from these documents being copyright and the property of your old employer, you have no way of knowing whether they are fit for your purposes or are legally compliant. Employment laws often change annually and also from court case decisions.
We've lost count of the number of times people who run smaller businesses have tied themselves in knots and wasted a lot of time trying to adapt documents this way.
So what's this going to cost me?
Well you already know that we don't charge you every month for doing no work (like some HR firms do), so we charge a competitive and transparent segmented hourly rate which is explained in our Terms of Business, which we will send you. In our opinion we'll come in cheaper in the long run and also give you a much better service.
Can we trial your services?
Yes, the good news is that because you're not committing to a contract, if you don't like what we do, simply stop using us. Nobody has so far, but there is always a first time!