Employ and manage staff
Tourism thrives on customer service, so hiring staff members who fit with your style of business is vital.
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Whether you are considering taking on a part-time employee for the first time or expanding an existing team, good recruitment and employee management is crucial to the growth of your business.
Top Resources
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Know your legal obligations
Find out about employment law, including working hours and employing staff under the age of 18.
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Finding and employing staff – step by step
Learn what you need to do when you hire someone, including help with DBS checks and contracts.
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Help with employment related taxes
Get free help and support from HMRC about what you need to know when you’re employing staff, including expenses, benefits and payroll.
Hiring staff
Workplace pensions, health & safety obligations, managing salaries and tax. There’s a lot to consider when taking on new employees - but it can be easier than you think.
If you’re hiring somebody for the first time, why not consider an apprenticeship or a college placement? Step-by-step guidance is available to help, no matter which option you choose.
Finding and employing staff – step by step
Learn what you need to do when you hire someone, including help with DBS checks and contracts.
Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters
Recruitment advice from Jobcentre Plus, including help setting work trails and employing disabled people.
Advice from the British Business Bank
Practical tips and guidance on hiring staff and managing employees from the British Business Bank.
Employing prisoners and ex-offenders
Government guidance on employing prisoners and ex-offenders, including case studies and tips to get started.
Guidance for charities from NCVO
Practical support on managing volunteers, from insurance to training.
Employing under 18s
The legalities around employing staff under the age of 18.
Hiring your first employee
An overview from Starling Bank on the process of hiring your first employee, from job description to payroll.
How to hire seasonal staff
Guidance from FSB on hiring temporary employees, from fixed term contracts to notice periods.
Hiring and supporting refugees
Guidance from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for hotels looking to support refugees and displaced people, including through employment.
Hiring staff from overseas
Thinking of hiring from the EU?
You now need to register as a licensed sponsor to hire eligible people from outside the UK.
Employing EU citizens in the UK
Information for employers on employing EU citizens, covering: right to work checks, the EU Settlement Scheme and the new immigration system.
Get visas for your overseas staff
Find out how to employ staff from overseas, both within and outside the EU, with this toolkit from London & Partners.
VisitBritain/Mallory Court
An introduction to the UK’s points-based immigration system
Introductory guidance for employers on how the UK’s points-based immigration system works and the steps you need to take.
Recruitment support schemes
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds.
Springboard to 2022
Springboard help employers provide placements for young people and access available funding.
Sector-based work academy programme (SWAP)
Sector-based work academies help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a different area of work.
Employing disabled people
Become a disability confident employer
Increase your understanding of disability and learn how to recruit and support disabled people and those with long term health conditions in work.
Inclusive recruitment support
Guidance, case studies and information about how employers can attract, recruit and retain people from a variety of backgrounds.
Business Disability Forum
Members have access to advice and guidance to help support your disabled staff and customers.
Advertise your vacancies
Advertise a job
Advertise and manage your vacancies on the Government’s ‘Find a job’ service.
Careerscope jobs portal
List your current vacancies for free on Springboard's Careerscope jobs portal.
Only a pavement away
A free job advertising platform that helps hospitality businesses employ the homeless, veterans and ex-offenders.
Know your legal obligations
Our Pink Book of Legislation can help you ensure your accommodation business is compliant.
Managing your employees
There are steps you can take to reduce issues in the workplace, such as ensuring your payroll is set up correctly from the start or doing a free training course on resolving conflict. Having set policies on flexible working or reward schemes can also benefit both your business and staff.
Help with employment related taxes
Get free help and support from HMRC about what you need to know when you’re employing staff, including expenses, benefits and payroll.
Supporting your employees from the EU
Get tools and information to support EU citizens and their families on the EU Settlement Scheme with this Government toolkit.
Guidance on fair tipping policies
UK Hospitality's 'Tips and Troncs Code of Practice' is a good starting point when developing your tipping policy.
Become a Living Wage employer
The Living Wage Foundation accredits businesses who pay direct employees the ‘real Living Wage’.
Latest employment updates from HMRC
View and sign up to HMRC's employer bulletins to keep up to date with the latest payroll requirements.
Become an age-friendly employer
Guidance from the Centre for Ageing Better on creating age-friendly workplaces.
Preventing sexual harassment
A checklist and action plan from UKHospitality to help you prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
Guidance on single sex spaces
Guidance from the EHRC on how the Equality Act 2010 relates to single sex spaces, including separate or single-sex toilets.
Stop child exploitation
Learn how to spot the signs of child exploitation with free resources specific to tourism businesses.
Managing sickness absence
Guidance from ACAS on managing sickness absence, creating a return to work plan and supporting staff through the process.
Stress and mental health at work
An HSE toolkit for employers on protecting workers from stress and supporting good mental health in the workplace.
Workplace wellbeing
FSB’s wellbeing Hub has resources to help you look after the mental health and wellbeing of you and your team.
Apprenticeships
An apprentice is an employee aged 16 or over who spends 20% of their time in formal training for a work-based qualification. Taking advantage of the apprenticeship scheme can reduce your staff turnover, cut recruitment costs and increase employee satisfaction.
If you’re a small or medium-sized business (SME), you can access Government funding to pay the majority - or all - of the training costs.
- If you have under 50 employees, the Government will pay 100% of training costs if your apprentice is aged 16 to 18
- If you have over 50 employees, you pay 10% towards the training costs and the Government pays the rest, up to the funding band maximum
Extra funding and support may also be available depending on your apprentice’s circumstances.
Find and hire an apprentice – key facts
Learn what you need to do to find and hire an apprentice, including how to find a training provider and financial support available.
Small business apprenticeships toolkit
Get more detail on the funding available to SMEs that take on an apprentice.
Hire an apprentice and grow your business
Find out how taking on an apprentice could help you deal with skills gaps in your workforce.
Umbrella training
A nationwide training and apprenticeship provider working with the hospitality and corporate sectors.
Find Local Support
Your local Destination Organisation or LEP Growth Hub may be able to help you take on staff.
