Employ and manage staff

Hiring staff

Workplace pensions, health and safety obligations, managing salaries and tax and more – there is a lot to consider. We’ve compiled some useful guides to help you.

Get ready to hire new staff
Learn about PAYE, pension schemes, accessibility and insurance, with this easy-to-follow government guide.
Finding and employing staff
Find help with DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks and contracts, with this government guide.
Hiring your first employee
Get a guide to an overview from Starling Bank on hiring your first employee: from job descriptions to payroll.
Hiring temporary and seasonal staff
Guidance from the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB) on hiring temporary employees.
Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters
Learn about recruitment services from Jobcentre Plus, including help setting work trials and employing disabled people.
Employing under-18s
Learn about the legalities around employing staff under the age of 18.
From the Pink Book
Employing prisoners and ex-offenders
Read government guidance on employing prisoners and ex-offenders, including case studies and tips to get started.
Guidance for charities using volunteers
Get practical support on managing volunteers, from insurance to training from The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Hiring and supporting refugees
Advice from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for the hospitality industry looking to provide employment to refugees and displaced people.

Hiring staff from overseas

Search through our guides on how to hire people from outside the UK, what licences you will need, visas and more.

Hiring from the EU and overseas
Learn about the Government’s requirements for hiring someone from outside the UK and registering as a licensed sponsor.
Employing EU citizens in the UK
Get information on employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, including right to work checks.
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, London’s business growth and destination agency.
An introduction to the UK’s points-based immigration system
Understand how the UK’s points-based immigration system works and the steps you need to take as an employer.

Recruitment support schemes

Find out about attracting new talent through placement schemes and work academy programmes.

Become a Springboard business partner
Attract new talent with Springboard schemes, which help employers provide placements for young people and access available funding.
Sector-based work academy programme (SWAP)
Find out how SWAP can help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a new area of work.

Employing disabled people

Broaden your understanding of disability and learn how to support a more inclusive workplace.

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
Access guidance, case studies and information about how employers can attract, recruit and retain people from a variety of backgrounds.
Business Disability Forum
Become a Business Disability Forum member and access advice and guidance on supporting disabled staff and customers.
GAIN
The Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity champions neurodiversity and seeks to positively impact lives and improve workplaces.
Support with employee health and disability
A new UK Government online service providing advice and guidance to employers on health and disability in the workplace.

Advertise your vacancies

Useful guides on advertising, managing and listing vacancies.

Advertise on Find 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
Connect with charities working with the homeless, prison leavers and veterans and posts vacancies on its jobs’ board.

Managing your employees

Ensure your payroll is set up correctly, find a free training course on resolving conflict or discover more about how flexible working or reward schemes can benefit both your business and your staff, and much more.

Online training on employment issues
Complete a series of online training modules from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)to improve your approach to employment-related issues.
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.
Managing sickness absence
Read the guidance from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on managing sickness absence, creating a return-to-work plan and supporting staff through the process.
Guidance on fair tipping policies
Read the UK Hospitality (UKH)’s guidance on developing your tipping policy.
Become a Living Wage employer
Get accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, by paying employees the real Living Wage.
Latest employment updates from HMRC
Sign up to HMRC’s employer bulletins to keep up to date with the latest payroll requirements.
Become an age-friendly employer
Read guidance from the Centre for Ageing Better on creating age-friendly workplaces.
Guidance on single sex spaces
Be across guidance around single sex spaces, including separate or single-sex toilets, from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Stop child exploitation
Learn to recognise the signs of child exploitation and how to report suspected abuse with resources from The Children’s Society. You can also attend their #LookCloser learning (PDF, 284.8 KB) sessions.

Supporting your employees

Supporting your employees from the EU
Get information from the Government to support EU citizens and their families on the EU Settlement Scheme.
Risk assessments of work-related stress
Working Minds learning module from The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) helps employers get to grips with risk assessment of work-related stress.
Mental Health At Work
Find a variety of resources and toolkits, including ones aimed specifically at small businesses, about mental health in the workplace from Mind.
Managing stress and mental health at work
Learn how to support good mental health in the workplace with this Health and Safety Executive (HSE) toolkit.
The Burnt Chef Project
The Burnt Chef Project provides a range of support to those working in hospitality experiencing mental health issues, including e-learning and a free 24/7 support service.

Know your legal obligations

Ensure your business is compliant with our Pink Book of Legislation.

Pink Book of Legislation

Make sure your accommodation or attraction is compliant with regulations, with our Pink Book. Find out about employment law, including working hours and employing staff under the age of 18.

Read the Pink Book

Make sure your accommodation or attraction is compliant with regulations, with our Pink Book. Find out about employment law, including working hours and employing staff under the age of 18.

Apprenticeships

Taking on an apprentice can reduce your staff turnover, cut recruitment costs and increase employee satisfaction. Discover more about accessing funding and find support.

Find and hire an apprentice
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
Read this guide from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships (APPG) on funding available to SMEs who take on an apprentice.
Train an apprentice with Umbrella Training
Learn about the nationwide training and apprenticeship provider, Umbrella Training, who work with the hospitality and corporate sectors.

Find local support

Your Local Visitor Economy Partnership, Destination Management Organisation or Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub may be able to help you take on staff.