As rising costs and wage growth squeeze margins, UK SMEs are turning to lean HR operations, automating admin-heavy processes to free up managers, boost employee satisfaction, and scale sustainably without the burnout

The changes to statutory sick pay introduced earlier this year are still catching employers out. Dr Evelyn Oginni of the University of Salford on what businesses need to know now

More SME owners are reassessing retirement planning as SIPPs offer greater flexibility, investment control and pension consolidation opportunities

New government apprenticeship incentives could shift the economics of hiring young people for small businesses, for the first time in years

Understand the role of a fractional CFO and ensure you hire the right financial support for your business needs

Small businesses across the country are seeing the value of investing in young people. But turning that intention into successful hiring is not always straightforward

Flexible working is no longer a temporary adjustment from the pandemic; it has become a defining feature of the modern labour market

For many SMEs, hiring doesn’t just feel difficult, it feels risky. Every hire carries more weight when teams are small, budgets are tight, and there’s less room for error

Smaller businesses can be powerhouses of job creation – but not in this climate

Rising emissions standards, tighter licensing rules and changing passenger expectations are pushing operators to reconsider when and what vehicles they buy

Just over a year ago, my co-founder, Kate Hartley, and I brought in Sally Henderson to help us discover the motivational map of the Polpeo team

With 25 years’ experience helping businesses and recruitment consultancies of all sizes find quality people, we’ve collected insights and top tips on what the smartest employers do