You started your business to do what you do best. Somewhere along the way, you became the person responsible for contracts, absence, employee problems and keeping up with employment law, too.
Perhaps HR now takes more of your time than it should. Perhaps you’re worried about getting something wrong. Or you know you need expert support, but employing an HR manager feels like a bigger step than your business needs.
That’s where Pure Human Resources can help.
Our outsourced HR support gives you practical, commercially focused advice and hands-on help, with a level of support that suits your organisation. We get to know your business so you can make informed decisions about your people.
Is It Time to Bring in HR Support?
You don’t need a large workforce; in fact you only need to employ one person to benefit from experienced HR advice. Outsourcing could be worth considering if:
- ✓ People issues regularly interrupt your working day.
- ✓ Your office manager or finance team handles HR alongside another job.
- ✓ Your business is growing and your existing processes are struggling to keep up.
- ✓ You’re unsure whether your contracts and policies are up to date.
- ✓ You want expert help with difficult decisions, without recruiting another permanent employee.
You can outsource selected tasks or a wider HR function. We’ll help you work out where support would make the biggest difference.
What an External HR Consultant Can Help With
From a question about an employee’s absence to a difficult conversation with a manager, our support is designed to help you take the next step with confidence.
Getting your HR foundations right
We can review, update or develop employment contracts, offer letters, employee handbooks and HR policies. Clear documentation helps your managers understand what to do and your employees know what to expect.
Managing everyday people issues
Get practical advice on absence, performance, probation, employee relations and workplace concerns. We will explain your options and help you put an appropriate process in place.
Handling difficult situations
When a disciplinary issue, grievance or investigation needs careful handling, we can support your managers and help with the relevant meetings, documentation and next steps. Support is also available for settlement agreements and tribunal preparation.
Supporting business change
Restructures, redundancies and TUPE can bring unfamiliar responsibilities. We help you plan the people side of change, manage the process and ensure you are legally compliant while keeping your commercial priorities in view. Without this support and professional advice in, what can be daunting situations, the consequences of non-compliance can be costly.
Planning ahead
HR can also help your business grow. We support employee engagement, retention, reward and people planning, helping you address recurring problems and build stronger management practices.
What Is Included in Your Support?
We agree the work and the level of support you need. Advice, document preparation, meetings and practical HR work use the time you purchase, unless covered by a separate quotation. A small monthly package provides a starting point for advice; it does not cover an unlimited outsourced HR function.
Retained clients also receive access to our document library and discounts on eligible training. Creating a new suite of HR documents can be quoted separately. Recruitment, HR software and additional training can be discussed alongside your HR support, with any separate costs made clear.
How Much Does Outsourced HR Cost?
The cost depends on how much support you need and how you choose to work with us. You can start with occasional advice or arrange regular support as your business requires it.
Pay As You Go HR
£150 + VAT per hour, charged in 15-minute intervals.
For occasional questions or help with a particular employee situation, with no long-term contractual commitment.
Retained HR Support
From £127.50 + VAT per month for one hour of support.
For regular access to an experienced consultant who gets to know your organisation. Choose the monthly hours that suit your needs.
| Monthly hours | Monthly cost excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | £127.50 |
| 3 hours | £382.50 |
| 5 hours | £637.50 |
| 10 hours | £1,275.00 |
Time is recorded in 15-minute intervals. Unused hours can roll over for up to six months; excess hours cost £150 + VAT per hour. Retained support has a minimum 12-month commitment, followed by a three-month notice period.
Support can be remote or on site. Mileage is chargeable, and travel time is charged for on-site meetings more than 10 miles away, in line with our terms of business.
One-off HR projects
For an investigation, restructure, documentation review or another defined piece of work, we’ll discuss the scope and provide a quotation.
Outsourced HR or an In-House Hire?
An in-house HR professional can be a valuable investment when you need substantial daily support. If you need a few hours of experienced help each month, outsourcing may be a more practical use of your budget.
For illustration, a hire on an assumed £40,000 annual salary would cost £3,333 a month in salary alone. Employer National Insurance, pension contributions, recruitment and other employment costs would be additional.
Five retained hours with Pure cost £637.50 + VAT a month, or £7,650 + VAT over a year. That buys five hours of support each month, rather than a full-time employee. The right comparison is the work you need covered and the expertise needed to do it.
| Consideration | An in-house hire | Outsourced HR |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Regular presence and substantial daily capacity. | A defined number of hours or agreed project scope. |
| Cost | Salary plus employment and recruitment costs. | Purchased hours, plus any agreed additional work. |
| Best fit | A sustained need for daily HR delivery. | Occasional or regular expertise below a full-time workload. |
You can also combine the two: keep administration inside your business and bring in senior HR expertise when you need it.
How the Handover Works
You don’t need to have everything perfectly organised before you speak to us. The first step is understanding what you have, what needs attention and who currently does what.
Get to know your business
We discuss your team, your priorities and any live employee issues. This helps identify urgent work and the support that will be most useful.
Review your existing HR provision
Our free two-hour HR audit reviews your offer letters, contracts, handbook, policies and procedures, giving you a clearer picture of your starting point.
Agree the responsibilities and transfer arrangements
Together, we agree the work Pure will handle, your internal contact, the hours or project scope and how you’ll access support. We also agree how relevant documents and information will be shared, and identify any live cases or deadlines requiring a handover.
Put the support into practice
We work through the agreed priorities with you. Where someone already looks after HR internally, we work alongside them so responsibilities are clear and existing knowledge is retained.
Why Business Owners Choose Pure
Experience that understands your business
Our HR team brings more than 75 years’ combined experience, with substantial industry experience before moving into consultancy. You’ll speak to people who understand the practical pressures of managing employees.
Advice you can act on
We take time to understand what you want to achieve. Then we explain the options, risks and practical steps, so you can make a decision that works for your business and your people.
Support built around a relationship
With retained support, your consultant gets to know your organisation and how you work. You have experienced help to turn to as situations develop, rather than having to work everything out yourself.
Based near Southampton, we support businesses across Hampshire, the South and South East, as well as organisations nationally.
What Our Clients Say
“Pure HR provide us with an outsourced HR function which covers everything from basic HR administration to complex restructures.”
HR Retained Services Client, Financial Services Industry
Questions About Outsourcing HR
Will I still make decisions about my employees?
Yes. You remain the employer and make the decisions. We advise you, explain the risks and support the agreed work, helping you manage your people confidently.
Can I outsource just part of my HR?
Yes. You might keep day-to-day administration in your business and use Pure for employee relations, documentation or more complex work. We agree the division of responsibilities with you.
Do I need to change my HR system?
We’ll discuss your existing systems and any access or information-sharing needs before work starts. If you want help choosing or improving an HR system, we can discuss that separately.
What if I only need occasional help?
Pay As You Go HR lets you use our expertise when needed. If your requirements become more regular, we can discuss retained support.
Find Out What Outsourcing HR Could Look Like for You
Tell us how many people you employ, who currently handles HR and where you need help. We’ll talk through your options and help you identify an appropriate starting point.
Call 01794 329470, email info@purehumanresources.co.uk or complete our enquiry form.
