HR support Midlothian
Guiding North HR supports employers across Midlothian, Scotland with the people side of running a business: contracts and policies, onboarding and probation, employee relations, redundancy and day-to-day HR advice. You deal with Derek Carter directly, which matters when a situation is sensitive and the answer is needed today.
Local businesses rarely need everything at once. Work usually starts with the pressing issue and then strengthens the foundations underneath it.
Many Midlothian employers have grown steadily without ever formalising the basics. Derek puts compliant, readable contracts and a handbook in place that managers will actually use.
Contracts, policies and handbookGetting probation right protects both sides. Clear expectations, structured reviews and honest early feedback prevent the drift that turns into a formal process months later.
Probation management supportWhen something goes wrong, employers need to know the correct order of steps before anyone is called into a meeting. Derek guides the investigation, the process and the record keeping.
Disciplinary support for employersChange in a small local business is personal. Derek helps you plan consultation, prepare documentation and make defensible decisions while treating people properly.
Redundancy support for employersFor businesses that want a regular adviser rather than one-off projects, ongoing support gives you someone who already knows your team when a question arises.
Small business HR supportLocal, and properly experienced
Derek works across Midlothian and the Lothians, with much of the advice and documentation delivered remotely and in-person time reserved for the conversations that genuinely benefit from being in the room.
Behind that local availability sits decades of HR experience across sectors including construction, where processes have to hold up under scrutiny.
Read about Derek's experienceYes. Guiding North HR works with employers throughout Midlothian, Scotland, including businesses that have grown steadily without ever putting formal HR arrangements in place. You get direct access to Derek rather than a call centre, which matters when a situation is sensitive and you need a straight answer quickly.
HR support in MidlothianAn HR consultant gives an employer experienced people advice without the cost of an internal HR department. In practice that means preparing employment contracts, policies and a staff handbook, setting up onboarding and probation processes, and guiding owners and managers through performance, conduct and redundancy situations. Derek works alongside you, explains the options in plain language and helps you decide what to do next.
See how the support worksAt a minimum, employees need a written statement of employment particulars, and most businesses benefit from a staff handbook covering the core policies their managers rely on day to day. Job descriptions, an induction plan and a probation process make those documents work in practice. The Employer Foundations Package and The Employee Prenup cover both the paperwork and how to introduce it.
The Employee PrenupSet expectations in writing at the start, agree what good performance looks like, and hold short, recorded reviews during the period rather than one conversation at the end. If progress is not where it should be, say so early and offer support. The First 90 Days System gives managers the plan, review forms and letters needed to do this consistently.
Probation management supportThe defined packages are priced openly: The Employee Prenup is £1,000, The Employer Foundations Package is £2,000, The First 90 Days System is £2,500, The Fair Process starts at £2,500 for systems and documentation, and The Redundancy Roadmap starts at £3,000. Ongoing HR partnership is tailored following an initial conversation, and live case support is quoted after a short review.
See all packages and pricesGuidance last reviewed: 14 August 2026. This page is general information, not individual advice - contact Derek about your own situation.
Tell Derek what is happening and he will tell you what he would do next. Also serving Edinburgh and businesses across Scotland.
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