Guiding North HRPeople. Purpose. Performance.

Small business HR support

Small business HR support for owners who never planned to be HR managers.

Outsourced HR for small and growing businesses that need experienced guidance without the cost of an internal HR department. Guiding North HR works with employers in Edinburgh, Midlothian and across Scotland, and remotely with businesses elsewhere in the UK.

Talk to DerekSee packages and prices

Suited to you if

  • You employ people but have no HR department
  • Contracts and policies are out of date or missing
  • Managers are unsure how to handle a concern
  • You are hiring, restructuring or growing quickly
  • You want advice before acting, not after

The five points where small businesses need HR most

HR needs change as a business grows. Knowing which stage you are at makes it far easier to choose the right support.

  1. 01

    First hire

    You are employing someone for the first time and need a contract that is compliant, an offer process that makes sense and a first week that does not rely on improvisation.

    The Employee Prenup
  2. 02

    Growing team

    There are now enough people that the owner cannot hold everything personally. Policies, job clarity and a consistent probation process stop the same conversation being had five different ways.

    The Employer Foundations Package
  3. 03

    First difficult situation

    Performance, conduct or absence has become a genuine problem, and the priority is handling it fairly and defensibly rather than quickly.

    The Fair Process
  4. 04

    Structural change

    The shape of the business needs to change. You need a business case, a consultation plan and documentation that stands up.

    The Redundancy Roadmap
  5. 05

    Ongoing partnership

    You want an experienced HR adviser on hand who already understands the business, without employing an HR manager.

    Ongoing HR partnership

Where Derek works

Local in the Lothians. Remote across the UK.

Most small business HR support is delivered remotely - advice calls, documentation, process design and manager coaching - so location is rarely a barrier.

In-person support is most easily arranged for HR support in Edinburgh and HR support in Midlothian.

Meet Derek Carter

Small business HR support: common questions

Can a small business outsource its HR?

Yes. Many small and growing businesses outsource HR rather than employ an HR manager. Outsourced HR gives you access to experienced advice, documentation and process support when you need it, and nothing when you do not. Guiding North HR offers both defined packages for specific pieces of work and ongoing support for businesses that want a regular HR partner.

Explore outsourced HR support

What is fractional HR support?

Fractional HR support means using an experienced HR professional for part of their time instead of employing one full time. You get senior HR thinking on strategy, structure, risk and difficult decisions, scaled to what the business actually needs. For growing businesses in Edinburgh and Midlothian, this is often the step between managing HR yourself and hiring an internal HR team.

Ongoing HR partnership

When should a small business get HR support?

Ideally before there is a problem. The most useful moments are when you are employing someone for the first time, when the team grows beyond the point where the owner knows everything, when a probation or performance concern appears, or when you are considering restructuring. Early advice is almost always cheaper and calmer than advice sought after a decision has already been made.

Small business HR support

What HR documents does a small business need?

At 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 Prenup

What does an HR consultant do for a small business?

An 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 works

How much does small business HR support cost?

The 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 prices

Guidance last reviewed: 14 August 2026. This page is general information, not individual advice - contact Derek about your own situation.

Not sure what your business needs yet?

That is a normal place to start. Describe the situation and Derek will tell you what is urgent, what can wait and what he would do in your position.

Contact Guiding North HR