HR support for small businesses · Liverpool & the North West
Straightforward HR for businesses too small for an HR team.
Contracts, policies, staff handbooks and straightforward HR advice from a CIPD-qualified HR professional, written in plain English and at a fixed price. You do the graft, I’ll do the paperwork.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 changes the rules for small employers
Some changes are already in force and more are coming through 2027. Here are the ones most likely to affect a small business.
IN FORCE · OCTOBER 2026
Preventing sexual harassment
Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent it, including harassment by customers and other third parties.
IN FORCE · OCTOBER 2026
Longer to bring a claim
Employment tribunal time limits have doubled from three months to six.
COMING · JANUARY 2027
Unfair dismissal after six months
The qualifying period drops from two years, and the compensation cap is lifted.
COMING · JANUARY 2027
Tighter rules on tips
More obligations for employers around written tip allocation policies.
COMING · DATE TO BE CONFIRMED
Zero-hours and variable-hours staff
New rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts and pay for shifts cancelled at short notice. No start date yet, so there’s time to get your contracts ready.
COMING · APRIL & OCTOBER 2027
New leave and flexible working rights
Statutory bereavement leave, including pregnancy loss, then a day-one right to request flexible working.
Dates follow the government’s published implementation timeline and may change.
Services and prices
Fixed prices, agreed before any work starts. Documents come as editable Word files that you keep.
Start here
ERA Health Check
£250
- Review of your contracts, handbook and probation process
- Checked against the Employment Rights Act 2025
- A short, prioritised action list
Starter Pack
from £450
- Employment contract template
- Staff handbook: absence, disciplinary, grievance, holiday and harassment policies
- Probation process and new-starter checklist
Single policy or contract
from £100
- One document, written or updated properly
- Tailored to your business, not a generic download
Contract Check
£50
- One employment contract reviewed
- Checked against the legal requirements for written terms
- A short, plain-English list of what to fix
HR Question
£40
- A clear written answer to one HR question, by email
- Everyday issues: absence, holiday, conduct, grievances, probation
- What the process is and what to do next
How it works
1
A free 20-minute call
Tell me about your team and which documents you need. No obligation.
2
A fixed quote
You know exactly what you’re getting and what it costs before anything starts.
3
Done, in plain English
Documents you can understand and use, with a short guide to putting them in place.
Built for teams of 2–20, including:
Cafés & restaurants
Salons
Trades
Shops
Small charities
Startups
Hi, I’m Rhys.
I’ve spent around seven years working in HR and people operations in the UK and Australia, across charities, membership bodies and the private sector. I’m an Associate Member of the CIPD (Level 5).
Bigger organisations have HR teams to keep them on the right side of the law. I want small businesses to have the same peace of mind without paying for more than they need.
I write contracts, policies and handbooks, and answer everyday HR questions. I don’t take on legal disputes or tribunal claims. For those, I’ll point you to Acas or an employment lawyer.
Book a free 20-minute call
Get your house in order before the January changes. I’ll reply within two working days.
Email: goodcrafthr@gmail.com
LinkedIn: Rhys McLean