If you’re running a business in a rural area, you’ll probably have had this conversation recently: “We’ve advertised the job three times and hardly anyone has applied.” Or perhaps you’ve found someone excellent, only for them to accept another offer before you’ve had chance to make a decision. Recruitment has always been challenging in rural areas, but in recent years it has become significantly more competitive. Hospitality businesses compete with tourism, manufacturer

Did you know that the word ‘communication’ comes from the Latin 'communicare', meaning ‘to share’ or ‘to make common’? That’s a helpful reminder that good communication isn’t simply about talking. It’s about creating shared understanding. In the workplace, when people have a common understanding of expectations, priorities and concerns, trust grows. When they don’t, misunderstandings, frustration and conflict often follow. For many owner-managed businesses, employee relations

For all the discussion around the Employment Rights Bill and changing employment law, one development has slipped under the radar for many small employers: The creation of the UK’s new Fair Work Agency. Most SME owners I speak to have either: never heard of it, or assume it is simply a rebrand of existing government departments. It is not. In reality, the Fair Work Agency signals a major shift in how employment rights will be enforced in the UK — and it has the potential to f

As 2025 draws to a close, many small and medium-sized businesses are taking a breath and reflecting. Not in a glossy, “annual report” way, but in a more honest, practical sense: What actually changed this year? What stretched us? And what have we learned about employing people in a small business environment? From an HR perspective, 2025 wasn’t defined by dramatic shocks. Instead, it was a year of adjustment. For many SMEs, it marked a shift away from firefighting and towards

The Employment Rights Bill has generated a huge amount of discussion, most of it centred on political positioning with a focus on large organisations with complex HR teams. But very little attention has been paid to what the Bill means in reality for the employers who make up the vast majority of the UK economy: small businesses, micro-enterprises, family-run services, rural organisations, charities, voluntary clubs ... with limited infrastructure. These are employers withou

Creating a compelling CV is crucial in today's competitive job market. An effective CV can be the key to landing an interview.

Exploring what the Employment Rights Bill means for you as an employer.

In today’s crazy-paced world we live in, all organisations face numerous challenges when it comes to managing human resources.