What You Get With Fractional HR Professional Services (And How We'll Help)

As your business grows, your team naturally grows with it. And while you might not need a full-time HR hire just yet, you still need reliable HR systems in place to support your team and manage people-related risk. 

This is where our Fractional HR professional services can help, providing you with flexible, experienced support that shapes around your business. 

How we help growing businesses and startups 

Our fractional HR support is designed to cover everything you’d expect from a skilled in-house HR team, just in a way that’s more flexible, cost-effective, and personalised for your business. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

The Fractional HR Department: How We Help

Category	How We Help
Day-to-Day HR Admin Support	Administering payroll Handling contracts, onboarding, and right-to-work checks Confirming probationary periods Managing disciplinaries, grievances, or performance issues Drafting and reviewing HR letters, forms, and documents Responding to queries about holidays, sickness, and leave Updating HR systems Coordinating leaver processes
Strategic People Advice	Developing or adapting your people strategy Supporting you with workforce planning or role design Advising on pay structures, benefits, and retention Developing career and performance frameworks
Legal and Compliance Guidance	Keeping policies aligned with UK employment law Advising on flexible working requests and other statutory processes Supporting with redundancy processes or TUPE if needed Advising on sector-specific regulatory requirements
Manager Coaching and Confidence-Building	Helping line managers handle sensitive conversations Building skills around performance reviews, feedback, and people development Acting as a sounding board for leadership decisions Running line manager workshops to build people management skills
HR Systems and Tools	Setting up or improving HR processes (onboarding, appraisals, exits) Introducing helpful tools like holiday calculators or absence trackers Reviewing current systems and recommending improvements Recommending and implementing HRIS

All of our services are 100% customised for your business. No generic templates or off-the-shelf advice, just practical, experienced support designed to keep your business running smoothly (and your people happy and engaged).

What support looks like day-to-day

So how does this support work in real-life? Here’s what you can expect. 

A named people partner you can rely on

When you work with us, you’ll always have one main point of contact: your People Partner. 

This is your dedicated HR advisor who works closely with you and your leadership team. They’ll lead your HR activities, provide regular updates, and be on hand when any issues arise. 

Your People Partner is also backed by a team of experienced, CIPD-qualified HR directors ready who bring strategic oversight to your contract — always on hand as a point of escalation or to offer extra advice should you ever need it.

Regular check-ins and proactive support

We’ll agree on a rhythm that works for you, which is typically weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. 

During these sessions, we will: 

• Chat about any ongoing matters (such as any absence or employee relations cases).

• Identify upcoming HR needs (such as end-of-probation reviews or performance appraisals).

• Plan proactive improvements (such as updating any policies or providing manager trainings).

• Review progress against your People Plan and agreed scope of work.

Between check-ins, you’re also welcome to reach out anytime should anything urgent or unexpected come up. 

Responsive, human advice

Running a small business or startup often means making tough judgement calls without a clear rulebook. No matter what challenges come up, we can help you think through your options, manage risk, and make the very best decisions. 

We know HR best practice inside and out, but we’ll always prioritise practical, real-world solutions that actually work for your people and the way you want to run your business. 

Flexibility that meets you where you are

Every business is completely different. Some need regular, hands-on HR support across a broad range of issues. Others just need a trusted advisor they can turn to for a second opinion. 

You might be navigating a period of rapid growth, facing a specific challenge, or simply want to get the HR basics in order. Whatever it is, we can build an HR support package that works for your goals, budget, and team setup. 

Getting started

A great place to start is with the essentials, like up-to-date contracts, an employee handbook, or a simple onboarding process. Later, you might want to build on that foundation with things like manager training, wellbeing initiatives, and strategic HR planning to support long-term business goals. 

No matter where you’re starting from, we’ll help you get to the bottom of what you need right now and what you’re likely to need down the road. 

Choosing the right level of support

We know that growth rarely happens in a straight line. That’s why we offer support that can be scaled up or down as your business needs change. 

Here’s how we structure our services:

Category	HR As You Go	HR Partner	HR in a Year
What is it?	Flexible, pay-as-you-need support for everyday HR questions, templates, and tricky people issues.	Ongoing, hands-on support from your dedicated HR partner. Includes regular check-ins, strategic HR input, and day-to-day advice.	A structured, 12-month plan to build solid HR foundations, ideal if you're starting from scratch or want to get your HR function in shape.
Perfect for…	Small businesses or startups who need occasional HR help without the commitment.	Growing teams who want consistent HR support and a closer working relationship.	Growing teams ready to take a more proactive approach to HR.
Learn more!	HR As You Go	HR Partner	HR in a Year

Laying the groundwork for long-term HR success

Many businesses come to us with a backlog of issues or compliance gaps, and we’re happy to roll up our sleeves and sort them out. But once the foundations are in place, our focus shifts to the long-term, helping businesses: 

• Spot recurring HR patterns and put systems in place to address them.

• Set clearer expectations for staff with consistent, people-first policies.

• Train and develop managers to become confident, effective leaders. 

• Strengthen recruitment processes to attract and hire the right people. 

• Build a workplace culture that supports wellbeing, inclusion, and retention.

• Help the right people in your team take on HR responsibilities. 

Final thoughts

HR may not feel like the most urgent task on your to-do list. But if you invest some time in getting it right, a solid HR function can quietly enhance everything else you do in your business. 

At the Fractional HR Department, we know that building that HR function doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why we focus on providing steady, sustainable support that grows as your business grows. 

Looking to strengthen the HR function within your business? 

Get in touch today and let’s chat about your business, HR goals, and how our team of HR professionals can best support you.