Our 10 Step Guide to Taking on Employees

If you are growing your business, you may need to grow your team, and this will most likely mean employing people.

As an employer, you are required to fulfil certain obligations so you need to get it right and our summary will help you make adequate preparation. Here are the 10 key things we think you need to know;

1. Decide how much the salary will be and ensure it meets the National Minimum Wage. Make sure you are aware of your Employer’s National Insurance obligations and any reliefs available to you.

2. Make sure your employee has the legal right to work in the UK, you should ask this of every potential employee regardless where you think they may be from.

3. Determine if you need to do any other employment checks such as a DBS check.

4. Ensure you have employers’ liability insurance as soon as you start to employ staff.

5. Send details of the job spec and the terms and conditions in writing to your new employee. Ensure you give them a written statement of employment. Seek professional HR advice when doing this.

6. Tell HMRC by setting up a PAYE scheme and notifying them of the new starter.

7. Check if you need to automatically enrol your new staff member into a workplace pension scheme.

8. Make sure you are familiar with the Employer Health and Safety requirements.

9. Make sure that you have a solid HR solution in place. We work in partnership with Peninsular and other HR advisers and can make an appropriate recommendation.

10. Be organised, ensure you have sufficient cash to make salary payments and have a platform in place to monitor holidays and statutory requirements.

We have partnered up with award winning HR software provider BrightHR who offer a great online staff management platform to help you manage your people, as well as giving you expert telephone advice from a HR expert when you need it. To find out more, visit our BrightHR page.

FUSE is an independent Chartered Certified firm of accountants and tax advisors based in Highgate Village, North London. We provide a dynamic range of services to clients working in property, media, entertainment and professional services. Our clients vary in size from self employed sole traders, small enterprises and medium size businesses. We believe that comprehensive financial planning and sound business financial advice are the keys to growth and profitability.