What is the difference between Essentials and Partner?

Essentials gives you templates, handbook, Breathe HR access and unlimited phone or email advice with a fair-use cap of 24 hours per year. Partner adds a guaranteed monthly block of support hours for tailored work like case-specific letters, attending meetings and managing recruitment processes.

Is there a minimum term?

Twelve months on first sign-up, then rolling monthly with 30 days notice. If you are coming off the Compliance Programme, the setup is already done so we waive the 12-month tie-in.

Does this include payroll?

No. Payroll, pensions auto-enrolment and tax advice are outside scope. Your accountant handles those. We can recommend payroll partners if you do not have one.

Retained HR Support UK | From £99/month

What is in your retainer.

Everything you need from a small in-house HR function, packaged into one monthly fee.

Unlimited phone, email and video advice on day-to-day people matters
Included support hours for document drafting, letters, contract variations, recruitment support
Breathe HR platform access: your team’s records, contracts, holidays, absence, all in one place
Annual handbook review as employment law changes

Employee relations support: absence, capability, disciplinary, grievance
Recruitment templates: adverts, interview scripts, offer letters
Employment-law update briefings as legislation lands
Agreed monthly hours, no surprise invoices. Fixed monthly fee, predictable cash flow.

Four tiers, sized by your team and the hours you need. Essentials from £299 per month + VAT, Partner from £599 per month + VAT.

Two tiers, banded by headcount. The Club is advice and templates. Essentials, Partner and Director add drafting, casework and dedicated hours each month. We confirm your exact monthly fee on a free 15-minute review.

Essentials

Templates, advice, employee handbook, Breathe HR access. The compliant baseline.

£299 per month + VAT

Up to 25 staff. 3.5 hours of consultant time included every month.

Includes 3.5 hours of consultant time + Breathe HR platform access. Extra time at £95/hr + VAT (retainer client rate).

Partner

Essentials, plus dedicated support hours each month for tailored work.

£599 per month + VAT

Up to 50 staff. 7 hours of consultant time included every month.

Includes 7 hours of consultant time + Breathe HR. Extra time at £95/hr + VAT (retainer client rate).

All prices exclude VAT. Initial 12 month term, then rolling with 30 days notice. The HR Club at £99 a month rolls monthly with no minimum term. No setup fee for clients moving from the HR Compliance Programme.

Book a free consultation

What a retainer costs.

Four tiers, one published price each. No headcount guessing games and no figure you only find out on the call.

Tier	Per month	Hours included	Built for
HR Club	£99	1	1 to 10 staff. Advice line, template library, employment law updates, contract and policy review.
Essentials	£299	3.5	Up to 25 staff. Club plus case letters drafted and manager guidance on disciplinary, grievance, absence and performance.
Partner	£599	7	Up to 50 staff. Essentials plus managed casework, settlement and Acas guidance, quarterly review and priority response.
Director	£999	12	50 plus staff. Partner plus people admin, a monthly on site or video review, workforce planning and salary benchmarking.

All prices exclude VAT. Unused hours roll forward for up to three months, then lapse. Anything beyond your included hours is £95 + VAT an hour, billed in 15 minute blocks and quoted before the work starts. Ad hoc work for non retained clients is £135 + VAT an hour.

The HR Club rolls monthly with no minimum term. Essentials, Partner and Director run an initial 12 months, then roll on 30 days notice. More than 50 employees, or a team across several sites, and we will confirm the figure on the call.

Got an HR problem already? Book a call.

Whether you want to start a retainer or just need a one-off quote, the call is free and we will tell you straight what you need.

Book your free call

Taking on your first employee? First Hire Setup covers the offer letter, contract, handbook, right to work check and starter pack for a fixed £749 + VAT.

Your outsourced HR team. Without the headcount.