Here at HRC, we love free things that do something awesome. So hearing that CIPD had collaborated with the Behavioural Insights Team to launch a new pilot scheme that provides HR consultancy support to small and medium businesses across the UK.
What and who is eligible?
As with all pilot schemes, the aim is to show the benefits of a scheme on a small scale, to learn through the process and then hopefully rolling out the scheme on a wider scale.
The three locations are Angus, Bournemouth and Tees Valley and any company with 5 to 250 employees are eligible. The whole programme is part of a control trial which assesses the benefits of supporting business with the HR and improves job growth and productivity.
The Key Elements of the Pilot Scheme
HR Consultancy Support: CIPD-qualified consultants providing flexible HR advice tailored to the needs of each small and medium business that uses the scheme.
- Focus Areas: Recruitment, job design, flexible working, performance management, and employee retention.
- Government Funding: Supported by UK government funding, with local pilots in Angus, Bournemouth, and the Tees Valley.
HR is an important part of growth and productivity nationwide, and the pilot will inform future government policy on delivering HR support to small and medium businesses, helping businesses improve their workforce and comply with legislative changes from the upcoming Employment Rights Bill.
Why is this trial so important?The CIPD wants to address a gap for small firms, who typically lack access to professional HR support. This can negatively affect their ability to hire and keep top talent.
James Dean, managing director of HRC: “Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the economy and CIPD helping them specifically with this trial is a great idea. HRC can’t wait to see the effects of this trial, and knows it will be invaluable for policymakers and business leaders across the UK.”For more details, visit Personnel Today: CIPD HR Support Pilot Scheme
- Antcliff, V., Lupton, B., & Atkinson, C. (2020)
Where do small firms go for HR support?
International Small Business Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242620974586 - Atkinson, C., Lupton, B., Kynighou, A., Antcilffe, V., & Carter, J. (2017)
People skills: Building ambition and HR capability in small UK firms.
CIPD.
https://www.cipd.co.uk/Images/hr-capability-small-firms_2017_tcm18-27313.pdf - Bacon, N., & Hoque, K. (2005)
HRM in the SME sector.
International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(11), 1796–1999.
View on Web of Science - Edwards, P., & Sengupta, S. (2010)
The context-dependent nature of small firms’ relations with support agencies: A three-sector study in the UK.
International Small Business Journal, 28(6), 543–565.
View on Web of Science - Harney, B., & Alkhalaf, H. (2021)
A quarter-century review of HRM in small and medium-sized enterprises: Capturing what we know, exploring where we need to go.
Human Resource Management, 60(1), 5–29.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22010 - Jarvis, R., & Rigby, M. (2012)
The provision of human resources and employment advice to small and medium-sized enterprises: The role of small and medium-sized practices of accountants.
International Small Business Journal, 30(8), 944–956.
View on Web of Science
