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Personalised HR Outsourcing

A Business Partnership Built on People

Whether you are looking to build a robust company culture that aids retention or simply need to ensure you’re compliant with the latest HR regulations, choosing the right partner is the first step toward a more resilient business.

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Trusted by companies across the UK

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What is HR outsourcing?

The Concept

Outsourcing is a strategic business practice where companies engage external providers to handle specific processes that would otherwise be managed by internal staff. It is a common solution for essential support functions, including bookkeeping, legal services, and HR.

Flexibility in Practice

At Gravitate HR, we act as an independent partner, offering you the ability to outsource your HR function either in full or in part. This flexibility allows you to lean on us as much or as little as your current business stage requires.

Our Role

We can operate as your complete, standalone HR department—handling everything from administrative tasks to high-level strategic planning—or work in tandem with your existing internal team to fill critical gaps and provide extra capacity.

Why Outsource Your HR?

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Efficiency

Our team is there when you need us and not when you do not, ensuring you have expert support without the overhead of a full-time internal resource.

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Collective Expertise

Instead of relying on a single source or a standalone internal hire, you gain access to the collective breadth and experience of our entire professional team.

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Strategic Alignment

You have the freedom to contract only the specific elements of HR that fit your current business plan and will make a tangible difference to your goals.

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Commercial Accountability

Benefit from a professional arrangement where your service provider is held strictly accountable within a commercial contract.

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Independence & Impartiality

As external partners, we provide a neutral perspective. We are more likely to say it as it is because we are not caught up in internal office politics or complex relationship dynamics.

What type of outsourced providers are available?

HR is like a bowl of fruit, encompassing a wide range of shapes, sizes, and flavours. The key to success is choosing the specific “fruit” that best suits the context of your business.

Provider Type

Service Style

Key Considerations

Call Centre Models

High-volume support via telephone or email.

You speak to the next available operator; there is often a lack of continuity in advice.

Insurance-Led Models

Focused on funding Employment Tribunal actions via liability insurance.

Financial support is often dependent on you, strictly following their prescribed actions.

Template Providers

Offer fixed-cost access to standard contracts and handbooks.

Documents are often generic and may not suit your specific circumstances or culture.

Bespoke Partnership

Dedicated support with tailored documentation and advice.

The Gravitate Model: A proactive approach focused on a specific business partnership.

Questions to Ask Before Engaging in Outsourced HR

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Access & Continuity

Will you have a named contact that you can reach directly, or will you be speaking to a different person every time? It is important to know if there is true depth and breadth in the support team behind that contact.

Will the advice and documentation cater to the unique requirements of your business, or will they be generic? You should also ask how much latitude you retain for your own decision-making.

What are the underlying costs beyond the fixed monthly fee? Ensure you are clear on the contract length and exactly what the terms are for ending the arrangement. Be aware, some suppliers have contracts which default to a longer length, so be sure of the contract wording before signing.

How will the service be delivered? Is it strictly remote, or can you access in-person and on-site support when sensitive issues arise?

Why Choose Gravitate HR for Outsourced HR?

We provide more than just a helpline; we provide a framework that defines your culture and nurtures your team.

Dedicated Support

Every client has a dedicated account manager with full access to the Gravitate team, from administrative support to consultants and directors.

Tailored Solutions

We believe in bespoke documents and solutions that are specifically designed to fit your business context.

Fair Contracting

We offer annual contracts with no automatic renewals; every renewal is an open discussion and agreement.

Flexible Delivery

We offer a range of contract types to suit your needs, including retained (annual, quarterly, or monthly) and project-based options.

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Preventative Mindset

We prefer a proactive approach, taking preventative steps to protect your business rather than just reacting to problems after they occur.

Face-to-Face Support

We skip the digital-only approach to get on-site and under the hood of your business. This ensures the bespoke HR solutions we deliver are perfectly aligned with your specific requirements.

Find a Partner Who Sees the People in Your Process

HR strategy is the “what” and the “how” of your business. It defines how you lead, how you reward, and how you nurture the wellbeing of your employees.

Ready to build a stronger framework for your team?

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Don’t just take our word for it

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We find Gravitate HR’s service exceptional. Being able to chat to a HR professional at a moment’s notice is a wonderful asset for our company.

Their advice is not only practical but also very considered to each situation.

Andrew Morris, Director, HDR UK

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Gravitate have advised us on a wide range of issues from downsizing, policy development, contracts, and day-to-day employee relation issues.

They are able to bring clarity and structure to our discussions and help turn our ideas and objectives into practical, tangible actions.

Richard Lee

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Gravitate HR has helped us with various aspects of HR over the years and the benefits to us have been the quick response and being able to pay for services as and when we require them.

No enquiry is too big or small and we greatly benefit from the in depth advice offered in any situation.

A wonderful team to work with!

Almond Engineering Ltd

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We have used Gravitate for a number of years now and find their service exceptional. Being able to chat to a HR professional at a moments notice is a wonderful asset out our company.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Gravitate to any business looking for expert HR support.

Ken Bell , 1LET

Meet your HR Consultancy team

Christine Medland - HR Assistant

Christine Medland

HR Consultant

Margery McBain - Founder and Director of Gravitate HR

Margery McBain

Founder and Director

Jude Lean

Client Experience Manager

Nicole McMahon - Lead HR Consultant - Gravitate HR

Nicole Leske

Lead HR Consultant

Tina Munro - HR Consultant

Tina Munro

HR Consultant

Sarah Flett

HR Consultant

Jackie McSporran

HR Consultant

Amy McSwiggan

HR Administrator

Lesa Ford HR and Operations Coordinator

Lesa Ford

HR & Operations Coordinator

HR Outsourcing FAQs

Outsourcing is a business practice where companies engage external providers to handle functions that would otherwise be managed internally. Gravitate HR acts as an independent provider, offering the ability to outsource your HR department in full or in part. We can manage your people-related tasks strategically, operationally, or administratively, depending on what your business requires.

The investment varies based on the scope of support you choose. Gravitate HR offers flexible commercial arrangements, including retained options on an annual, quarterly, or monthly basis, as well as project-based support. Because these are professional arrangements, you can hold the service provider accountable for the value and outcomes delivered within that specific budget.

It provides an efficient alternative to hiring a full-time, internal HR professional. You can lean on an outsourced partner for specific services exactly when you need them and not when you do not. This eliminates the overhead of a standalone salary while providing access to a breadth of expertise across a whole team rather than a single source.

You can outsource almost any element of HR practice. This includes linking HR strategy to your business plan, defining “how you work” through policies and procedures, talent acquisition and recruitment, and managing onboarding, induction, and probation processes. It also covers ongoing management of team health, wellbeing, and future growth.

Commonly outsourced activities include essential business support functions such as recruitment, the drafting of contracts and handbooks, and policies and procedures. Many businesses also outsource the operational “heavy lifting” of induction and probation management to ensure there are no gaps in their compliance.

While the management of HR can be outsourced, the core values and identity of the business must come from within. HR provides the framework to build a culture, but the business leaders must define who they are and what it is like to work there. An outsourced partner helps articulate those leadership values into tangible outcomes.

Outsourced HR is a broad term for using external providers to carry out business processes. Gravitate HR operates a partnership model where we can act as your entire HR department or work in tandem with internal staff to handle specific elements. Fractional HR is a specific type of outsourcing where you “contract” only the particular elements of HR that fit your strategy at that time.

Outsourcing HR functions provides an independent and impartial perspective, free from internal office politics. You also gain access to a full team’s expertise rather than just one person’s knowledge. A potential disadvantage is choosing a provider that offers only generic, “off-the-shelf” templates or call-centre support, which may not suit your specific business context or provide the continuity of advice you need.