# Kate Underwood HR & Training

> Expert HR consultancy for UK small businesses. Employment law, people management, training, and HR software. Based in Hampshire, supporting businesses nationwide since 2014.

This file follows the [llms.txt specification](https://llmstxt.org). For full blog content, see [llms-full.txt](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/llms-full.txt).

## Service Plans

- [HR Advice Line](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/service-plans/hr-advice-line): Monthly HR advice from £175/mo. Up to 2 hours support for employment law questions and policy guidance.
- [HR Protect](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/service-plans/hr-protect): Complete HR compliance from £299/mo. Contracts, policies, advice line, and ongoing support.
- [HR Excel](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/service-plans/hr-excel): Strategic HR support from £499/mo. Planning, leadership development, and culture transformation.
- [HR Business Partner](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/service-plans/hr-business-partner): Dedicated senior HR professional from £799/mo. Hands-on strategic support embedded in your business.
- [Fractional HR Director](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/service-plans/fractional-hr-director): Head of HR leadership for scaling businesses without the full-time cost.

## Additional Services

- [HR Software](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/services/hr-software): Cloud-based HR software through Breathe partnership. Holiday, absence, performance, and system implementation.
- [SafeVoice Whistleblowing](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/services/safevoice): Independent confidential whistleblowing hotline. Secure reporting and compliance support.
- [Dignity at Work Toolkit](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/dignity-at-work-toolkit): Complete anti-bullying and harassment prevention toolkit with policy templates and checklists.
- [Employment Rights Act Advice](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/employment-rights-act-advice): Monthly ERA updates and toolkits for small businesses. Templates, guides, and practical compliance.

## Free Resources

- [HR Health Check](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-health-check): Free HR audit tool. Assess your processes across seven employee lifecycle stages.
- [HR Health Check Glossary](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-health-check/glossary): Explanations for all 35 HR Health Check questions.
- [Monthly HR Checklist](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/resources/monthly-sme-reset): 60-minute monthly reset to tidy HR admin and track priorities.
- [HR Blog](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog): Expert HR advice for small businesses covering employment law, people management, and wellbeing.
- [Buzzing About HR Podcast](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/podcast): Practical HR advice and employment law updates on major podcast platforms.
- [The Employee Lifecycle](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/the-employee-lifecycle): Guide to managing every stage from recruitment to exit.

## Blog Categories

- [People & HR](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr): Insights on people management, employee engagement, and HR best practices.
- [Legal](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal): Employment law updates, compliance guidance, and legal advice for businesses.
- [Guides](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides): Practical guides and how-to articles for HR professionals and business owners.
- [News](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/news): Latest news and updates from the world of HR and employment.
- [Legislation](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation): UK government legislation updates, Employment Rights Bill, and parliamentary changes affecting employment law.
- [Employee Retention](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/employee-retention): Strategies and insights for retaining talent, recognizing warning signs, and building employee engagement.
- [Teen Employment](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/teen-employment): Practical guidance on safe, legal, and meaningful work opportunities for young teens.
- [Talent Management](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/talent-management): Best practices for attracting, developing, and managing talent in your organization.
- [Leadership](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/leadership): Leadership development, management skills, and building effective teams.
- [Compliance](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/compliance): HR compliance, policies, and regulatory requirements for businesses.
- [General](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/general): General HR topics, insights, and advice for small business owners.

## Blog Posts

- [How to Calculate Annual Leave for Part-Time Employees](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/calculate-annual-leave-part-time-employees): Struggling with part-time annual leave? Get a clear, no-fluff method to calculate holidays for mixed schedules and bank holidays, without the maths headache.
- [SMART Objectives Without Corporate Nonsense: The SME Way](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/smart-objectives-for-smes-without-corporate-jargon): SMART objectives without the corporate fluff. For SMEs who want clarity, focus, and real results. Set goals people understand, review simply, and ditch surprises.
- [The AI Grievance Era: Same Rules, Bigger Headaches](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/ai-grievance-era-same-rules-bigger-headaches): AI-generated grievances are flooding inboxes: formal, legalistic, and panic-inducing. Here's what small business owners need to do now to stay compliant, calm managers, and handle claims smartly.
- [Work WhatsApp Rules for SMEs: Allow, Ban, Write It Down](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/people-hr/work-whatsapp-policy-smes): WhatsApp runs your rota, noticeboard and the manager's office, until chaos hits. Set clear rules: what to allow, what to ban, what to write down. Plus when to use WhatsApp Business.
- [Weight Loss Drugs as an Employee Benefit: The SME Reality Check](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/weight-loss-drugs-employee-benefit-sme-reality-check): SMEs can be nimble and personal, but offering weight loss drugs as a benefit is sensitive and complex. Here's the reality check small teams need before deciding what's fair.
- [3 HR Traps for SMEs Under the Employment Rights Act (Avoid Them)](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/3-hr-traps-smes-employment-rights-act): Employment Rights Act changes aren't 'legal updates' - they're people problems. Discover 3 HR traps UK SMEs fall into - and how to avoid panic, delays, and costly disputes.
- [Statutory Sick Pay Changes April 2026: Who Qualifies & What SMEs Do](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/statutory-sick-pay-changes-april-2026-who-qualifies-smes): Statutory Sick Pay rules change in April 2026. See who qualifies, how fast to respond to sickness reports, and the simple, consistent process SMEs need to protect teams and reduce absence.
- [When Someone Says "Can We Talk?" Here's What Great Managers Say Next](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/can-we-talk-what-great-managers-say-next): Heart sinks at "Can we talk?" You're not alone. Get clear, legally safe phrases great managers use to navigate difficult employee conversations, calmly, clearly, and fast.
- [World Cancer Day: the manager's guide after "I've got cancer"](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/world-cancer-day-managers-guide-after-ive-got-cancer): An employee has just told you they have cancer. What do you do next? A calm, human, step-by-step guide to respond with empathy, clarity, and practical employee cancer support.
- [Severe Weather and Small Businesses - What to do before it hits](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/severe-weather-and-small-businesses-what-to-do-before-it-hits): Severe weather can derail your day. Learn a simple, repeatable plan small businesses can use to keep teams safe and operations steady before storms hit.
- [The Monthly SME Reset: Track, Tweak and Tidy in 60 Minutes](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/monthly-sme-reset-track-tweak-tidy-60-minutes): Small business chaos doesn't mean you're failing. Try a 60-minute monthly business reset to track, tweak and tidy, so fires stay small, priorities stay clear, and momentum builds.
- [The Employment Rights Bill Is a System Change, Not a Update](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-system-change): Employment law is woven into everything you do, job ads, rotas, payroll, leave, performance, exit. That's why the Employment Rights Bill isn't a quick policy update. It's a system change. Here's a 12‑month, bite‑size plan to implement it with control instead of chaos.
- [The New Paper Round: Safe First Jobs for Teens (13+)](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/teen-employment/safe-first-jobs-for-teens-13-plus): Paper rounds are fading. Discover safe, modern 13 plus year old jobs with small businesses, from tech help to tidy tasks, teaching reliability, real skills and confidence as the new paper round.
- [5 Subtle Signs a Team Member Might Be About to Quit](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/employee-retention/signs-team-member-about-to-quit): Employee retention starts before the resignation email. Spot 5 subtle signs a team member may quit, plus a Plain English legal lowdown, fresh data, and a quick action plan.
- [Employment Rights Bill Update – December 2025](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legislation/employment-rights-bill-update-december-2025): The Employment Rights Bill has passed Parliament and is set to become law. This guide sets out what's already in place, what has just been confirmed, and what small businesses should have already done or now start preparing for.
- [Advantages & Disadvantages of Sick Pay Schemes (OSP)](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/advantages-disadvantages-sick-pay-schemes): Explore the advantages and disadvantages of Occupational Sick Pay (OSP) schemes. Learn how OSP can create a healthier workplace, prevent financial hardship, and build a positive culture, while understanding the costs and risks involved.
- [Autumn Budget 2025: What it really means for small businesses](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/autumn-budget-2025-what-it-really-means-for-small-businesses): Rachel Reeves has gone hard on tax and 'fairness'. On the surface, it sounds pro worker and pro growth. Underneath, if you run a small business, you're looking at higher wage bills, higher NI, more compliance, and a bit of sugar sprinkled on top.
- [Why Every Small Business Needs an HR Audit (And How to Do One)](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/guides/why-small-business-needs-hr-audit): An HR audit isn't about catching you out, it's about protecting your business. Learn what an HR audit covers, why it matters, and how to audit your people processes in just 5-7 minutes.
- [Who Can Accompany an Employee to a Disciplinary Meeting in the UK](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/who-can-accompany-employee-disciplinary-meeting-uk): Find out who an employee may bring to a formal disciplinary hearing in the UK, what the legal rights are, and how to handle companions, support persons and witnesses fairly.
- [Are Verbal Offers of Employment Contractual in the UK?](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/blog/legal/verbal-offer-of-employment-uk): Can a verbal job offer form a legally binding contract? Learn what makes a verbal offer enforceable, when you can withdraw it, and how to protect your small business from costly mistakes.

## About

- [About Us](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/about-us): Kate Underwood's background, CIPD qualifications, and the team behind people-centred HR for small businesses.
- [Press & Media](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/about-us/press): Expert HR commentary featured in UK publications.
- [Testimonials](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/testimonials): What small business owners say about working with Kate Underwood HR.

## Contact

- [Book a Free Discovery Call](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/discovery-call): Get a People Plan on a page and expert HR advice.
- [Book an HR Audit](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/book-audit): Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities in your people management.
- Email: hello@kateunderwoodhr.co.uk
- Phone: +44 2382 025160
- Address: 32B, New Forest Enterprise Centre, Chapel Lane, Totton, Southampton, SO40 9LA, UK
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kate-underwood-hr)

## Location Pages

- [HR Consultants Andover](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-andover)
- [HR Consultants Newbury](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-newbury)
- [HR Consultants Ringwood](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-ringwood)
- [HR Consultants Romsey](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-romsey)
- [HR Consultants Salisbury](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-salisbury)
- [HR Consultants Verwood](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-verwood)
- [HR Consultants Winchester](https://kateunderwoodhr.co.uk/hr-consultants-winchester)