HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire an HR consultant in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies to HR consultants. Here is how to check their advice against the Acas Code and when to use a solicitor.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring an HR consultant in five steps

  1. Describe the HR issueA disciplinary, a grievance, absence, contracts, a restructure or a handbook.
  2. Check experience and membershipSimilar cases, an HR professional body membership, and insurance.
  3. Agree hourly or retainerAnd what a retainer covers each month.
  4. Follow the Acas CodeAsk the consultant to build the process around it.
  5. Know when to call a solicitorTribunal claims and settlement agreements need legal advice.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses HR consultants in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and professional body membership is voluntary. Check experience with businesses your size, references and insurance.

Ask the HR consultant for two clients you can contact and their professional indemnity insurer.

Written disciplinary rules (Acas Code of Practice)

Employers need written disciplinary rules and procedures that staff know about, gov.uk explains, built around the Acas Code of Practice. Ignoring the code is not unlawful in itself, but a tribunal can raise an award by up to 25% where it was not followed. No licence or qualification makes an HR consultant's advice safe; following the code does.

Ask the HR consultant to show how each step maps to the Acas Code. gov.uk →

Fair dismissal

gov.uk's guidance on dismissing staff sets out what makes a dismissal fair or unfair. An HR consultant without a licence or legal qualification can run the process, but should send you to a solicitor where a claim looks likely.

Before any dismissal, ask the consultant to check the reason and process against the guidance. gov.uk →

Staff personal data (ICO)

Personnel files, absence records and investigation notes are personal data. Data protection rules require them to be kept secure; most businesses must pay the ICO fee.

Agree how the HR consultant accesses and stores staff records. gov.uk →

VAT

HR consultancy is standard-rated, so a registered HR consultant adds 20% to the retainer, case support and training sessions. Registration becomes compulsory once an HR consultant has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the HR consultant for the VAT number with the retainer terms and for VAT on each invoice as its own figure. gov.uk →

“What HR work have you done for businesses my size?”

A good answer: Examples of cases and projects, and a client the HR consultant can put you in touch with.

“How will the HR process follow the Acas Code?”

A good answer: Each stage, from investigation to appeal, set against the code.

“When would you tell me to see an employment solicitor?”

A good answer: A clear line: tribunal claims, settlement agreements, complex discrimination issues.

“What does the HR consultant's retainer cover?”

A good answer: Advice line hours, documents and case support, with extras priced.

“Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?”

A good answer: Yes, with the insurer named.

“How will the consultant handle staff data?”

A good answer: Secure access and no copies kept after the work ends.

“How quickly can you help with an urgent issue?”

A good answer: A response time and any urgent rate.

Getting the quote right

  • Hourly rate, or retainer with what it includes
  • Who actually attends the hearings and writes the policies: the HR consultant named, an employee, or a subcontracted associate
  • Documents: contracts, handbook, policies listed
  • Case support: hours or fixed fee per case
  • Training sessions priced
  • Insurance and data handling
  • The VAT number, with VAT at 20% on the retainer and each case

Walk away if

  • Advises dismissing someone without a process
  • Ignores the Acas Code
  • Gives legal opinions on tribunal claims without saying they are not a solicitor
  • Off-the-shelf handbook with no changes for your business
  • No insurance
  • Long retainer with no break clause
LOW
£60
TYPICAL
£80
HIGH
£300

What an HR consultant costs: £60–£300 per hour

HR consultants charge by the hour or a monthly retainer, with fixed fees for documents such as a handbook. HR Consultant price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

HR consultants near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.

  1. BriefingThe issue and the business context explained.
  2. AdviceOptions and risks set out in writing.
  3. ProcessInvestigation, meetings and letters run fairly.
  4. OutcomeDecision recorded, with the right to appeal.
  5. Follow-upPolicies updated and managers trained.

Acas Code of Practice
The code on disciplinary and grievance procedures tribunals take into account.
Grievance
A formal complaint raised by an employee.
Capability
A process for performance problems.
Staff handbook
The collection of workplace policies.
Retainer
A monthly fee for ongoing HR support.
Settlement agreement
A legal agreement ending employment, needing the employee to get legal advice.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the case fileInvestigation notes, letters and outcomes, stored securely.
Brief managersMake sure they know the new policies and procedures.
Review policies yearlyEmployment law changes; diary a review.
Share how it wentSay what the HR consultant did well and what could be better, once the work is finished. A problem goes through the make-it-right step first, so they can put it right.

STEP 1Put it to the HR consultant in writingA short, dated message works best: the problem, the proof and the remedy you want from the HR consultant. Your rights come from the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires a trader to use reasonable care and skill and gives you repeat performance or a price cut where they did not.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyGive the HR consultant fewer than four stars and Locufy offers to pass the complaint on first. The make-it-right step is followed through before you publish.
STEP 3Report it through the consumer helplineNobody licenses HR consultants, so the route is consumer advice: Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland. They can refer the HR consultant to Trading Standards.
STEP 4Go to small claimsFor money the HR consultant owes you, the small claims courts handle claims up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 through simple procedure in Scotland and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring an HR consultant: questions people ask

Not in any part of the UK; there is no licence, register or required qualification.

Not following it is not illegal, but tribunal awards can be up to 25% higher if it was ignored.

For tribunal claims, settlement agreements and complex legal disputes.

£60–£300 per hour, with a typical figure of £80. Experience, case complexity, urgency and retainer or ad hoc set the rate. Read the HR consultant price guide for the factors, or search your town above for HR consultants nearby.

Yes. gov.uk says employers must have written disciplinary rules and procedures and tell staff about them.

A single issue takes an hour or two; restructures run for weeks.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in business & professional

How to hire: Employment Law SolicitorHow to hire: Recruitment AgencyHow to hire: Payroll ServiceHow to hire: Health & Safety ConsultantHow to hire: Management ConsultantHow to hire: Business ConsultantHow to hire: Interview CoachHow to hire: CV WriterAll 701 hiring guides →

HR consultants near you

HR consultants in LondonHR consultants in ManchesterHR consultants in BirminghamHR consultants in GlasgowHR consultants in BelfastAll hr consultants on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — taking disciplinary action against an employee
  2. gov.uk — dismissing staff
  3. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  6. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  7. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  8. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register