HR Advisory Retainer for Small Businesses and Charities

The HR and People Advisory retainer from King HR Advisory gives you a named, Chartered HR adviser on a monthly basis. You get practical advice when you need it, the letters and documents checked before they go out, regular legislation updates and a scheduled review of where things stand. It is built for small and growing organisations that need dependable HR support but not a full-time hire.

The point of a retainer is that you stop treating every HR question as a new commission. Your adviser already knows your organisation, so the answer is faster, better and cheaper than starting from scratch each time.

What is included

• Ad hoc advice. Phone or email access to your adviser for day-to-day people questions, from contracts and pay to conduct and absence.

• Letters and documents. We draft or review the correspondence that goes out under your name, so it is accurate and consistent.

• Legislation updates. A quarterly briefing on what has changed and what it means for you, and urgent amendments to your policies when the law requires it. This matters more than usual with the Employment Rights Act changes still rolling out through 2027.

• Review meetings. A scheduled meeting, monthly or quarterly depending on your priorities, with notes and agreed actions, to look at open issues, risks and plans.

• Response times. Urgent queries are answered by the next working day.

• Continuity and cover. One named adviser, backed by a second who knows your account and can step in.

What is priced separately

We would rather be clear about this now than surprise you later. The following are quoted as projects, so that the retainer stays affordable and you only pay for what you use:

• An annual review of your policies and handbook

• Formal HR activity, such as running a disciplinary, grievance, investigation or appeal

• Developing new templates, policies or training content

• Larger strategic pieces of work

Retainer clients are given priority for this work, and we will always agree the scope and cost before we start.

A higher tier for strategic support

For organisations that want more than reactive help, a second tier adds strategic HR support. That covers help with the bigger questions: shaping the people plan, thinking through structure and growth, preparing for board or trustee conversations and planning ahead for regulatory change. It suits organisations that are growing, changing or under scrutiny.

How fair usage works

The retainer is not unlimited and is not hard capped. We work on a fair usage basis. In practice most clients use it in a steady pattern, and if usage is running well above what the retainer was designed for, we will talk to you about it openly, and about whether a different arrangement would suit you better. We will not send a surprise invoice.

What it costs

Retainers start from [add your figure] a month, depending on the size of your organisation and the tier you choose. The exact fee is agreed after a short conversation, and there are no set-up charges. [Confirm]

Is a retainer right for you?

A retainer makes sense if people questions come up most months, you want a consistent adviser who knows your business, and you would rather budget a fixed monthly amount than be surprised by bills. It is probably not the right fit if you have a single, one-off problem and no need for ongoing support. In that case, project-based help is better value, and we will tell you so.

It is also worth being clear about what we are not. We give advice and strategy. We do not administer HR platforms or run payroll, but we work alongside whichever ones you use.

Questions we are often asked

How is this different from an HR helpline? A helpline gives generic advice from whoever answers. A retainer gives you an adviser who knows your organisation, your history and your people.

What if we need help with a tribunal claim? We can prepare the process and advise on strategy. We are not solicitors, so where legal representation is needed we introduce trusted referral partners.

Can we change tier or stop? Yes, on the notice period agreed in your terms.

Do you work with charities and community organisations? Yes. We understand trustees, funders and volunteers as well as employees.

How quickly can we start? Usually within a couple of weeks. We begin by reviewing your contracts, policies and open issues.

Talk to us

Book a discovery call to see whether a retainer suits you. If you would like a quick view of your risks first, try our People Risk Scorecard.