For many businesses, managing HR administration can be time-consuming and frustrating. Keeping track of holiday requests, maintaining spreadsheets, and dealing with manual approvals can quickly become unmanageable. That was the case for National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) before they adopted Breathe HR, a cloud-based HR system implemented wi...
The Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) plays a vital role in supporting professional darts players, but like many organisations, they faced HR challenges that required expert guidance. Lacking in-depth knowledge of employment law and HR processes, the PDPA sought professional support to navigate key decisions, including pay structures, r...
A growing marketing business, Downland Marketing needed to update and refine HR processes to support a new team and ensure compliance with the latest legislation. When CEO Sophie Smith joined the company in 2022, she saw an opportunity to review procedures, strengthen performance management and put structured HR processes in place. Why choose Dawso...
Starting and growing a business comes with many complexities, particularly when it comes to HR and employment contracts. Morgan Consult & Advisory helps businesses in the civil engineering, construction, defence, renewable energy and nuclear industries. The team of six provides consulting and project management to help businesses grow. For Jobe...
As a small charitable organisation, South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT) is dedicated to protecting and improving the region's rivers. Like many charities, they operate with a lean team, meaning HR challenges can be particularly difficult to manage, often without in-house resource. Past HR experiences had shown Director Pete Evoy the importance of hav...
Beechwood Solutions Ltd, a small business based in Carlisle, provides professional services to a wide range of clients. Like many business owners, director Malcolm Roberts was focused on delivering great service but didn't have a structured HR plan in place. Policies existed, but there was always uncertainty over whether they were fully c...
With several key employment law changes in the news and growing concerns from employers for what this means in practice, in this update we give an overview of what's imminent and take a look further afield to future changes predicted for 2026. A key point for reference is that in general, changes to legislation affecting employment have two common ...
For a medium-sized charitable organisation in Dumfries & Galloway, managing HR effectively was crucial. With over 50 employees, they needed to ensure their middle and senior managers were equipped with the right skills to lead, communicate and manage performance consistently. Initially, the charity engaged Dawson Kaveney HR for a one-off projec...
As Director of Combe Domiciliary Care Ltd, Director Joanne faced the ongoing challenge of staying compliant with evolving HR laws. With her business responsible for providing care, it was crucial to keep up with changes in disciplinary protocols and holiday pay regulations, ensuring things ran smoothly. Although one of the directors had completed a...
In April we're set to see a significant increase in employment costs. This is down to an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers and an increase in the National Minimum Wage in 2025. It's fair to say that these changes are high on the agenda for business owners in Cumbria and Dumfries & Galloway, particularly the increased co...
In amongst the noise of the Labour Government's proposals for changes to employment law, we shouldn't lose sight of changes that have already in progress and coming into law very soon! From 26th October 2024, there is a positive duty on employers to 'take reasonable steps' to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Did you know that the followi...
With increased diagnosis of neurodiversity in adults, employers are finding this term more readily used in the world of employment, with many employers unsure how to support and manage neurodiverse employees and with a limited understanding of what neurodiversity is. Firstly; if this feels like you, you are not alone!As a seasoned HR professional, ...
The UK Government is proposing changes to the qualifying period for unfair dismissal clams, and businesses will have to react. I'm anticipating an increase in the importance of businesses managing their probation periods, as a means of some protection against unfair dismissal claims. With that in mind, here a...
If you've already heard more than enough about politics lately, I can only apologise, but for us HR people its shaping up to be quite an interesting few weeks! As the parties battle to win votes, most ride their election journey on changes and promises that affect the voting public as individuals and business operators but not always on the element...
On 6th April 2024, this new piece of legislation came into effect with the aim of supporting those who have unpaid care responsibilities. It's estimated that around 10 million people in the UK have unpaid caring responsibilities with 62% reporting that they had little or no choice about taking on the care responsibilities as there was no other opti...
I've recently seen an increase in the number of conversations about Driving License checks and the uncertainty about how to fully check an employees ability to drive. Surely, if you have a copy of their photocard driving license that shows they can drive? Actually, NO! Call me suspicious, but it is possible for an individual to present a photo...
As an HR professional adhering to my industry's code of conduct and ethics, honesty and fairness are really important to me. No more so than when it comes to supporting employers with their people matters. Throughout my HR career, my style has been described as 'Firm but Fair'. My starting point is very often asking myself 'Is my conscience cl...
With recruitment and cost of living a challenge for employers to manage, I've recently seen an increase in employers introducing a 'Healthcare Cash Plan' for their employees as a means of providing additional benefits for employees without adding additional cash directly to pay. A Healthcare Cash Plan is a low cost benefit which allows an employee ...
Dawson Kaveney HR celebrates its 15th anniversary today! Whilst we celebrated our first year of trading under the new name recently, the roots of the business can be traced back to 2008, when it was originally founded by Sue Kaveney as Kaveney HR Solutions. In 2022, Helen Dawson took over the business and has since led the company to new heights, w...
Too often I see employers without the absolute HR essentials when employing a new member of staff. As a result, this can leave businesses open to expensive legal action and the inability to manage employees effectively. With just a few steps – you can avoid these headaches! Working as a HR Consultant with businesses in Cumbria and across the UK giv...