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 with the help of Dawson Kaveney HR.

NSAN: A collaborative and people-focussed organisation

Based in the north of England, NSAN supports skills and training in the UK's nuclear sector.

Executive Assistant, Abby Wallbank, plays a key role in managing HR processes for the organisation's 30+ employees. Before implementing Breathe HR, handling holiday requests and HR paperwork was an unnecessary challenge.

"Before Breathe, we relied on spreadsheets and paperwork to manage holidays, which was a nightmare for me, especially as I'd always used systems in previous roles. So, when Tricia, our MD, asked me to implement Breathe, I was overjoyed!"

Moving away from manual HR admin

Before Breathe, tracking holiday requests relied on spreadsheets and paper-based processes. This created extra admin, left room for errors, and meant Abby often had to act as the go-between for staff and managers.

"The old system created so much unnecessary admin for me, and there was always the risk of errors. Plus, I was constantly acting as the go-between for staff and their leave requests, which took up a lot of time."

With Helen Dawson's support, NSAN implemented Breathe HR quickly and smoothly. Within days, the team was fully onboarded, and the impact was immediate.

"It was so easy! Everyone picked it up really quickly, and it didn't take much effort to implement at all."

How Breathe HR transformed HR management at NSAN

• A streamlined holiday request process, with staff and managers now handling leave requests directly.
  
• Eliminated paperwork and spreadsheets, reducing errors and saving time.
  
• Breathe HR's app allows staff to check the leave calendar and submit requests instantly.
  
• Managers and staff have greater control over their own HR profiles.
  
• Secure storage of essential HR documents such as signed contracts, meaning everything is stored in one place and is easily accessible.
  
• A central hub for key company information such as policies and procedures, which can be shared with employees, along with confirmation of having read and accepted documents.
• Use of additional modules, including the Recruitment and Expenses features, helping NSAN manage even more aspects of their people processes in one place.

"Breathe has completely cut out all that admin and significantly reduced the potential for errors. It's streamlined the process, giving staff control over their own leave and HR profiles and saving everyone time."

 The features that made the biggest difference for Abby

• Self-service holiday management – no more manual processing or unnecessary admin
• Mobile-friendly app – staff can manage leave and HR records on the go
• Better visibility for managers – approval processes are simpler and faster
• Built-in birthday reminders – adding a personal touch to team culture
• Recruitment and expenses modules – making it easier to manage hiring and staff claims without switching systems
• Document storage and compliance tracking – keeping everything securely in one place, with visibility of key policy acknowledgements

"The best part is that staff and their line managers can now manage leave directly—there's no need for me to be the middleman anymore! I also love the birthday function; it gives me a heads-up when team members have birthdays coming up, which is a nice personal touch."

A simple, effective HR solution

For Abby and the NSAN team, the transition to Breathe HR has been a huge improvement. The system is easy to use, saves time and ensures a smoother HR process across the organisation.

"I'd recommend it to anyone looking to simplify their HR processes. It's made such a difference to us."

Dawson Kaveney and Breathe HR could help your business today

Breathe HR is a powerful tool, but getting the most from any HR system requires expert guidance and implementation. That is where Dawson Kaveney HR can help.

Helen supports businesses in choosing and integrating HR solutions, ensuring they work effectively and efficiently.

If HR admin is taking up too much of your time, Dawson Kaveney HR can help you implement Breathe HR and transform the way you manage people.

Contact us today to learn more about how Breathe HR can work for your business. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.