VisitEngland

Employ and manage staff

Tourism thrives on customer service: hiring staff members who fit with your style of business is vital. Here you’ll find useful resources about employing and training staff.

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A young woman working the coffee machine with colleague assisting in cafe

Hiring staff

Workplace pensions, health and safety obligations, managing salaries and tax and more – there is a lot to consider. We’ve compiled some useful guides to help you.

Get ready to hire new staff

Learn about PAYE, pension schemes, accessibility and insurance, with this easy-to-follow government guide.

Finding and employing staff

Find help with DBS checks and contracts, with this government guide.

Hiring your first employee

Get a guide to an overview from Starling Bank on hiring your first employee: from job descriptions to payroll.

How to hire temporary and seasonal staff

Find out what you need to know about hiring temporary employees, with guidance from the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB).

Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters

Learn about recruitment services from Jobcentre Plus, including help setting work trials and employing disabled people.

Employing under-18s

Learn about the legalities around employing staff under the age of 18.

Employing prisoners and ex-offenders

Read government guidance on employing prisoners and ex-offenders, including case studies and tips to get started. 

Guidance for charities using volunteers

Get practical support on managing volunteers, from insurance to training from The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Hiring and supporting refugees

Advice from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for the hospitality industry looking to provide employment to refugees and displaced people.

Hiring staff from overseas

Search through our guides on how to hire people from outside the UK, what licences you will need, visas and more.

Hiring from the EU and overseas

Learn about the Government’s requirements for hiring someone from outside the UK and registering as a licensed sponsor. 

Employing EU citizens in the UK

Get information on employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, including right to work checks.

Get visas for your overseas staff

Find out how to employ staff from overseas, both within and outside the EU, with this toolkit from London & Partners, London’s business growth and destination agency.

An introduction to the UK’s points-based immigration system

Understand how the UK’s points-based immigration system works and the steps you need to take as an employer.

Recruitment support schemes

Find out about attracting new talent through placement schemes and work academy programmes.

Become a Springboard business partner

Attract new talent with Springboard schemes, which help employers provide placements for young people and access available funding.

Sector-based work academy programme (SWAP)

Find out how SWAP can help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a new area of work.

Employing disabled people

Broaden your understanding of disability and learn how to support a more inclusive workplace.

Become a Disability Confident employer

Increase your understanding of disability and learn how to recruit and support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions in work.

Inclusive recruitment support

Access guidance, case studies and information about how employers can attract, recruit and retain people from a variety of backgrounds.

Business Disability Forum

Become a Business Disability Forum member and access advice and guidance on supporting disabled staff and customers.

GAIN

The Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity champions neurodiversity and seeks to positively impact lives and improve workplaces.

Support with employee health and disability

A new UK Government online service providing advice and guidance to employers on health and disability in the workplace.

Know your legal obligations

Ensure your business is compliant with our Pink Book of Legislation.

Pink Book of Legislation

Make sure your accommodation or attraction is compliant with regulations, with our Pink Book. Find out about employment law, including working hours and employing staff under the age of 18.

Make sure your accommodation or attraction is compliant with regulations, with our Pink Book. Find out about employment law, including working hours and employing staff under the age of 18.

Managing your employees

Ensure your payroll is set up correctly, find a free training course on resolving conflict or discover more about how flexible working or reward schemes can benefit both your business and your staff, and much more.

Online training on employment issues

Complete a series of online training modules from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)to improve your approach to employment-related issues.

Help with employment-related taxes

Get free help and support from HMRC about what you need to know when you’re employing staff, including expenses, benefits and payroll.

Supporting your employees from the EU

Get information from the Government to support EU citizens and their families on the EU Settlement Scheme.

Guidance on fair tipping policies

Read the UK Hospitality (UKH)’s guidance on developing your tipping policy.

Become a Living Wage employer

Get accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, by paying employees the real Living Wage.

Latest employment updates from HMRC

Sign up to HMRC’s employer bulletins to keep up to date with the latest payroll requirements.

Become an age-friendly employer

Read guidance from the Centre for Ageing Better on creating age-friendly workplaces.

Guidance on single sex spaces

Be across guidance around single sex spaces, including separate or single-sex toilets, from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Stop child exploitation

Learn how to spot the signs of child exploitation with free resources specific to tourism businesses.

Managing sickness absence

Read the guidance from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on managing sickness absence, creating a return-to-work plan and supporting staff through the process.

Managing stress and mental health at work

Learn how to support good mental health in the workplace with this Health and Safety Executive (HSE) toolkit.

The Burnt Chef Project

The Burnt Chef Project provides a range of support to those working in hospitality experiencing mental health issues, including e-learning and a free 24/7 support service.

Mental Health At Work

Find a variety of resources and toolkits, including ones aimed specifically at small businesses, about mental health in the workplace.

Apprenticeships

Taking on an apprentice can reduce your staff turnover, cut recruitment costs and increase employee satisfaction. Discover more about accessing funding and find support.

Find and hire an apprentice 

Learn what you need to do to find and hire an apprentice, including how to find a training provider and financial support available.

Small business apprenticeships toolkit

Read this guide from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships (APPG) on funding available to SMEs who take on an apprentice.

Hire an apprentice and grow your business 

Find out how taking on an apprentice could help you deal with skills gaps in your workforce, with resources from People 1st International.

Train an apprentice with Umbrella Training

Learn about the nationwide training and apprenticeship provider, Umbrella Training, who work with the hospitality and corporate sectors.

Find local support

Your Local Visitor Economy Partnership, Destination Management Organisation or Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub may be able to help you take on staff.

Local support finder

Enter your county into our quick tool to find advice and support specific to your local area.

Enter your county into our quick tool to find advice and support specific to your local area.