About 5,000 small and medium-sized businesses (with less than 250 staff) are being offered a year’s free access to online HR advice in an EU-funded project.
The HR Business Advisor initiative, backed by the Department of Trade and Industry, provides information and guidance on employment issues, including answers to a list of frequently asked questions, template HR forms and advice on legal compliance.
The People First service, financially supported by the European Social Fund, is available via subscription to small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector.
Participating businesses will also receive regular updates and alerts about any changes in legislation that may affect them.
A spokeswoman for People First said: “We understand that for the majority of small to medium businesses, the cost of HR overhead is not always economically viable. However, the expert advice that they provide can be very useful if and when problems arise.”