New HR Scheme Set To Bolster Small Tees Valley Businesses

Small firms across Tees Valley are being offered the chance to apply to take part in a new pilot providing two-days of free HR support to help them create more quality jobs, recruit the best candidates, and prepare for new changes to employment law.

The trial programme - developed by the CIPD and the Behavioural Insights Team - and delivered by Tees Valley Combined Authority aims to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool with bespoke HR support, as and when they need it.

This tailored HR support is provided by CIPD-qualified HR consultants who will work with participating firms - employing between 5 and 250 employees – to improve their working practices, for the mutual benefit of the business as well as its employees.

Ben Willmott

Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, commented:
“Small firms typically have little or no access to professional HR support which can mean they lose out on recruiting the best candidates, or aren’t making the most of people’s skills or lose staff unnecessarily.

“This pilot will help small businesses across Tees Valley get the key foundations of good HR practice in place in areas such as recruitment, job design, flexible working, as well as performance and absence management. The scheme will also help inform government policy on how to deliver effective business support to improve people management capability in SMEs.”


The launch of the new HR pilot scheme is timely given the raft of changes planned to employment regulation – announced in the UK government’s Employment Rights Bill – along with the rise of the national minimum wage, and to employer National Insurance contributions. All of which could hinder the growth and recruitment intentions of small businesses.

Ben Houchen

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen said:
“Small and medium-sized businesses make a huge contribution to the economy in our region and it’s essential they have access to the right advice to support their workforce and grow their business.

“This is why we are delighted to be leading the way in delivering this support. It offers small businesses across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool a unique opportunity to improve their workplace practices and understand the challenges that may impact their business.”

The evaluation of the HR pilots will explore if this type of bespoke HR support can help to improve productivity and business outcomes for participating firms.

Eva Myers, Director at the Behavioural Insight Team, commented: “With the help of hundreds of SMEs we aim to recruit into the project - the first trial of this kind - we will gain invaluable insights into what works to improve workplace recruitment and retention of employees in an SME context.”

Small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) employing between 5 and 250 employees in Tees Valley can apply to take part in the free HR pilot here or e: ben.willmott@cipd.co.uk