5 Things to Consider when Hiring for a Startup

Looking to start a new business and need to hire staff? Then there a number of factors you should consider, from your business requirements to your responsibilities as an employer and more besides. We’ve put together a few tips when hiring for a startup, read on to find out what they are:

1) Your responsibilities 

First and foremost, you need to understand your responsibilities as an employer. From national insurance contributions to pension provision and employers liability insurance, there is a lot for you to consider. If you’re new to hiring staff and you want to get it right, then the ACAS website is a good place to start as it has lots of advice for employers. There are tools, templates and resources which will give you a better understanding of your responsibilities and help you to get started.

2) Your finances

Before you take on an employee, take a close look at your finances and ensure you have the resources to pay for them, from their wages to your other obligations. Be mindful of the fact that hiring employees involves much more than simply paying their wages; you’ll need to consider your whole benefits package from holiday and sick pay to insurance and pension responsibilities. Remember that in the UK, employers will have to provide a workplace pension for eligible staff by 2018.

3) Temporary or permanent staff

So now might be a good time to consider whether your business would be best served by temporary, contract or permanent staff. Although engaging temporary or agency staff may mean you pay a higher hourly rate, it would also mean that you are free of some of the obligations of taking on permanent employees.

You’ll also be free to adapt to your business’s changing circumstances, including responding to the ebbs and flows of demand for your services. In addition, take on specialist agency staff and you may well be surprised at what experience they can bring to your business. If you are still not sure whether your businesses need temporary or permanent staff members, seek help from the Elements talent acquisition company. They will be able to guide you.

4) Your needs

When deciding what staff to take on, have a clear idea of what your business needs. Where do you most need help? Do you need office support so you can concentrate on your core business activities? On the other hand, do you want someone who can contribute skills and experience that you don’t have – like a financial whizz, sales person or an experienced communicator? Take the time to look at your business and conduct a gap analysis of who you need most and who would benefit the business most.

5) Finding the right applicants

Finding the right applicants can be tricky and it might be that you would benefit from the expertise of an experienced recruitment consultant or the services of a specialist staff agency, depending on your area of business. One way to cut the wheat from the chaff is to have a more detailed application process that may involve a specific skilled task, as well as a cover letter and CV submission. Those not truly interested in the job, simply won’t both to complete the task.

So there you have our tips on what to consider when hiring new staff for your business, from your finances to your needs and responsibilities as an employer. We hope you’re ready to get started and will soon find the employees you need.