Retained HR Support + Services > Fractional HR Directors for UK SMEs
Fractional HR Directors for UK SMEs
Senior HR expertise. Embedded in your team. Without the full-time cost.
As your business grows from 20 to 200+ employees, people challenges grow with it. Managing performance, navigating employment law changes, building leadership capability these aren't problems you can afford to get wrong.
But hiring a full-time HR Director at £80,000–£120,000 per year isn't always the right answer. Especially when what you need is strategic HR leadership 2-3 days per week, not five.
Our Fractional HR service gives you access to experienced HR Directors on a part-time, retained basis. We embed ourselves as an extension of your leadership team providing the strategic thinking and hands-on delivery of an in-house People Director, without the full-time overhead.
With over 15 years of working with leaders of SMEs we have helped businesses scale at pace. We recognise the pressures of growth and performance especially in uncertain markets.
This is HR leadership that grows with you.
Why choose Fractional HR?
Choose this service if:
You need strategic HR leadership but don't have the budget for a full-time Director
You want both strategy and delivery, not just advisory consulting
You're navigating significant change (restructure, merger, acquisition, funding round)
You need employment law expertise to handle Employment Rights Act 2026 compliance
What makes JourneyHR different?
Embedded, not transactional
Our team genuinely feels like part of yours. We attend your meetings, know your managers by name, and operate like an internal HR Director without the overheads.
People-first and commercially savvy
We balance empathy with clear advice. We care about your people and your business surviving and thriving.
Built for long-term partnership
Our average client relationship runs 3+ years. We work exclusively with UK SMEs (20-200 employees), so we understand the pace, constraints, and trade-offs of scaling founder-led businesses.
Common questions we're asked
How much does fractional HR cost?
A full-time HR Director costs £116,000–£176,000 in year one (salary, NI, pension, recruitment, benefits). Fractional HR (3 days/month): £60,000–£84,000 per year. You save 50-70% and get immediate expertise without recruitment risk.
Who will I be working with?
You'll be assigned a dedicated HR Director with 10+ years of SME experience, deep expertise in UK employment law (including Employment Rights Act 2026 changes), and a track record of building HR functions from scratch.
Can you support us if we're not in London?
Yes. While we're based in London, we work with SMEs across the UK through a mix of in-person visits and remote support.
What if we decide to hire someone full-time later?
We actively support that transition. When that happens, we help you recruit, onboard, and support them in their first 90 days.
Is Fractional HR right for your business?
Fractional HR works best for UK SMEs (20-200 employees) who need senior HR expertise but aren't ready for a full-time hire.
You might benefit if:
You're a founder or MD handling HR yourself and it's taking too much time
You have an HR Administrator who needs strategic leadership
You're scaling rapidly and need HR infrastructure
You want to reduce employment law risk and ensure ERA 2026 compliance
This probably isn't the right fit if:
You only need occasional ad-hoc advice
You're looking for the cheapest HR support
You already have a full-time HR Director
Duration + investment
Our Fractional HR service is typically structured as a monthly retainer (2–4 days/month), with flexible hours that scale with your needs.
There's no long-term lock-in. We work month-to-month because we earn your business by delivering value.
Get in touch to discuss your needs and how we can support you.
Get started now!
If you're a UK SME founder or MD looking for senior HR expertise without the commitment of a full-time hire, let's talk.
We've been supporting scaling businesses since 2010 and we've helped 100+ SMEs navigate growth, change, and employment law complexity.
We'll come back to you within 24 hours.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Aliya Vigor-Robertson
Founding Partner
+44 7979 498 455
aliya@journeyhr.com
Sue Shaw
Founding Partner
+44 7939 992 801
sue@journeyhr.com
Location
JourneyHR
Hunter Suite
12–18 Theobalds Road
London WC1X 8PL
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5.30pm