It's All About People - 18th September 2025

READ TIME - 4 minute read

This week has been a bit of a blur of dentist and optician appointments as both our “children” prepare to head off to Uni. The good news? All the costs were covered by our cash plan — and it didn’t cost a fortune to have that peace of mind.

(And just to be crystal clear — this isn’t an advert, and I’m not on commission from anyone! I just know first-hand how much difference these little things can make.) Therefore this week’s email is all about how to provide great benefits that don’t break the budget.

Below is the benefits page from our website.

When we talk about employee benefits, many small businesses immediately think: “That’s for the big companies — we can’t afford it.”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need a huge budget to offer benefits that really matter to your team.

• Cash plans, like the one we provide. Many cost less than £10/employee/month and help with everyday healthcare expenses like dental and optical care.

• Flexible working options, can be worth more than money to some employees.

• Our team work 4 days but are paid for 5 - ensuring they get to look after their wellbeing

• Career development plans, to develop skills and knowledge - this could be courses and qualifications but also shadowing, mentoring and time to learn in work time.

• Enhanced family leave and pay, so people get more time when they most need it. At Gateway HR we introduced paid Grandparent’s Leave.

• A day off for your birthday - that does not come out of annual leave.

The key is to know what your people really value. For some it’s health support, for others it’s extra time, recognition, or development opportunities.

👉 Top tips for small businesses:

• Ask your team directly. A short survey or a simple “what would help you most?” conversation can be eye-opening.

• Start small. Even one or two low-cost benefits can have a big impact.

• Communicate clearly. Don’t assume people know what’s available — remind them regularly.

If you’re thinking “we can’t compete with the big players,” think again. It’s often the little things that make your team feel valued — and that’s what keeps them motivated and loyal.

Also this week…
I also had the pleasure of running a session for our friends in the beauty industry, where we talked about the power of benefits and what it means to be a great employer. It sparked some brilliant conversations about how even small gestures and affordable schemes can make a huge difference.

If you’re in hair or beauty, I’d love your input: please complete our short survey to help shape guidance that’s specific to your sector. And if you’re not in the industry, please share it with anyone who is.

And if you’d like to hear more, I’ll be delivering a similar session on 22nd September with Believe and Achieve — and the best part? It’s completely free to join. You can sign up here.

Until next week…

Best wishes,
Emma

P.S. There are lots of resources in the HR Hub in relation to employee benefits and how to communicate them, Why not try the HR Hub free for a month here.

Events to Join in the coming weeks

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Sickness Absence - — understanding the real costs, reducing absenteeism, and preparing for the 2026 changes.

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Conflict - — coming in the next few weeks, the next in our series of free webinars. Click on the title to join the waiting list.

🎥 LinkedIn Live on Sexual Harassment Legislation and How to Be Complaint - Click on re-watch it.

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