We’ve recently been exploring how bringing in outsourced HR support is a great solution for growing and established businesses that are struggling to resource their HR requirements. You can read our recent blog here, where we explore five key reasons that you should consider working with an outsourced HR team. We also share some of the big risks that businesses leave themselves vulnerable to when they continue to ignore investing in their HR and legal requirements!  

Here at Metro HR, we’ve had the pleasure to support many different businesses, from across a diverse range of sectors and industries. We understand that finding the right HR support is a big decision for any business to make. It’s vital that organisations find the right fit for their unique HR needs, as well as for the business culture that they’ve worked hard to establish.  

Like any other working partnership, it’s important to be able to know and trust the HR support you choose to bring into your organisation. We want to help you in making the right decision for your business, and so in this blog we’ll lay out some of the key questions that we think you should be asking when considering working with an outsourced HR team.  

Nine Key Questions to Ask Your Prospective HR Team

Question One: What is your experience in our industry? 

Every industry is different and will have specific considerations that need to be taken into account. Naturally, you’ll want to ensure that the HR team you engage understands the specific needs and challenges of your industry but realistically HR legislation and best practice is similar across many sectors. Here at Metro HR, we bring a diverse range of experience, having worked across the public sector, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, charities, property management and construction, diaspora, luxury travel, digital media, to name a few.

Question Two: How will you manage our account? 

When working with an outsourced HR consultant or team, it’s important for businesses to understand the process of how their account will be managed, whether it will be handled by one person or by a team, and how they can expect to work with their account manager. At Metro HR, we are a small but mighty team of experienced HR consultants. You’ll work closely with one or two key members of the team, according to your specific package and business needs, because for us consistency and building long-term relationships is key. We will agree right at the start of our relationship what the best or preferred ways of keeping in touch are and how often we’ll be in touch.  

Question Three: What services do you offer? 

Businesses need to know what HR functions the company can handle, such as benefits administration, payroll, legal compliance, and more. At Metro HR, we offer a solid foundation in general HR management services, along with specific know-how around recruitment and talent management, supporting employees to thrive, improving employee performance, managing absence, supporting grievances, disciplinaries and exits, as well developing and finessing policies and procedures. 

Key Questions to Ask Before Engaging an Outsourced HR Team
Key Questions to Ask Before Engaging an Outsourced HR Team

Question Four: How will the transition process work? 

Outsourcing HR functions requires a transition of tasks from the business to the HR company, so businesses need to understand how this process will be managed. We recommend that you check this so that you can begin to factor in the onboarding process, and what you’ll need to do to get your new HR team up to speed. At Metro HR, we work to support our clients in making the transition as easy as possible, and will be able to advise you further as needed.  

Question Five: What is your pricing structure? 

Cost is a significant factor for businesses, so they need to understand how the HR company’s pricing works and what services are included. We’re really mindful of this at Metro HR, and understand that every business is different. We offer a number of packages to support your budget and requirements, and we can also offer more bespoke support if you don’t quite see what you need. Find out more about our packages and how we work here. 

Question Six: How do you ensure legal compliance? 

HR involves many legal aspects, so businesses need to know how the HR company ensures compliance with current laws and regulations. At Metro HR, our HR consultants are all members of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and our founder is a Platinum Accredited member of HR Independents.  The team takes their continued professional development and learning really seriously, so you can always trust that you’re in good hands.  

Question Seven: How do you handle recruitment and talent acquisition? 

Hiring the right people is crucial for any business, so if this is a key area where you’d like HR support, you’ll want to get a firm sense of how the HR company approaches this process. At Metro HR, we have a lot of experience in recruiting and sourcing the right people for your business, with a specialised Recruitment Consultant working as part of the team.  

Question Eight: What is your track record with other clients? 

A great way to get a sense of how a HR company operates, and the change / transformation they facilitate, is by reading case studies and testimonials from previous clients. This can help you to gauge their reliability and effectiveness, beyond what they share with you directly. We are very proud of the amazing feedback we get from our clients, and have many clients that have worked with us since we started 10 years ago. You can view some of our client case studies here and testimonials here. 

Question Nine: How will outsourcing HR functions benefit our business? 

Finally, it’s important to be able to understand the specific benefits you will gain from outsourcing your HR functions, including the cost savings, efficiency and access to expertise, particularly if you need to put forward a case for bringing on board HR support. At Metro HR, we can help you get clear on the benefits you can expect to receive from working with us, and help you set clear and realistic expectations for our work together.  

Key Questions to Ask Before Engaging an Outsourced HR Team

Ready to find out more? Here's what to do next

The decision to bring in outsourced HR support is a significant one for any business, whether it’s a growing start-up or an established enterprise. It’s crucial to ask the right questions and evaluate potential partners properly. From understanding their experience and account management process through to their pricing structure, legal compliance measures and track record with previous clients, the questions above will help you to make an informed, balanced decision.  

At Metro HR, we aim to be your trusted partner in HR. We recognise the weight of this decision and aim to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs and challenges of the organisations we work with. We welcome your questions and are very happy to talk through your needs and concerns in-depth to help you understand the benefits of working with our team.  

As a first step, we offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation to find out more. We’ll identify what you already have in place, listen to whatever you’re struggling with right now and help you to determine what you need to move forward with confidence. And of course, there will be time to talk through your questions so that you have everything you need to make the right decision for your business.  

Ready to find out more about working with an outsourced HR team? Click the button below to book a consultation call: 

Book your free 30-minute consultation now  

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