Managing a small team – how the BIID can help

Growing your interior design practice from a solo business to a small team means becoming involved in new functions. Once you employ people, you’ll need to be able to deal with human resources and employment law issues, payroll and pensions, for example.

To assist small interior design companies, the BIID offers help to its members, and here we look at what’s on offer, and where else you can find guidance as a business owner.

Access assistance with human resources

Employment regulations can raise complex issues and the law evolves, too, so it’s important to be sure you are abiding by the rules and keeping up with changes. Issues that typically arise for interior design practices include contract review; dismissals; performance management; absence management; recruitment; redundancy projects; TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations); employee relations; and training and development.

To assist small businesses with this function, the BIID offers the services of The HR Dept, where qualified HR professionals can offer advice on people management and employment law.

Members have free access to advisers either in their office or by telephone. You will be allocated either an hour in the offices or 30 minutes over the telephone to deal with your query, and this includes time to read any documents you wish to seek advice on.  

The HR professionals will advise you on the steps you need to take and where you may be able to get support (although they will not write letters on your behalf or draft documents), and you will receive a written summary of the advice. Be aware that advice is restricted to matters affecting the member organisations. The personnel do not advise individuals on personal employment issues.

Take advantage of up to four advice sessions in any 12 month period.

Get legal help

In running a small business, it can be necessary to access legal advice, and BIID offers members a legal helpline for these occasions. Members can take advantage of a free 30 minute telephone consultation for each issue.

Receive advice on the CDM regulations

It is vital that interior designers are compliant with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM regulations) which set out what people involved in construction work, including interior designers, need to do to protect themselves, and anyone the work affects, from harm.

The BIID offers members a CDM helpline in partnership with specialists. Take advantage of a free 30 minute telephone consultation to be clear on the rules and gain expert advice on any aspect of the regulations.

Discover payroll information

You can choose to have a payroll provider – for instance an accountant – or do it yourself using payroll software, and you are legally responsible for completing PAYE (HM Revenue and Customs’  system to collect income tax and national insurance from employment) tasks even if you pay someone to do them on your behalf.

Find assistance on this aspect of your responsibilities as a small business owner from the government.

Become savvy about pensions

As an employer in the UK, under the Pensions Act 2008, you must put certain staff into a workplace pension and pay into it – this is ‘automatic enrolment’. Duties begin from the day your first member of staff starts work.

To discover what you need to do for automatic enrolment, use the online tool from the Pensions Regulator. You can also download a guide on automatic enrolment from the regulator.

Small team management

Once you become an employer, there are additional responsibilities that are yours, but there is help available. As a BIID member, advice on people management and employment law is on offer via the HR helpline, and both the legal helpline and the CDM helpline are great resources for small companies. You can find all of this in the Member's Area. Not yet a member? Find out which membership is right for you to join and gain access to these valuable resources. 

For payroll and pensions information, take advantage of the information the government provides – even if you are using the services of other professionals for this part of your business – to be assured you are well informed about your responsibilities.