Ready to Employ? Taking on Your First Member of Staff

Employing your first member of staff is a major milestone in the growth of any charity, Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or voluntary organisation. It can increase your capacity, improve the services you deliver and help your organisation grow, but it also brings new responsibilities, financial commitments and legal obligations.

This practical and interactive 2.5-hour workshop is designed to help organisations understand what it really means to become an employer and whether now is the right time to take that next step.

Together, we will explore the key questions every organisation should ask before recruiting their first employee. Is employing someone the right solution, or could your needs be met through volunteers, freelancers, partnerships or shared roles? Can your organisation genuinely afford to employ someone, not just today but for the long term? What systems, policies and processes should you have in place before making your first appointment?

We will also examine the true cost of employing staff. Beyond salary, many organisations are surprised by the additional costs involved, including employer National Insurance, pension contributions, holiday pay, payroll, recruitment, training, equipment, insurance and ongoing support. Understanding these costs is essential to ensuring your organisation remains financially sustainable.

During the workshop, we will cover:

• Is your organisation ready to employ its first member of staff?
• Alternatives to employment, including volunteers, freelancers and partnership working.
• Understanding the full cost of employing someone.
• Funding staff posts and planning for long-term sustainability.
• The legal responsibilities of becoming an employer.
• Preparing job descriptions and person specifications.
• Recruiting the right person for your organisation.
• Induction, support and retaining good employees.
• Common mistakes first time employers make and how to avoid them.

The session will include practical examples, group discussions and interactive exercises to help you apply the learning to your own organisation. You'll have the opportunity to consider your current position, discuss challenges with peers and leave with a clearer understanding of whether employing staff is the right next step for your organisation.

This workshop is suitable for:

• Charities, CICs and social enterprises considering employing their first member of staff.
• Volunteer-led organisations looking to increase their capacity.
• Organisations that have secured funding and are planning their first recruitment.
• Trustees, directors and committee members responsible for organisational growth and sustainability.

By the end of the session, you will have a realistic understanding of what becoming an employer involves, the financial implications to consider, and the confidence to make informed decisions about growing your organisation in a sustainable way.