The real cost of a bad hire
A Bad Hire Costs More Than Money
The wrong person in the wrong role doesn't just waste salary. It drains your time, disrupts the team, and can set you back months. For a small business, that's not just inconvenient — it's dangerous.
Most SME owners know this. But when you're already stretched thin, recruitment often ends up as a rushed afterthought — a quick job ad, a gut-feeling interview, and fingers crossed it works out.
It doesn't have to be that way.
How I help
Hands-On Recruitment Support
I work alongside you through the whole process — or just the bits where you need backup. No agency fees, no commission, no candidates being pushed at you. Just practical support to help you hire well.
Getting the brief right
Before we advertise anything, we'll get crystal clear on what you actually need — the skills, the personality, the culture fit. This is where most bad hires start going wrong.
Job ads that attract the right people
Not generic templates. Proper adverts that speak to the candidates you want and filter out the ones you don't.
Screening and shortlisting
I'll sift through applications so you're not wading through 80 CVs at midnight. You see the strong ones, I handle the rest.
Interview structure and support
Structured interviews that actually tell you something useful. I can design the questions, sit in on interviews, or coach you through doing them yourself.
Offer and onboarding
Getting the offer right, sorting contracts, and making sure your new hire's first days set them up to stay.
Compliance and legal
Right to work checks, data protection, equal opportunities — all the stuff that needs to be right but nobody enjoys doing.
Why work with me?
Why Not Just Use a Recruitment Agency?
Agencies have their place. But for most SMEs hiring for one or two roles at a time, agency fees — typically 15–25% of salary — are a significant outlay, and you often don't get much say in the process.
Working with me is different:
I'm Emma Armytage — The HR Goddess.
Nearly 25 years in HR, from major high-street retailers to family-run SMEs. Practical, no-nonsense support that protects your business without overcomplicating it.