The United Kingdom has long been an international business hub, offering everything from financial centers like London to thriving tech scenes in cities like Manchester.
With its strong economy and infrastructure, a wealth of highly educated, English-speaking professionals, and proximity to global markets, the U.K. is one of the top countries for global hiring. So it’s no surprise that many of our clients are actively hiring here.
However, hiring in the U.K. also comes with challenges. The country has well-established local employment laws that cover everything from workplace protections and employee benefits to termination processes and employee rights. That’s why many companies choose to work with an Employer of Record (EOR) to ensure they hire U.K. citizens compliantly.
An EOR serves as the legal employer on your behalf, taking care of employment contracts, payroll, taxes, and compliance with local regulations.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the seven best Employer of Record services for workforce management in the U.K. to help you find the right partner.
Key takeaways:
- The U.K. is a top choice for international hiring because of its strong economy, skilled workforce, and access to global markets.
- RemoFirst offers a budget-friendly, all-in-one EOR solution ideal for startups and small businesses, starting at just USD 199 per employee/month.
- EOR companies like Oyster and Globalization Partners cater to large enterprises with premium services but are among the most expensive options.
Best U.K. Employer of Record Quick View
Keep Calm and Hire British Talent
If you want to grow your team, hiring in the U.K. is a smart move. The talent pool is strong, with plenty of highly educated, English-speaking professionals across industries like tech, finance, and creative services.
The U.K.'s time zone also works well for businesses in both Europe and North America, making collaboration easier. And with remote work now the norm, connecting with top talent across the country is simpler than ever — no need for a local office to get started.
Convinced your next hire should be in the U.K.? Here are some of the best Employer of Record providers to consider partnering with.
1. RemoFirst
RemoFirst is the best EOR partner for many companies, especially startups, small businesses, and those on a budget.
We’re one of the most affordable EORs on the market, with pricing starting at just USD 199 per full-time employee per month and USD 25 per contractor per month. And, unlike many EORs, we have no hidden fees, so you’ll always know your total costs upfront.
With our easy-to-use platform, you can manage employees and independent contractors and pay them in British pounds (GPB).
Need to hire in the U.K. fast? No problem. We can provide onboarding in days, not weeks.
With a dedicated account manager and 24/5 customer support, we’ll handle any product questions or HR queries as they arise.
Plus, with RemoFirst, you can:
- Help employees obtain visas, work permits, and other documentation to work in the U.K.
- Manage benefits administration, including private health insurance via RemoHealth and RemoHealth Local, as well as paid time off, bonuses, commissions, and equity plans
- Ship equipment, such as laptops and monitors, to employees
- Remain compliant with all U.K. labor laws, thanks to our network of legal and HR experts
We may not have as many integration options as some EORs, but we’re committed to creating new features and offering new services to make it even easier to manage your global team.
And while we don’t operate our own legal entities in the U.K., we have a team of local partners that will provide you with all the local expertise you need.
Want to see how easy managing a global team can be with RemoFirst? Book a demo.
2. Remote
With Remote, businesses can hire both full-time employees and contractors in the U.K. The product is known for its user-friendly platform and its numerous integrations, which include Workday, Zapier, Xero, and more.
One key difference between RemoFirst and Remote is that Remote owns its own legal entities in most of the countries where it provides EOR services. It costs $599 per employee per month for companies that opt for the annual plan. For contractor management, Remote charges $29 per contractor per month.
Unfortunately, reviews of Remote note that onboarding often takes longer than advertised, customer support can be slow to respond, and payment delays and overcharges occur frequently.
Take a deeper look at how RemoFirst and Remote compare, and read Remote’s G2 reviews for additional information.
3. Oyster
Oyster is another option for EOR services in the U.K. In addition to ensuring legal compliance with the U.K.’s labor laws and providing other essential EOR tasks, Oyster offers local benefits for employees and boasts Oyster Academy, an educational platform for remote workers.
The platform also has several integrations, including BambooHR, Quickbooks, and Slack, which can be especially useful for larger organizations.
However, Oyster is one of the most expensive EORs on the market, with its services coming in at $699 per person per month — in addition to its service fees. Users have reported delays in customer service and reimbursements.
Learn more about how RemoFirst stacks up against Oyster here, or check out Oyster’s G2 reviews.
4. Deel
Deel also owns and operates its own local entities in most countries where it provides EOR services.
There are certainly pros to this direct EOR model, such as having greater visibility across operations and not requiring third-party intermediaries. However, the big downside of it is cost, with Deel’s monthly fees beginning at $599 per employee per month and $49 per contractor. Plus, Deel has additional fees on top of these costs.
Like other EORs, Deel ensures compliance with local labor laws and enables users to manage global payroll processing, benefits, and more. It also has more than 20 integrations, such as Slack, Quickbooks, and Dropbox.
However, customers have complained that Deel’s platform is complex and difficult to navigate, especially for startups and small businesses.
Want a more in-depth comparison of how RemoFirst compares to Deel? Check out the RemoFirst vs. Deel page or read Deel’s G2 reviews.
5. Multiplier
Multiplier’s EOR solution combines payroll services, compliance, and benefits management into one integrated platform.
Multiplier offers onboarding in less than 24 hours and integrates with most major HRIS systems like HiBob, BambooHR, and Workday.
While Multiplier’s price point comes in lower than solutions like Deel and Remote, it still starts at $400 per employee per month for full-time employees and $40 per contractor per month.
In addition, many users report having difficulty navigating its interface and note that they receive inconsistent information about required tax filings and which fees will be owed in various locations.
See our RemoFirst vs. Multiplier comparison page for more in-depth information, or check out Multiplier’s G2 reviews.
6. Globalization Partners (G-P)
Globalization Partners can be a great choice for enterprise companies hiring in the U.K. It’s a premium option with a network of global entities and provides extensive risk management solutions.
GP also has a user-friendly dashboard that customers say makes it easy to find employee information, and it touts an AI assistant that helps with various tasks, including misclassification issues and writing employee contracts.
However, GP’s lowest published prices start at $699 per person per month — and it comes with a 12-month minimum contract. It’s also known for its abundance of additional fees, including country setup fees, wiring fees, and offboarding fees.
Take a look at our RemoFirst vs. G-P page for more information, and check out G-P’s reviews on G2 to see what customers are saying.
7. Velocity Global
In addition to its EOR services, Velocity Global also offers tailored benefits packages and assistance with immigration, and it integrates with most major HRIS systems like Greenhouse, Workable, and HiBob.
It’s known for offering quick, well-informed customer service, but users complain that the company’s onboarding process is complex and often confusing.
As for pricing, Velocity Global comes in at $599 per person per month, and while it doesn’t have termination fees, the company does require 30 days’ notice to offboard an employee.
Check out Velocity Global’s G2 profile to learn more.
Compliant and Cost-Effective Hiring in the U.K.
There are a lot of pros to hiring in the U.K., including a strong economy and a highly educated talent pool. However, like in any country, hiring in the U.K. comes with its own set of local compliance rules and employment regulations which can quickly become complex if you're not prepared.
Partnering with the right EOR simplifies this process, keeping your business compliant and streamlining complex tasks like global payroll and benefits management. There are plenty of EORs out there, but RemoFirst checks all the boxes — without breaking the bank.
If your global employment needs extend beyond the U.K., we've got you covered there, too. RemoFirst supports hiring international talent in 185+ countries.
Book a demo to learn more about how RemoFirst can help you hire talent in the U.K. and more.
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