Running an automotive business is demanding. Between managing technicians, sales staff, and workshop teams, you’re also juggling strict compliance, safety rules, and ever-changing employment law. Add in commission structures, high staff turnover, and seasonal recruitment, and the pressure can feel relentless. HR in the automotive sector isn’t just paperwork. It’s about keeping your team motivated, protecting your company from costly risks, and ensuring you’re fully compliant with UK employment law. With Harwood, you gain access to expert outsourced HR services designed for the automotive industry:
Support with attracting top talent, safer recruitment, contracts, and onboarding across workshops, dealerships, and fleet operations.
Policies tailored to overtime, shift work, and workshop safety, ensuring compliance and smooth operations.
Guidance to handle disciplinary and grievance cases quickly, fairly, and in line with UK employment law.
HR processes that keep your automotive company compliant with complex UK legislation.
Workplace risk assessments, wellbeing initiatives, and policies that protect staff and keep operations safe.
Legally compliant agreements tailored to sales teams and dealership performance models.
Retained, project-based, or pay-as-you-go services that fit the variable demands of automotive businesses.
Ongoing support for HR queries, people management, and workforce planning, without the cost of a full-time HR department.
Outsourcing HR gives your automotive business the flexibility, compliance, and expertise it needs without the expense of building an in-house HR team. Here’s why companies across the UK are turning to Harwood HR Solutions:
At Harwood, we provide HR solutions designed around the automotive industry’s workforce challenges. Whether you run a dealership, a parts manufacturer, or a fleet business, we act as your HR partner — delivering compliance, expertise, and peace of mind.
Our approach:
Duncan is a CIPD-qualified HR leader with 24+ years’ experience across retail, automotive, manufacturing and financial services. His expertise includes HR leadership, restructuring, acquisitions, employee relations and regulatory change. He has held senior roles with Sytner Group, Porsche GB and Dollar Financial Group and founded Harwood HR Solutions.
Zoe is a CIPD-qualified HR professional with extensive experience in HR, operations and training. She helped grow a business from 4 to 250+ employees and has expertise in acquisitions, TUPE, restructuring, recruitment, employee relations and FCA regulatory change, with a strong record of delivering HR projects without litigation.
Charlotte is a qualified HR professional with experience across people planning, organisational change, performance, talent and employee relations. She progressed to HR Business Partner at The Money Shop, supporting senior leadership through structural and financial change. Her expertise includes TUPE, redundancies, sickness absence and HR support across multiple sectors, including social care.
Automotive companies face complex staffing structures, safety risks, and strict compliance demands. HR support ensures policies, contracts, and workforce management are handled correctly, reducing disputes, avoiding legal risks, and giving management more time to focus on growth and operations.
We support businesses of all sizes, from small independent garages to multi-site dealerships and large manufacturers. Our flexible HR services adapt to your company’s scale, giving SMEs and larger firms access to tailored support whenever it’s needed most.
Yes. We create policies specific to automotive businesses, covering workshop safety, overtime, sales commissions, and absence management. These policies ensure compliance with UK employment law while giving your workforce clear expectations and consistent processes across all areas of the business.
Absolutely. We draft contracts that reflect the unique needs of the automotive sector, including flexible hours, commission structures, and overtime agreements. Our contracts are designed to protect your business while supporting staff in clear, legally compliant ways.
Yes. Our HR audits review your existing policies, contracts, and compliance systems to identify risks or gaps. We then recommend improvements tailored to the automotive industry, helping your company stay compliant, efficient, and prepared for long-term workforce management.
We design and review commission frameworks to ensure they are transparent, fair, and legally compliant. This reduces the risk of disputes, builds trust with sales staff, and supports consistent dealership performance while protecting your business from compliance issues.
Yes. We provide tools, policies, and HR support to manage leave, absence, and sickness fairly and efficiently. This ensures workforce planning is accurate, staff are treated consistently, and your automotive business stays compliant with employment regulations.
Yes. Many automotive businesses rely on seasonal and flexible labour. We provide compliant contracts and policies tailored to part-time and temporary staff, ensuring workforce flexibility while reducing legal risk and maintaining fair treatment for all employees.
Yes. We help you meet Working Time Regulations, manage overtime, and create fair rotas. This protects your staff from burnout, ensures compliance with employment law, and keeps your automotive operations running smoothly without costly compliance risks.
Yes. We support fleet operators with HR services for drivers, mechanics, and admin teams. Our expertise covers compliance, shift scheduling, health and safety, and employee relations, giving fleet businesses complete HR support across their diverse workforce.
Ongoing support for employee relations, performance management, and compliance.
Read MoreLegally compliant contracts tailored for mechanics, sales staff, seasonal workers, and admin teams.
Read MoreSkills training, leadership development, and HR processes aligned with automotive standards.
Read MoreExpert guidance for handling disputes fairly and legally.
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Retained HR gives you ongoing support for a fixed monthly fee, best if you deal with HR activity most months or employ 10+ people. Pay-as-you-go HR support means you pay...
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