Independent workplace investigations and fixed-fee HR support — for employers who need to get it right.
ACAS-aligned. Impartial. Built for small employers and the social care sector across South Wales and beyond.
ACAS-aligned. Impartial. Built for small employers and the social care sector across South Wales and beyond.
Why External HR
Without an in-house HR function, every disciplinary, grievance, and investigation carries risk. Independent HR support gives you the rigour, fairness, and tribunal-readiness that internal handling rarely achieves.
An independent, ACAS-aligned process is the strongest defence at employment tribunal. Procedural failure — not the underlying decision — is what loses most cases.
When the investigator has no relationship with the parties involved, the process is fair — and visibly fair. Employees trust the outcome. Tribunals accept the findings.
You can make the right call — knowing the process behind it stands up. No second-guessing. No sleepless nights. No HR Googling at midnight.
Most external HR consultancies charge two to three times Arbiter HR's fixed fees — often on a retainer basis you pay whether you use it or not. Arbiter delivers the same professional rigour, ACAS alignment, and tribunal protection on a fixed-fee, pay-when-you-need-it basis. No retainer. No hourly surprises.
Services
Every service comes with a clear scope and a fixed price. No hourly invoices. No surprises. From single-issue support to full HR setup.
From £1,250 (up to 2 days)
Independent, ACAS-aligned investigations into misconduct, grievances, harassment, and safeguarding concerns. Includes written report with findings.
From £500 per case
Full end-to-end support for disciplinary and grievance procedures. Chair the hearing, draft the outcome, advise on next steps.
From £675
Protect your sponsor licence. Independent compliance audits, payroll and record checks, and the HR documentation UKVI expects to see. Delivered by a competent Level 1 UKVI user.
From £360
Structured PIPs that give underperforming employees a fair chance to improve — and give you a defensible position if they don't.
From £315
Review and manage long-term and short-term absence cases with the right balance of compassion and process.
From £135
Bespoke, legally compliant contracts written for your business — not generic templates that won't hold up.
From £405
Tailored handbooks covering all required policies, written in plain English your team will actually read.
From £450
Set up the templates, workflows, and tracking systems that make HR run itself in the background.
From £450 per session
Practical management training on difficult conversations, performance, absence, and people management fundamentals.
From £270
Job descriptions, advert drafting, interview structure, and selection process design — done properly.
From £270 per month
Ongoing access to professional HR advice for businesses that want a steady hand on the tiller without a full-time hire.
From £675 per day · Coming Soon
Independent mediation between employees or between staff and management. Available pending CMC accreditation.
Sponsor Licence Compliance
Most revocations don't happen because an employer cheated. They happen because records slipped, a job description didn't match the Certificate of Sponsorship, or a reporting deadline was missed.
Sponsor licences revoked in the care sector since 2022 — affecting more than 39,000 workers. Enforcement has tightened sharply again in 2026.
From 1 April 2026
UKVI now receives payroll information directly from HMRC for every sponsored worker. What you pay must match the Certificate of Sponsorship exactly.
From 8 April 2026
Salary compliance is assessed every pay period rather than annually. A single short month is now a breach — not something that averages out.
From 6 March 2026
Sponsors must actively give sponsored workers information about their UK employment rights, and evidence it. This is checked at compliance visits.
Arbiter HR is a competent Level 1 UKVI user and supports employers with sponsor compliance, systems, and record-keeping as an HR function.
Arbiter HR is not an immigration adviser and does not advise individuals on visa applications or immigration status. Where that is needed, you will be referred to a regulated specialist.
That boundary is deliberate. It is the same independence principle that underpins every other Arbiter HR service.
About
Arbiter HR is an independent HR consultant practice serving employers across Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend and the wider South Wales region — founded after nine years of HR case management and operational leadership in the social care sector.
The mission is simple: bring the rigour, independence, and integrity of a senior HR function to the small employers, care providers, and SMEs who can't justify a full-time team — but who deserve to get it right when it matters.
Based in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales — working with employers across the UK.
Why Arbiter
No internal politics. No conflicting interests. Just impartial professional HR.
Every service quoted upfront. No hourly invoices. No retainer required.
Every investigation, hearing, and procedure built on ACAS Code of Practice.
Eight years in social care HR. Sector understanding most generalists lack.
Arbiter In Kind
10% of Arbiter HR's profits, donated every six months to a South Wales charity working in mental health, domestic abuse, homelessness or poverty.
Client Feedback
Real feedback from employers and individuals Arbiter HR has supported.
I had an excellent experience working with Arbiter HR to navigate a complex employee grievance. They were incredibly fast to respond and maintained clear, consistent communication throughout the entire process. I especially appreciated their transparent pricing — there were no hidden surprises — and their deep knowledge of HR practices gave me complete peace of mind. I highly recommend their services!
We recently faced a tricky employee contract and conduct issue and turned to Arbiter HR for help. They were incredibly quick off the mark, sorting the entire situation out in just a single week with a result that everyone was genuinely happy with. On top of that, the fees were exactly what we agreed on in our first meeting — no hidden surprises or unexpected extras. Total professionals, highly recommend them.
I can't recommend Arbiter HR enough. They created a bespoke programme to help us navigate basic employment law, and it was exactly what we needed. The tailored approach made everything clear, practical, and easy to implement. Excellent service from start to finish.
For Employees
Facing a disciplinary or grievance at work? Get coaching and preparation from someone who knows exactly how these processes run — starting with a free 15-minute call. We only ever act for one side of any concern, and only where your employer is not an Arbiter HR client.
Common Questions
Straight answers on investigations, costs, sponsor compliance, and what independent HR support actually involves.
An independent workplace investigation is a fact-finding process carried out by someone with no connection to the people involved. The investigator gathers evidence, interviews witnesses, and produces a written report setting out findings of fact. The employer then makes the decision. Using an external investigator removes the risk of bias — real or perceived — and is the strongest procedural defence at an employment tribunal.
Arbiter HR investigations start from £1,250 for up to two days, on a fixed fee. That covers planning, interviews, evidence review and a full written report. There is no hourly billing and no retainer. Most external HR consultancies charge two to three times this, often on a monthly retainer you pay whether you use it or not.
Yes — social care is our specialism. Arbiter HR was founded after nine years of HR case management in the sector, so we understand CIW and CQC regulatory pressure, safeguarding interfaces, agency and rota realities, and the speed at which care providers need answers. We work with domiciliary care agencies, residential and nursing homes, and supported living providers.
Yes. Arbiter HR is based in Neath Port Talbot and works across Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend, Llanelli, the Valleys and the wider South Wales region, with remote support available UK-wide. Many investigations are conducted through a mix of on-site interviews and remote work, which keeps costs down.
The ACAS Code of Practice sets the minimum standard for handling disciplinary and grievance matters fairly. In broad terms it requires a proper investigation, written notice of the allegations, a fair hearing where the employee can respond, the right to be accompanied, and a right of appeal. Tribunals can adjust compensation by up to 25% where an employer unreasonably fails to follow it.
Yes. Arbiter HR provides sponsor licence compliance audits from £675, delivered by a competent Level 1 UKVI user. This covers mock compliance audits, payroll and Certificate of Sponsorship cross-checks under the per-pay-period rules, right-to-work and Appendix D records, job descriptions, and reporting duties. Arbiter HR is not a regulated immigration adviser and does not advise individuals on visa applications.
Yes. Arbiter HR offers employee support starting with a free 15-minute call, then advice sessions from £100. This is practical HR guidance — understanding the process, preparing a grievance or appeal, and getting ready for a hearing. We only ever act for one side of any concern — employee support is available only where the employer is not an Arbiter HR client. We are not solicitors and cannot attend your hearing, as the legal right to be accompanied covers trade union representatives and fellow workers only.
No. Arbiter HR is an independent HR consultancy, not a firm of solicitors. We do not provide legal advice or employment tribunal representation. What we provide is experienced HR practice — investigations, hearings, procedure and documentation — built on the ACAS Code of Practice. Where a matter needs legal advice, we refer clients to a qualified employment solicitor.
Most enquiries receive a same-day response, and investigations can usually begin within a week. Where there is a suspension in place or a safeguarding dimension, we prioritise accordingly — delay in these cases creates its own legal risk.
Contact
First consultation is free. Whether you have a live issue, an upcoming concern, or just want to find out what professional HR support looks like — get in touch.
Drop a message via the form, send an email, or pick up the phone. Most enquiries get a same-day response.