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 £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.
About
Arbiter HR is the independent HR consultancy of Polly Duncan, founded after eight 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.
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.
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.