An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service that lets your business hire employees in the United Kingdom without setting up a UK legal entity. The EOR becomes the legal employer on paper, handling employment contracts, payroll, taxes, benefits and compliance under UK employment law, while your company retains day‑to‑day control of the work.

Using an EOR is a common strategy for companies entering the UK market quickly, hiring remote talent, or testing a market before establishing a legal presence.

How UK EOR Services Work

When you partner with a UK EOR provider:

1. Local Employment:
   The EOR hires your worker under its UK legal entity and issues compliant employment contracts.

2. Payroll Management:
   Payroll, PAYE tax, National Insurance contributions, pension auto‑enrolment, and statutory filings are managed in line with HMRC regulations.

3. Compliance Handling:
   The EOR ensures employment practices meet UK labour laws, including statutory benefits like leave entitlements and sick pay.

4. HR and Benefits Administration:
   Many providers also handle benefits packages, HR queries, onboarding, and offboarding.

5. No Entity Setup:
   You avoid the time, cost, and complexity of registering a UK company entity.

This model lets you focus on managing the employee’s performance and role, while the EOR deals with legal and administrative obligations.

When to Use a UK EOR Service

A UK EOR solution is ideal if:

• You want to hire employees in the UK without registering a local company.

• You’re entering the UK market quickly and want a fast onboarding process. Many providers can onboard hires within days.

• You need to stay compliant with evolving UK employment laws and tax rules.

• You prefer a managed payroll and benefits solution with minimal HR overhead.

Top UK EOR Providers

Here are some well‑known Employer of Record services that support hiring in the UK:

EOR UK

A specialist focused on UK (and Channel Islands) employment. They handle contracts, payroll, benefits, compliance, and onboarding with a dedicated local team.

EOR Services UK

Offers a one‑stop solution for EOR, payroll, benefits, and HR support. The provider also assists with statutory leave, pension schemes, and GDPR‑compliant data handling.

Remote

A global EOR platform that hires and pays employees in the UK without requiring an entity, with integrated payroll and compliance support.

Remire

Provides end‑to‑end UK EOR services, including compliant contract preparation, payroll, benefits, and HR support, with fast onboarding and local expertise.

Global Providers (Examples)

• Deel – Global EOR with strong UK services and pension integration.

• Papaya Global – Combines payroll automation with compliance and workforce analytics.

• Multiplier – Supports UK hiring with payroll, benefits, and document automation.

• Omnipresent and Oyster – Focus on international payroll and employment compliance, including UK.

Common Services Included in UK EOR Packages

Most UK EOR services include:

• Legal employment contracts drafted under UK law.

• Payroll processing with PAYE and National Insurance contributions.

• Statutory benefits and pension administration (auto‑enrollment).

• Compliance management (GDPR, employment rights, tax reporting).

• Onboarding and HR support throughout the employee lifecycle.

These services reduce administrative risk and help you stay on track with local requirements as laws or regulations change.

Benefits of Using a UK EOR

1. Faster Market Entry
You can legally hire UK talent without entity formation delays.

2. Compliance Assurance
EORs stay current with UK employment regulations, protecting you from costly mistakes.

3. Reduced Administrative Load
Payroll, contracts, benefits, and taxes are managed by experienced specialists.

4. Cost Efficiency
Avoid the costs of entity registration, local HR staff, and payroll setup.

5. Scalability
EOR services can scale as your team grows, across the UK and beyond.

Conclusion

Employer of Record services in the UK offer a compliant, efficient way for international companies to hire, pay, and manage employees without a local entity. These solutions combine local legal expertise with payroll, benefits, and HR support so you can focus on your business while the EOR handles the employment structure. Whether you’re onboarding one hire or building a larger UK team, choosing the right EOR partner can save time, reduce risk, and make global hiring smoother and more predictable.