UK business software / Birmingham
HR and payroll software for Birmingham employers
Birmingham is growing, and more of its workers are on short or irregular hours. These are the HR, payroll and scheduling platforms we recommend for Birmingham employers, and what to check before you buy.
Birmingham’s workforce in numbers
- Birmingham’s population grew 6.7% between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses, to around 1,144,900, and its median age rose from 32 to 34. ONS, Census 2021
- The share of Birmingham workers who usually worked 15 hours or less a week rose from 10.0% to 11.2%, while the share of residents in employment fell from 48.6% to 47.4%. ONS, Census 2021
More short-hours and part-time staff means more variable pay, more holiday calculations for irregular hours and more rota changes. Payroll that imports hours from time tracking, and HR software with rotas and absence in one place, saves the most time.
UK employer rates for 2026 to 2027
| National Living Wage (21 and over) | £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Employer National Insurance | 15% above £5,000 a year (£96 a week) |
| Employment Allowance | £10,500 |
| Statutory Sick Pay | £123.25 a week (or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower) |
| Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay | £194.32 a week (or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower) |
GOV.UK, Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
Every platform below is built for UK payroll and employment, so these rates are applied for you. Check each provider updates them before the start of each tax year.
Software we recommend for Birmingham employers
Links to vendors are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which tools we list.
Payroll software
Compare UK payroll software- Visit Employment Hero
Employment Hero
Best for: UK businesses wanting HR, payroll and benefits in one platform
Integrated HR and payroll with UK compliance features, an employee benefits marketplace, learning management and automated onboarding.
- Visit HiBob
HiBob
Best for: Mid-size UK companies wanting a modern HRIS with centralised payroll
HRIS with a payroll hub that connects to local payroll providers, plus time and attendance, compensation management and workforce analytics.
- Visit Xero
Xero
Best for: Businesses already using Xero for bookkeeping
Cloud accounting with built-in UK payroll that handles PAYE, National Insurance, pension auto-enrolment and HMRC submissions.
HR software
Compare UK HR software- Visit Deel HR
Deel HR
Best for: UK companies with international teams wanting a free, scalable HR platform
HR platform with a free HRIS tier, people analytics, workflow automation and org charts, with paid modules for payroll, EOR and contractors.
- Visit Moorepay
Moorepay
Best for: UK businesses wanting managed HR services with dedicated support
UK-specialist HR and payroll provider offering managed HR services alongside its software, with support on employment law, absence and employee relations.
- Visit Breathe HR
Breathe HR
Best for: UK SMEs with up to 250 people
UK-built HR software for small and medium businesses: holiday and absence, rotas and shift scheduling, time tracking, performance, recruitment and a Xero payroll integration.
Payments and POS
Compare UK card processing- Visit Square
Square
Best for: UK small businesses, market traders and hospitality venues
Card readers, POS, payment links and invoicing with flat-rate pricing and no monthly fees; funds settle the next business day to UK bank accounts.
- Visit Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS
Best for: UK retail, restaurant and hospitality businesses
Cloud POS with integrated card payments, multi-location stock and reporting, settling in GBP and integrating with Xero and QuickBooks.
Employer of record
Compare UK employer of record providers- Visit Deel
Deel
Best for: Fast-growing UK companies hiring across multiple regions
Employer of record covering 150+ countries, with a built-in HRIS and automated UK compliance including PAYE and pension auto-enrolment.
- Visit Multiplier
Multiplier
Best for: Budget-conscious UK startups making first international hires
Employer of record with flat, transparent pricing that handles UK statutory requirements including pension contributions, holiday pay and PAYE.
- Visit Velocity Global
Velocity Global
Best for: UK enterprises requiring premium support and immigration services
Employer of record covering 185+ countries with dedicated account management and immigration services, including UK Skilled Worker and Global Talent visas.
How to choose in Birmingham
Connect rotas, hours and payroll
If staff work variable hours, choose tools where shifts and time logs flow into payroll rather than being re-keyed. Breathe HR includes rotas and time tracking and integrates with Xero payroll.
Check holiday for irregular hours
Make sure the software calculates holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular-hours workers under current UK rules.
Think about payments if you trade in person
Retail and hospitality employers can keep takings, staff and payroll in step with a POS that integrates with their accounting software.
Questions from employers
What HR software works for shift-based teams in Birmingham?
Breathe HR includes rotas, shift scheduling and time tracking for businesses up to 250 people, and HiBob includes time and attendance for mid-size companies.
Which payroll software handles variable hours?
Employment Hero, HiBob and Xero all run UK payroll. For variable hours, check how hours reach payroll: directly from time tracking or a rota, or by manual import.
How has Birmingham’s workforce changed?
Between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 6.7% to around 1,144,900, and the share of workers usually working 15 hours or less a week rose from 10.0% to 11.2%.
Do I need an employer of record in Birmingham?
Only if you hire people outside the UK without your own local company. For UK staff, standard payroll is enough.