UK business software / Leeds
HR and payroll software for Leeds employers
Leeds is growing, younger than England as a whole, and unemployment has fallen. That makes hiring and keeping good people the main HR challenge. These are the platforms we recommend for Leeds employers.
Leeds’s workforce in numbers
- Leeds’s population grew 8.0% between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses, to around 812,000. Its median age of 36 is lower than England’s 40. ONS, Census 2021
- Unemployment in Leeds fell from 4.4% to 3.0% over the same period, while the employment rate stayed close to 54.4%. ONS, Census 2021
With unemployment low, Leeds employers compete for the same candidates, so speed of hiring and quality of onboarding matter. HR software with recruitment tracking and automated onboarding shortens the gap between offer and first day, and good absence and performance tools help keep the people you hire.
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 Leeds 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.
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.
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.
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.
CRM software
Compare UK CRM software- Visit Salesforce
Salesforce
Best for: UK businesses of all sizes wanting the most feature-rich CRM platform
Customer relationship management platform for sales, service and marketing teams.
How to choose in Leeds
Shorten time to hire
Look for recruitment tracking that connects to onboarding, so accepted candidates move straight into contracts, right-to-work checks and first-day tasks.
Invest in retention
Regular check-ins, performance reviews and engagement surveys cost less than replacing people in a tight market.
Keep payroll simple
If you already use Xero for accounts, its built-in payroll avoids a second system; otherwise compare Employment Hero and HiBob.
Questions from employers
Which HR software helps Leeds employers hire faster?
Employment Hero includes applicant tracking and automated onboarding, and Breathe HR includes recruitment tracking and onboarding for businesses up to 250 people.
Which payroll software suits Leeds businesses?
Employment Hero, HiBob and Xero all run UK payroll; the right choice depends on whether you want HR and payroll together, a central HRIS or payroll inside your accounting software.
How competitive is the Leeds jobs market?
Census data shows unemployment in Leeds fell from 4.4% in 2011 to 3.0% in 2021, so employers are competing for a smaller pool of candidates.
Do Leeds employers need an employer of record?
Only for hiring people outside the UK without your own local company. Deel, Multiplier and Velocity Global are the options we recommend.