UK business software / Manchester
HR and payroll software for Manchester employers
Manchester has one of the youngest and fastest-growing workforces in the North West, and a regional charter that sets out what good employment looks like. These are the HR and payroll platforms we recommend for Manchester employers.
What makes Manchester different
- Manchester’s population grew 9.7% between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses, to around 551,900. Its median age of 31 was the lowest in the North West. ONS, Census 2021
- The share of Manchester residents in employment rose from 48.0% to 50.2%, and unemployment fell from 5.4% to 4.0%. ONS, Census 2021
- The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme built around seven characteristics: secure work, flexible work, pay, engagement and voice, recruitment, people management, and health and wellbeing. Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
A young workforce and a tighter jobs market reward employers who onboard quickly, offer flexibility and listen to staff. If you are working towards the Good Employment Charter, HR software can help evidence several characteristics, such as flexible working requests, engagement surveys and absence and wellbeing tracking.
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 Manchester 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 Manchester
Make onboarding fast and mobile
Younger staff expect to complete paperwork on a phone. Check the onboarding flow end to end before you buy.
Collect employee voice
Pulse surveys and polls give evidence for the Charter’s engagement and voice characteristic and early warning on retention.
Track flexible working requests
Recording requests and outcomes in your HR system makes flexible work measurable rather than informal.
Questions from employers
What is the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter?
A voluntary membership and assessment scheme to raise employment standards across Greater Manchester, built around secure work, flexible work, pay, engagement and voice, recruitment, people management, and health and wellbeing.
Which HR software helps with the Good Employment Charter?
Software cannot earn the Charter for you, but HR platforms help evidence it: Breathe HR includes polls, surveys and absence tracking, and Employment Hero combines HR, payroll and benefits.
Which payroll software suits Manchester businesses?
Employment Hero suits businesses wanting HR, payroll and benefits together, HiBob suits mid-size companies wanting a central HRIS, and Xero suits businesses already using it for accounts.
How fast is Manchester’s workforce growing?
Between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 9.7% to around 551,900, and the share of residents in employment rose from 48.0% to 50.2%.