When a member of staff went on long-term sickness absence, Director Lianne Muirhead recognised the need for expert HR guidance to ensure the correct processes were followed—something that can be difficult and time-consuming for a small business to manage alone.

Through four days of fully funded HR support via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), delivered through Stirling Council, Lianne was matched with STEP HR Adviser Kirsty, who provided tailored guidance throughout the process. This funding meant the business could access specialist support without the financial pressure typically associated with external HR consultancy.

The Advantage of STEP HR Support

With no internal HR function, navigating a complex long-term absence case could easily have become overwhelming. Kirsty offered clear, timely advice at every stage—highlighting review points, ensuring legal compliance, and providing reassurance throughout. Her consistent support made a challenging situation significantly easier to manage and gave the business confidence that every step was handled correctly.

Client Experience

“We had an employee off on long-term sickness, and without the help of STEP and Kirsty, we would have struggled to manage the correct processes for dealing with it.

As a small business, HR challenges like this can be overwhelming, and this support was invaluable.

External HR support would have been a financial strain. Without the funding from STEP, we would have struggled to access expert guidance.

Kirsty was excellent—she provided clear, timely advice and followed up when necessary, whether prompting us for review dates or answering any additional queries. Her support made a complex process much more manageable, and I wouldn’t hesitate to seek assistance from STEP again in the future.”

Lianne Muirhead
Director, Jintz Express