Hiring through an employer of record in the UK lets a foreign company employ British staff without registering a UK company first. Below I compare 15 providers that do this, from UK-based firms to global platforms.
Why Choose Employer of Record UK?
The UK has long been a global business hub. Companies come here for finance, tech, legal, and creative talent, as well as skilled workers in many other fields. Opening a UK entity is slow and costly, though, and that is where EOR United Kingdom providers come in.
The numbers still favor the market. Corporation Tax is 25% on profits above £250,000 and 19% on profits of £50,000 or less, with Marginal Relief in between. Unemployment stood at 4.9% in May to July 2026, according to the ONS. Talent is available, but competition for finance, IT and engineering roles remains tight.
The Employer of Record model is simple: the provider becomes the legal employer and handles payroll, tax, and compliance. You keep directing the work. Most employer of record companies UK buyers shortlist cover the same basics, from contracts and PAYE payroll to pensions and statutory leave. Where they differ is entity ownership, visa support and price.
For this update, I reviewed 15 employer of record United Kingdom options: 9 UK-headquartered firms and 6 global platforms. Each block covers services, fees, and my own take, and the pricing table further down puts the published fees side by side.
INSIGHT: How much does a UK employee cost on top of salary in 2026/27?
Employer National Insurance and pension contributions add a noticeable layer to salary, and April 2026 widened sick pay to every employee from day one.
- Employer National Insurance: 15% on earnings above £5,000 a year.
- Workplace pension: at least 3% from the employer on qualifying earnings.
- Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness, with no lower earnings limit, from April 2026.
- National Living Wage: £12.71 an hour from April 1, 2026.
What Is the Best Employer of Record for the UK?
I don’t think there is one best employer of record UK answer for every company. UK-headquartered firms usually know PAYE, pensions and employment law in detail, and several also recruit, so they suit teams making their first hires in Britain. Global platforms make more sense when the UK is one of many hiring countries, and you want a single contract and dashboard.
Visa needs to narrow the field quickly. Only a provider with its own sponsor license can bring in a Skilled Worker, and UKVI rules on third-party placements limit even those. So the best employer of record in the United Kingdom for a British citizen may not suit a sponsored hire.
When I compare the best employer of record UK companies, I look at 3 things: entity ownership, published pricing, and day-to-day support. The lists below follow that logic, starting with firms headquartered in Britain.
9 Local Businesses Offering UK EOR Services
The list of employer of record companies in UK hiring starts here, with firms headquartered in Britain. Some focus on a narrow set of markets, while others run employment in more than 150 countries from a UK base.
For many buyers, the best EOR services in the United Kingdom come from firms that deal with UK payroll every day. Several in this section also add recruitment, immigration support or contractor compliance.
The firms appear in alphabetical order, and the sequence implies no ranking.
Acumen International
Key Specialty Area:
Global EOR with immigration support
Service Cost:
Custom
Top Advantages:
- 25+ years in international employment
- Coverage in 190+ countries, including high-risk markets
- Visa and work permit sponsorship support
Scope of Services:
- Global Employer of Record
- Global payroll and taxes
- Employee benefits
- Global mobility and contractor management
My take:
I would shortlist Acumen when a UK hire is part of a wider rollout into harder markets.
Our Verdict
Strong fit for multi-country hiring with immigration needs
Agility EOR
Key Specialty Area:
Service-led EOR with a single point of contact
Service Cost:
Custom
Top Advantages:
- The same dedicated expert on every request
- Average response time of 2 hours, per the company
- Help moving several EOR providers into one
Scope of Services:
- EOR for market entry and expansion
- EOR switching and consolidation
- Employee relocation
- Contractor-to-employee conversion
My take:
Agility suits companies that want the same person on every payroll question.
Our Verdict
Good for teams that want one named contact
Black Piano
Black Piano is a UK-based talent partner founded in 2020, not a classic United Kingdom employer of record. Its leadership sits in London, and its recruiters and HR managers work in India. It finds, employs and supports remote staff for small and mid-sized firms and works exclusively with Indian talent.
Key Specialty Area:
Remote recruitment and EOR for teams in India
Service Cost:
From £550 per month for 1 full-time hire in India (Start Small plan)
Top Advantages:
- Recruitment, EOR and HR in one service
- Pre-screened candidates with video introductions
- Staff retention of 98% since 2020, per the company
Scope of Services:
- Remote recruitment
- Employer of Record in India
- Payroll, taxes, pension and healthcare
- Remote HR support
My take:
I would only consider Black Piano when the hire is based in India rather than the UK.
Our Verdict
Suited to UK firms building teams in India
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Enterprise Workforce Solutions (EWS)
Key Specialty Area:
EOR, payroll and global mobility
Service Cost:
Custom
Top Advantages:
- Single point of contact for each client
- Immigration and relocation handled in-house
- Company formation when you outgrow EOR
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Payroll outsourcing for employees and contractors
- Global mobility and immigration
- Agent of Record
My take:
EWS makes sense when a hire also needs to relocate to the UK.
Our Verdict
Practical choice for EOR and relocation in one contract
Leap29
Key Specialty Area:
Recruitment-led EOR for technical sectors
Service Cost:
From $300 per employee per month
Top Advantages:
- Fees listed openly on its pricing page
- In-house recruitment for hard-to-fill technical roles
- LeapForward HR platform from $3 per user per month
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Recruitment
- Multi-country payroll
- Entity setup and management
My take:
Leap29 is where I would go for an engineering or energy hire that has not been found yet.
Our Verdict
Useful for technical hires that still need recruiting
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Mauve Group
Key Specialty Area:
Long-established global EOR and HR consultancy
Service Cost:
Custom
Top Advantages:
- 30+ years in global employment
- ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified
- Operational in 150+ countries
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Global payroll
- HR consultancy
- Global mobility support
My take:
I would look at Mauve for a long-term program across many countries.
Our Verdict
Long-standing option for complex global expansion
PamGro
Key Specialty Area:
EOR on owned entities with contractor compliance
Service Cost:
From $149 per employee per month
Top Advantages:
- Own UK entity with FCSA accreditation
- 19+ years in compliance-heavy markets
- Named contact for each client
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Global payroll and Agent of Record
- Visa and immigration support
- Background checks
My take:
PamGro is the one I would price first for a UK contractor-heavy team.
Our Verdict
Good value for UK hires on an owned entity
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Teamed
Key Specialty Area:
Remote workforce employment
Service Cost:
€560 per employee per month (or $599 / £479)
Top Advantages:
- Flat pricing with zero FX spread
- No setup or exit fees; cancel any month
- A specialist assigned to every account
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Contractor management from €45 per contractor per month
- Global payroll
- Entity setup and management
My take:
Teamed works for me when finance wants one fixed fee in GBP.
Our Verdict
Clear flat pricing for remote-first teams
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Workwell Global
Key Specialty Area:
EOR and contractor management for recruitment agencies
Service Cost:
Custom
Top Advantages:
- Built for recruitment agencies and staffing firms
- Employees and contractors on one platform
- Immigration service in selected countries
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Contractor engagement (Agent of Record)
- Payroll and benefits
- Immigration service
My take:
Workwell is my pick for a UK agency that needs to employ placed candidates overseas.
Our Verdict
Built for recruitment agencies placing talent abroad
6 Global Businesses Offering UK EOR Services
The platforms below are headquartered outside the UK. Many of the top employer of record vendors UK, Europe and US teams compare are among them. You can set them against other best EOR companies worldwide in my wider guide.
Global platforms rarely beat local firms on UK-specific advice. They often offer the best EOR services in United Kingdom when the same team also needs staff in Germany, the US, or Asia. Most of them also publish a starting fee.
They are listed A to Z as well, with no ranking implied.
Deel
Key Specialty Area:
All-in-one global EOR and payroll
Service Cost:
From $599 per employee per month
Top Advantages:
- Own UK entity
- Visa sponsorship support from its immigration team
- 250+ in-house payroll and compliance experts
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- PEO for companies with a UK entity
- Global payroll
- Immigration and right-to-work checks
My take:
I would choose Deel when one platform must cover the UK and many other countries.
Our Verdict
Fast-moving platform with its own UK entity
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
I compare its plans and support in the Deel review.
Oyster
Key Specialty Area:
EOR platform for distributed teams
Service Cost:
From $699 per employee per month
Top Advantages:
- G2 awards for easiest admin and best ROI, per its site
- Specialist team for switching from another EOR
- Visa sponsorship as a separate service
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Global contractors
- Employee benefits
- Visa sponsorship
My take:
Oyster suits remote companies that value HR advice next to the platform.
Our Verdict
Solid platform for distributed teams
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
My Oyster review goes through pricing tiers and HR add-ons.
Pebl
Pebl (formerly Velocity Global) is a global EOR provider that helps build remote teams across more than 185 countries. The platform offers the expertise and tools to enable compliant onboarding and management of the global workforce. With the platform, you can send a candidate an offer in minutes and hire within 24 hours.
Key Specialty Area:
Insight-powered platform for managing global teams
Service Cost:
From $399 per month/employee
Limited-time offer for the UK: 30% off benefits
Top Advantages:
- 90% faster time to market
- Full local control
- AI-powered workforce management tool
- Ability to scale up and down as needed
Scope of Services:
- Hiring and managing talent in the UK without a local entity
- Comprehensive benefits administration
- UK labor laws compliance support
- Payroll management in local currency
- Immigration support
Our Verdict
Strategic Expansion Partner
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Planning to hire in the UK without opening a local entity? Discover how Pebl’s EOR services can help you onboard talent within 24 hours while staying fully compliant.
Remote
Key Specialty Area:
Global EOR on owned entities
Service Cost:
From $699 per employee per month
Top Advantages:
- Own legal entity in the UK
- Benefits plans including private health cover
- Equity and stock option support
Scope of Services:
- Employer of Record
- Payroll and taxes
- Benefits administration
- Contractor payments
My take:
Remote is the platform I would pick when owned entities matter more than price.
Our Verdict
Owned UK entity at a flat global fee
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
The Remote review on Anywherer explains its entity network.
RemotePeople
RemotePeople simplifies the process of hiring employees in over 150 countries, including the United Kingdom, by managing all legal and administrative tasks, from contracts to payroll. As a global Employer of Record, the team handles compliance with UK labor laws, helping businesses hire quickly and confidently.
Key Specialty Area:
Compliant and efficient EOR services
Service Cost:
Starts at $199/month per employee
Top Advantages:
- Competitive pricing
- No hidden fees
- Compliant local recruitment
- All-in-one platform with features that allow quick scaling
Scope of Services:
- Global payroll
- Compliance and risk management
- Employment contracts management
- Onboarding and offboarding
- Recruitment assistance
- Contractor of Record
- Visa and immigration services
Our Verdict
Cost-Effective EOR & Integrated Services Platform
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026.
Rivermate
Rivermate is a global Employer of Record platform that helps companies hire, employ, and pay talent in over 180 countries, including the UK, without opening local entities. The provider combines its own network of 38 owned entities with dedicated account managers, so every client works with a named specialist rather than a ticket queue.
Key Specialty Area:
Global EOR with dedicated human support
Service Cost:
Starts at $319/month per employee
Top Advantages:
- Dedicated account manager for every client
- 24/7 support with direct access to expert staff
- Coverage across 180+ countries via 38 owned entities
- Flexible, tailored employment contracts
Scope of Services:
- Hiring and employing UK talent without a local entity
- Payroll processing and tax filings
- Compliant employment contracts and e-signatures
- Benefits administration
- Contractor payments and Contractor of Record
- Visa and immigration support
Our Verdict
A solid pick for companies that want global reach with hands-on, personal support
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in August 2026.
Employer of Record UK Visa Sponsorship
To sponsor a Skilled Worker, the employer needs a UK sponsor license and assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship, which costs £525. The job must be in an eligible occupation and usually pay at least £41,700 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher. These employer of record UK visa requirements apply to the sponsor, not to your company, as GOV.UK’s Skilled Worker job rules explain.
The sponsor also pays the Immigration Skills Charge of £480 a year for small sponsors or £1,320 for medium and large ones. The worker’s visa starts at £819 plus a £1,035 healthcare surcharge per year, per GOV.UK. Put together, the employer of record UK visa cost in year 1 can run well above the monthly EOR fee itself.
The biggest constraint is the third-party rule. UKVI sponsor guidance bars a Certificate of Sponsorship for any role that amounts to hiring the worker out to a third party. Ask any EOR how it handles this before you make an offer.
On this page, Acumen International, EWS, PamGro, Workwell Global, Deel, Oyster, Pebl, RemotePeople and Rivermate list visa or immigration support. Get each provider’s answer on the third-party rule in writing. For a sponsored role, that answer matters more than price when you choose the best employer of record in United Kingdom hiring.
INSIGHT: Can an employer of record sponsor a UK work visa?
Only providers with their own UK sponsor license can sponsor a Skilled Worker visa, and not every EOR does. Ask before you make an offer.
- The sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (£525) and the role must meet the £41,700 or going-rate salary floor.
- Sponsorship adds the Immigration Skills Charge (£480 or £1,320 a year) and visa fees from £819.
- UKVI rules bar sponsoring a worker to fill a role with a third party, so check the EOR route before a visa hire.
Sources:
as of October 2026
EOR Pricing in the United Kingdom
The EOR fee sits on top of salary, employer National Insurance (15% above £5,000 a year), and at least 3% in pension contributions. For an employer of record in United Kingdom hiring, published starting fees on this page run from $149 to $699 per employee per month. Another 5 providers quote per engagement.
| Provider | Section | Published starting EOR fee |
|---|---|---|
| PamGro | Local | $149 per employee per month |
| Leap29 | Local | $300 per employee per month |
| Teamed | Local | €560 per employee per month ($599 / £479) |
| Black Piano | Local | £550 per month (hires in India only) |
| Deel | Global | $599 per employee per month |
| Oyster | Global | $699 per employee per month |
| Pebl | Global | From $399 month/employee |
| Remote | Global | $699 per employee per month |
| RemotePeople | Global | $199/month per employee |
| Rivermate | Global | $319/month per employee |
| Quote-based providers | Local | Custom: Acumen International, Agility EOR, EWS, Mauve Group, Workwell Global |
*As pricing is subject to change, we are listing prices as they stand in October 2026
INSIGHT: What does an employer of record in the UK cost per employee per month?
The UK has one of the widest spreads of published EOR fees, from entry plans around $150 to enterprise platforms several times higher.
- PamGro has the lowest public starting fee here ($149); Oyster and Remote share the top spot at $699.
- Quote-based: 5 providers, all UK-headquartered.
Planning a team on the continent too? My guide to EOR Germany covers Europe’s largest labor market.
For a base just across the North Sea, compare providers of Employer of Record Netherlands services.
Teams looking further north can review my Sweden Employer of Record list.
What to Know About UK Employer of Record: FAQs
What are the top Employer of Record providers in the UK, and what sets them apart?
There is a mix of local and global options. UK-headquartered firms such as Acumen International, Mauve Group and PamGro cover the UK alongside many other countries, while Leap29 adds recruitment for technical sectors. Global platforms such as Deel and Remote employ through their own UK entities. The real choice is whether you need UK-only support, recruitment, or one contract across many countries.
How do UK EOR providers ensure compliance with the country’s labor laws and tax rules?
The provider becomes the legal employer, runs PAYE payroll and pays employer National Insurance at 15% above £5,000 a year. Since April 2026, it must also pay Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness. According to Acas, unfair dismissal protection starts after 6 months of service, rather than 2 years, from January 1, 2027. Good providers are already updating contracts and processes.
What are the main benefits of using an EOR in the UK compared to setting up a local entity?
Speed is the main one: you can hire in days instead of waiting for incorporation, PAYE registration and a bank account. You also avoid ongoing filings and accounting costs while you test the market. The provider carries the employer obligations, and you can move staff to your own entity once the team grows.
How do UK EOR providers manage payroll and tax reporting for international employees?
Think of the provider as your UK employer on paper. It pays staff in GBP, deducts income tax and employee National Insurance, pays the 15% employer contribution, and reports everything to HMRC. It also enrolls staff in a workplace pension with at least a 3% employer contribution and checks right to work before day one.
What employee benefits are typically managed through EOR services in the UK?
Statutory benefits come first: paid holiday, sick pay, pension and family leave. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay starts on the first day of illness and paternity leave is a day-one right. Many providers also offer extras such as private health cover or learning budgets to help you compete for talent.
Yaryna is our lead writer with over 8 years of experience in crafting clear, compelling, and insightful content. Specializing in global employment and EOR solutions, she simplifies complex concepts to help businesses expand their remote teams with confidence. With a strong background working alongside diverse product and software teams, Yaryna brings a tech-savvy perspective to her writing, delivering both in-depth analysis and valuable insights.
