Running a business has never been straightforward. But for many in Swindon and beyond, the current climate feels less like a challenge and more like a balancing act with no obvious safety net.
According to the team at The HR Dept in Swindon, employers are facing a combination of pressures that are proving difficult to absorb. Rising wages, increased National Insurance contributions and the lingering effects of the cost-of-living crisis are all feeding into the same problem: how to keep a business viable while still supporting staff.
The recent increase in the National Minimum Wage has had a knock-on effect well beyond those on the lowest pay. To maintain pay structures, many businesses have had to raise wages across the board, adding further strain to already tight budgets.
At the same time, external factors continue to weigh heavily. High interest rates, inflation and rising energy costs—linked in part to ongoing instability in the Middle East—are all contributing to a squeeze on margins that some companies are struggling to withstand.
For Helen Imbusi, Head of HR Consultancy at the Swindon branch, the hospitality sector offers a clear example of how quickly circumstances can change. In one recent case, a business that had opened with staff on guaranteed hours found itself shifting to zero-hours contracts as a short-term solution to fluctuating demand.
That kind of flexibility, however, may not be available for much longer. Proposed changes under the Employment Rights Act are expected to remove zero-hours contracts as an option from 2027, potentially limiting how businesses respond to uncertain trading conditions.
It leaves employers in a difficult position—needing to adapt quickly while staying within the bounds of evolving legislation.
“Businesses are treading a tightrope,” Imbusi said. “They need flexibility, but they also need to remain compliant. Getting that balance right is becoming increasingly complex.”
The wider context only adds to the challenge. Many firms are still feeling the aftershocks of the past 15 years, from the financial crisis through to the pandemic and a prolonged period of slow growth. For some, the current moment feels like the cumulative effect of all of those pressures at once.
In practical terms, that means constant adjustment. Reviewing staffing models, rethinking costs, and, in some cases, making difficult decisions about how to move forward.
The role of external advice, particularly in areas like HR and employment law, is becoming more significant as a result. For smaller businesses especially, keeping pace with legislative change while managing day-to-day operations is no small task.
Across Swindon, Chippenham, Marlborough and beyond, firms are continuing to navigate these challenges as best they can. There’s no single solution, and no clear endpoint in sight.
For now, it’s about staying adaptable—making the necessary changes, however incremental, to keep things moving.
And in an environment like this, even that can feel like an achievement.
