SMB vs. Breathe

SMB presents a user-friendly human resource software solution that prioritizes simplicity and accessibility. This ease of use enables organizations to efficiently handle a range of functions, including hiring processes, maintaining employee records, tracking vacation and sick leave, and managing overall absenteeism. The platform, which operates in the cloud, significantly promotes employee empowerment by granting secure access to essential information via individualized accounts. Among its standout features are self-service options for employees, a flexible tool for managing absences, secure document storage, automated alerts and notifications, compliance management, and oversight of company policies, all complemented by extensive reporting functionalities. Consequently, SMB not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to the cultivation of a more engaged and motivated workforce, ultimately leading to higher productivity levels. By streamlining various HR tasks, it allows human resource professionals to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative burdens.

If your employee details are spread across spreadsheets, emails and disconnected apps, Breathe brings them together. It's a UK HR platform launched in 2012 for small and medium-sized businesses. More than 17,000 of them use it, along with over 1,000 UK HR consultancies. Three everyday HR problems Breathe fixes Information everywhere: one central, accurate record for every employee. Endless chasing: staff book leave, sign documents electronically and follow shared workflows. A small HR team: start with the essentials and add more as you grow. The essentials: Core HR Store records and documents securely, manage holiday and leave, track sickness and absence, and let staff update their own details. Collect e-signatures, set goals, run one-to-ones and reviews, and spot trends with built-in reports. Optional extras Rota, Time and Attendance: plan shifts and track hours Expenses: claims, receipts and manager sign-off Recruitment: advertise roles and follow each candidate Health and Safety: risk assessments, incidents and compliance evidence e-Learning: assign UK-specific courses and see who's completed what Breathe is also building an AI Assistant to answer HR and policy questions, and plans to launch payroll in late 2026. Who gets the most from it UK organisations with up to 200 people, particularly charities, schools, healthcare, retail, start-ups and professional services firms with lean HR. If you need multinational payroll, global compliance or enterprise workforce planning, weigh it up first. Pricing, support and security Plans start from £24 a month for your whole organisation, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Try it free for 14 days, with UK-based support from setup onwards. Breathe holds ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 accreditation and keeps your data in UK data centres, protected by encryption and access controls.