“Oh, so you’re a recruitment agency?”
We actually hear that quite often.
And every time, we reply with a smile:
“Not exactly. We’re an external HR department.”
Most of the time, we’re met with a puzzled look. Many businesses simply don’t realize that this type of service even exists.
Yet the difference is much greater than it may seem at first glance.
What Does an External HR Department Actually Do?
Imagine the following scenario:
A medium-sized trades business with 30 employees is growing steadily. Business is thriving, new team members are joining, and the company continues to expand.
But as the company grows, so do its HR responsibilities.
A new employment contract needs to be prepared. An employee is returning from parental leave. A team leader needs support with a difficult employee conversation. At the same time, vacation requests have to be coordinated, personnel files maintained, and new HR processes established.
Then suddenly, someone realizes:
There isn’t actually an HR department.
So the managing director handles HR “on the side.” Or the office manager. Or everyone takes care of a little bit.
Does that sound familiar?
However, not every business is currently experiencing growth. We also work with companies that are restructuring, streamlining their operations, or reducing their workforce due to economic challenges. During times like these, professional HR support is just as important—whether it’s guiding restructuring processes, managing employee exits, or supporting managers and employees through change.
This is exactly where an external HR department comes in.
We take care of the HR tasks that businesses often don’t have the time, expertise, or internal capacity to manage—professionally, flexibly, and to the exact extent our clients need.
External HR Department: We Take Care of More Than Just Individual HR Tasks
An external HR department is much more than administrative support.
We partner with businesses across the entire HR function and become an extension of their team—just from the outside.
Our services include, among others:
- Preparing employment contracts, contract amendments, and reference letters
- HR administration and personnel management
- Support with employment law-related matters
- Onboarding new employees
- Developing and improving HR processes
- Advising and supporting managers
- Employee development and performance conversations
- Digitalising HR processes
- Supporting organisational change, business growth, and restructuring
Our goal is to relieve businesses of their HR workload while ensuring professional and reliable people management.
Because great HR is about much more than paperwork. It’s about building effective structures, supporting employees, and helping businesses navigate every stage of their development.
But You Also Handle Recruitment, Right?”
Yes—if that’s what our clients need.
And that’s exactly where the confusion often begins.
We are not a recruitment agency.
If a company needs support finding new employees, we are happy to manage the recruitment process as part of our role as an external HR department.
This may include writing job advertisements, communicating with applicants, coordinating interviews, or managing the entire hiring process from start to finish.
Some companies hire us solely for recruitment.
Others need support with specific HR topics.
And many entrust us with their entire HR function.
That’s what makes HR as a Service so valuable.
Our services aren’t based on fixed packages—they’re tailored to the actual needs of each client.
That also means we only take on the HR responsibilities where support is needed—no more and no less.
Some companies engage us exclusively for recruitment. Others require assistance with HR administration, employment law matters, employee development, or individual HR projects. Others choose to outsource their entire HR function.
Whether it’s a specific area of HR, a temporary project, or a fully outsourced HR department, we adapt our services to each company’s unique situation. HR doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing solution.
Who Can Benefit from an External HR Department?
Start-ups as well as small and medium-sized businesses often face the same challenge.
HR responsibilities continue to grow, but establishing an in-house HR department isn’t yet practical or cost-effective.
At the same time, we also support businesses that are restructuring or downsizing. Especially during economically challenging times, compliant HR processes, respectful communication, and experienced HR guidance are essential.
An external HR department bridges exactly this gap.
It provides the expertise and reliability of a professional HR department—without the need to build and maintain an internal HR team.
Whether you’re a growing technology company, a skilled trades business, an agency, or a family-owned company, every organisation has different requirements.
That’s why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions.
We provide support exactly where it’s needed.
Sometimes we take responsibility for the entire HR function.
Sometimes we support a single HR project.
Sometimes we manage specific HR areas, such as recruitment, HR administration, or HR process optimisation. And sometimes we’re simply the extra support that’s missing internally
Conclusion: An External HR Department Grows and Adapts with Your Business
Perhaps that’s why we’re so often mistaken for a recruitment agency.
After all, recruitment is one of the services we provide.
But the difference is significant.
A recruitment agency focuses on filling vacant positions.
An external HR department supports businesses over the long term—from recruitment and onboarding to employee development, management support, and the continuous optimisation of HR processes.
Whether a company is growing, restructuring, or adjusting its workforce, we tailor our support to its current situation and specific needs.
We work with businesses wherever they need us—whether that’s managing individual HR functions, supporting specific HR projects, or acting as a fully outsourced HR department.
We don’t see ourselves as an external service provider that simply completes individual tasks.
We see ourselves as a long-term HR partner.
Because that’s what it’s all about: giving businesses the freedom to focus on what they do best—their core business.
We’ll take care of the rest.