Access PeopleHR
Access PeopleHR is a cloud-based human resources management software platform founded in 2012[1] and headquartered in Loughborough, United Kingdom.[1] The company operates as part of The Access Group's Access People division,[2] serving over 7,000 businesses[1] primarily in the UK small to medium-sized enterprise market.
The platform provides HR software solutions including applicant tracking, performance management, time and attendance monitoring, and employee data management.[1] Access PeopleHR has established itself as a source of industry research on UK workplace trends, with studies regularly cited by major HR publications.[3][4][5]
History
Access PeopleHR was founded in 2012 as PeopleHR, an independent HR software company.[1] In 2020, the company was acquired by The Access Group and integrated into the newly formed Access People division alongside other acquired HR companies including CoreHR, Safety Media, Payroll Service Company, MicroLearn, Unicorn, and Riliance.[2] The Access People division was created to consolidate The Access Group's HR-related offerings under a single operational unit.[2] According to European HR analyst Fosway Group, the acquisition strategy positioned PeopleHR as Access Group's small business solution, complementing SelectHR for mid-market and CoreHR for enterprise customers, creating "a clearly delineated offering at enterprise, mid-market and SMB level."[6]
Business operations
Access PeopleHR operates within Access People, a division employing 835 staff with reported turnover of £112.8 million.[2] The platform serves more than 7,000 businesses[1] and employs over 200 staff.[1] The company's headquarters are located at 10 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, UK.[1] The software is integrated into Access Workspace, a unified platform that consolidates applications from The Access Group.[2] Charles Butterworth serves as managing director of Access People[3][7] and frequently provides expert commentary on HR policy matters to industry publications.[7]
Products and services
Access PeopleHR offers a comprehensive human resources information system (HRIS) designed for businesses of varying sizes.[1] Core features include applicant tracking and recruitment management,[1] employee onboarding with customizable checklists,[1] performance management and goal tracking,[1] time and attendance monitoring,[1] employee data management and record keeping,[1] HR analytics and reporting capabilities,[1] and integration with Access Payroll Services for UK and Irish companies.[1] The platform includes mobile applications for Android and iOS devices with biometric security features.[1]
Industry research and analysis
Access PeopleHR conducts regular studies on UK workplace trends, with findings frequently cited by major HR publications.[3][4][5] The company's research division analyzes data from thousands of companies to produce reports on employment patterns.
Annual leave trends
Access PeopleHR's 2023 study of over 3,000 companies and 122,000 employees found that annual leave usage declined by 2.7% over two years despite holiday entitlement rising by 16.5%.[3] The research identified factors including employees feeling "too busy," cost of living pressures, and "fear of falling behind" as contributing to reduced holiday uptake.[3] A 2024 follow-up study of 3,068 companies across 18 industry sectors revealed annual leave taken fell by 7.7% between 2022 and 2023.[4] The average UK employee took 33.9 days of annual leave including bank holidays in 2023, down from 36.7 days in 2022 and 38 days in 2020.[4] All 18 industry sectors included in the study experienced declines in annual leave usage.[4]
Workplace absence research
The company's analysis of sickness rates across 2,055 businesses from 2019 to 2022 documented significant increases in sick leave across multiple sectors.[5] Research found the charity sector experienced a 56% rise in days lost to illness since 2019, with an average of 166 days lost to sick leave in 2022.[5] The study analyzed 116 charities and found the charity sector ranked sixth highest for sickness absences among 18 sectors studied.[5] Similar increases were observed across other industries, including hospitality and recruitment sectors.[8][9]
Industry commentary
Access People leadership, particularly Managing Director Charles Butterworth, regularly provides expert commentary on workplace policy matters.[7] In 2024, Butterworth provided guidance on managing transitions from flexible working to full-time office attendance, emphasizing incentive-based approaches over ultimatums when implementing return-to-office policies.[7]
Industry analysis
European HR analyst Fosway Group has analyzed Access PeopleHR's market position within the broader consolidation of the UK HR software sector. In their assessment of The Access Group's acquisition strategy, Fosway positioned PeopleHR as the company's dedicated small business solution, noting that Access Group now has "a clearly delineated offering at enterprise, mid-market and SMB level" through its different product lines.[6] In Fosway Group's 2024 9-Grid for Cloud HR, Access PeopleHR was positioned among the Core Challengers, indicating established market presence and competitive positioning within the European HR software sector.[10]
Reception
Industry publications have noted Access PeopleHR's role as both a software provider and research authority. HCA Magazine reviewed the platform as providing "a comprehensive HRIS platform" that is "customizable and affordable, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes."[1] The review noted limitations including restricted integrations with some payroll and accounting software platforms and occasional interface navigation issues reported by users.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 "People HR Review". HCA Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Access Group creates People division for HR software, content, services". TechCentral.ie. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Employees using less annual leave as they feel 'too busy' to take time off, study reveals". People Management. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Annual leave: Days taken drops 8%". Personnel Today. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Charity sector sick leave days up by 56% since 2019, report finds". Civil Society. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Access Group acquires CoreHR". Fosway Group. March 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Improving engagement when returning to the office five days a week". The HR Director. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Sector sick leave days on the rise, analysis suggests". Third Sector. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Hospitality industry sees sharp rise in sickness absence". Facilitate Magazine. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "2024 Fosway 9-Grid for Cloud HR". Fosway Group. 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
External links
Official website The Access Group website
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