5 Payroll mistakes SME businesses in the UK keep making (and how to fix them)

21st August, 2025
11:00am BST
Over 90% of UK businesses admit to monthly payroll mistakes, learn how to avoid them in our upcoming webinar.
With around one third of businesses managing payroll in-house, getting it right is essential. But many UK SMEs aren’t confident running their payroll and with good reason, navigating all the complexities can feel like a minefield. 31% are still managing payroll manually, with this rising to 44% in very small businesses according to recent data that I have seen.
When deadlines are tight and legislation keeps changing, it’s easy to miss a tax code or misclassify a new hire. These mistakes come with consequences and can lead to fines, a decline in employee trust and wasting valuable time on untangling problems.
In this session, Liam Sant, Partner Account Executive, and Danilo Alencar, Account Executives at Employment Hero will show you how to avoid the most common pitfalls so you can run payroll with confidence. Employment Hero’s payroll expert Suzanne Gallagher will answer individual questions live throughout the session.
In this practical webinar, we’ll cover:
- The 5 most expensive payroll mistakes SMEs are still making — including:
- PAYE and National Insurance miscalculations
- RTI submission slip-ups
- Worker misclassification (IR35, freelancers, casuals)
- Auto-enrolment errors
- Starters and leavers handled incorrectly
- Why these issues are so common (yes, even with spreadsheets)
- What they’re really costing your business
- How to fix them fast — and prevent them for good
- How payroll automation can take these risks off your plate
Whether you’re a business owner, leader or HR professional running payroll for the first time, or a seasoned pro, this session will help to demystify the intricacies.
Sign up to reserve your spot.
Disclaimer: This webinar is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or legal advice. The views expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organising company. Attendees should consult with (their own) qualified payroll professionals or legal advisors before making any payroll-related decisions based on the content of this webinar.
Meet your hosts
Related Resources
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How to Avoid These 10 Common Small Business Payroll Mistakes
How to avoid payroll errors, 10 mistakes made by SMEs