Guides

Plain-English guides to onboarding new starters and making company knowledge easy to find, written by Jack Stovell, Forematter's founder.

• Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requiresWhether UK law requires a handbook (it doesn't), what must be in writing anyway, the Acas Code's 25% rule, and health and safety paperwork.
• Internal knowledge bases: how to keep one people actually useWhy internal wikis rot and the habits that keep one trustworthy: owners, review dates, one version that counts, and tracking unanswered questions.
• Onboarding buddies: how to set up a buddy scheme that helpsHow to run an onboarding buddy scheme: choosing buddies, protecting their time, week-one tasks, a checklist, and ending it well.
• How to write an onboarding plan for a new starter's first weeksA paced onboarding plan with named owners: before day one, day one, week one, month one and months two to three, plus a one-page template.
• Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)UK probation periods: not a legal requirement, day-one rights, the unfair dismissal qualifying period falling to six months from 1 January 2027, and running reviews.
• Right to work checks: a plain-English guide for UK employersRight to work checks for UK employers: manual, digital and online methods, record keeping, follow-ups, penalties and the 1 October 2026 changes.
• UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeksA time-ordered UK onboarding checklist: legal duties with deadlines (right to work, written statement, HMRC, pensions, health and safety) and good practice.
• Written statement of employment particulars: what it must include (UK)What the UK written statement must include on day one and within two months, who gets one, how it differs from a contract, and free templates.