The biggest challenges facing HR professionals in Surrey and Sussex right now

Across Surrey and Sussex, HR professionals are carrying more responsibility, more complexity and more pressure than ever.

Running a successful and effective HR function has always required sound judgment and balance, but right now that balance is proving increasingly hard to maintain. The role of HR has expanded, expectations have increased and decisions often need to be made quickly, carefully and with a clear understanding of both people and business impact.

We speak to HR professionals every day who are being pulled in multiple directions. Supporting leadership teams, advising managers, guiding employees, managing change, keeping up with legislation and still being expected to deliver consistently.

There is very little let-up, because this is not about one single challenge; it is about everything happening at once.

So, we have created this short blog, not to tell you something you don’t already know, but to reflect on what we are seeing and hearing every day –  and to reassure you that you are not alone in what you are experiencing.

The pressure on HR has changed

Many organisations are entering the new financial year under increased pressure.

More responsibility, less capacity

Budgets are tighter, hiring decisions are more considered and expectations around performance remain consistently high. At the same time, employee expectations around flexibility, progression, communication and workplace culture continue to grow.

Sitting in the middle of all of this is HR.

There is also a growing layer of legislative responsibility. Changes brought in through the Employment Rights Act, alongside wider employment updates, are adding further complexity. HR teams are expected to interpret changes, implement them correctly and ensure consistency across the business.

The challenge is not simply understanding what needs to be done. It is having the time, support and capacity to do it properly.

Recruitment is becoming harder, not easier

One of the biggest frustrations we hear from HR professionals across Guildford, Worthing and the wider Surrey and Sussex area is how much time recruitment is now taking.

Technology still needs human judgement

Technology is undoubtedly helping parts of the recruitment process, and many HR teams are making good use of automation and AI-driven tools. However, these tools work best when they support experienced decision-making, not when they replace it.

They also need to be used carefully and responsibly. HR professionals are increasingly aware of the importance of ensuring recruitment processes remain fair, balanced and free from bias or unintended discrimination.

Despite the increasing number of tools designed to speed up hiring, recruitment is still becoming more demanding and more time-consuming for many businesses.

More applications doesn’t mean better candidates

There may be more applications per role, but that does not necessarily mean more suitable candidates. In many cases, HR teams are spending more time reviewing CVs, managing communication and filtering out unsuitable applications – all while still trying to maintain a positive candidate experience.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation continues to report a more cautious hiring market, with employers taking longer to make decisions and recruitment processes becoming more drawn out. That reflects what we are seeing day-to-day.

The challenge is no longer simply attracting applicants. It is identifying the right people efficiently, while balancing time, cost, compliance and internal resources.

The gap between volume and quality

Despite increased candidate activity, the challenge remains the same: finding the right people.

This is particularly evident across HR, administration, finance and business support roles, where judgement, credibility and cultural fit matter just as much as technical capability.

For many HR professionals, particularly those working independently or within small teams, this creates additional pressure around workforce planning, retention and building capability within the business.

A quick perspective from our HR division

“HR professionals are under more pressure than ever. They are managing higher workloads, more complex expectations and recruitment processes that are taking significantly longer than they used to. Recruitment can absorb a huge amount of time and resource, right from the point of advertising.

While higher application volumes may sound positive, the reality is that a large proportion of candidates are often not suitable for the role. At the same time, the increasing number of tools available to candidates to support job applications means HR teams are spending even more time filtering through applications to identify those who are genuinely right for the business.

That is where having the right support can make a real difference.”

Karen Gilbert, HR Recruitment Division Manager, The Recruitment  Consultancy

The value of support and shared experience

One of the things we hear most often from HR professionals is how valuable it is to speak to others who genuinely understand the challenges they are facing.

Why peer support matters

Many HR professionals are working on their own or within small teams, managing a broad range of responsibilities without always having the opportunity to step back, share experiences or discuss ideas with peers.

That is one of the reasons The Surrey & Sussex HR Forum has become such an important part of our HR community.

The forum brings together HR professionals from across Guildford, Worthing and the wider Surrey and Sussex region, creating a space to share knowledge, discuss challenges and learn from others facing similar situations.

Through the forum, we also work with expert speakers and advisors who share practical insight and up-to-date knowledge on key topics, including employment law updates, workplace change and the evolving demands of HR roles.

Sometimes, simply having the opportunity to talk to people who understand what you are dealing with can be worth its weight in gold.

Support when you need it

Alongside the forum, we also support HR professionals more directly when needed.

Many of the HR professionals we work with come to us when recruitment begins to take too much time internally, or when they need support finding the right candidates for their teams.

Support beyond recruitment

Because we are closely connected to the HR community through the forum, we have a strong understanding of how HR roles are evolving, the pressures teams are under and what businesses need from their people function.

That insight shapes how we support the organisations we work with, whether that is through sharing knowledge, offering guidance or helping to secure the right people through our HR Recruitment Division.

Final thought

HR roles have always been demanding, but the breadth and complexity involved have increased significantly.

Across Guildford, Worthing, Surrey and Sussex, HR professionals are managing more, balancing more and being asked to deliver more.

If there is one takeaway, it is this:  You are not the only one finding it challenging, and you do not have to manage it on your own.

We understand the pressure HR professionals are under because we speak to people in these roles every day. Whether through The Surrey & Sussex HR Forum, our HR Recruitment Division or simply through conversations with businesses across the region, we are constantly hearing about the same challenges, pressures and changing expectations.

If you would like to have a conversation about what you are seeing in your business, share experiences or simply gain another perspective on the market, we are always very happy to chat.

You can find out more about our HR Recruitment Division or read about how membership (which is free for HR professionals) of The Surrey & Sussex HR Forum could be a great source of advice and support.

Both are led by Karen Gilbert, who would be very happy to hear from you on 01483 456465 or 01903 820082.