THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

YOUR FIRST HIRE CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Make your first hire with clarity, confidence and a plan, without guessing your way through the biggest change your business has made so far.

READY TO MAKE YOUR FIRST HIRE?

SHOW ME THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM

8 Weeks Live Mentoring

4 Weeks Implementation Support

Templates, Tools & Resources Included

YOU'RE AT CAPACITY

The business is growing, but everything still comes back to you.

Create the space you need to grow.

YOU KNOW YOU NEED HELP

But you're not sure what role you need, what you can afford or where to start.

Get clear on who you actually need.

BUT WHAT IF IT GOES WRONG?

Because your first hire feels too important, and too expensive to guess.

Make your first hire with confidence.

IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR

You know you need help.

But hiring someone feels like a big risk.

You’re already stretched, but getting the help you need brings a whole new set of questions.

Can I really afford to hire?
What if I choose the wrong person?
Do I need an employee, freelancer or outsourced support?
What should I actually be hiring them to do?
What if there isn’t enough work six months from now?
And what do I need to have in place legally before they start?

So you keep doing more yourself. Waiting until you feel certain.

But staying stuck has a cost too.

Every week you spend doing work someone else could own is time you’re not spending on the work that grows the business.

The answer isn’t to rush into hiring. It’s to know how to make the right decision.

THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

From thinking about hiring to confidently becoming an employer.

8 weeks of live group mentoring + 4 weeks of implementation support

Each week we’ll tackle one part of your first-hire journey together, so you know what to do, why you’re doing it and what needs to happen next.

Are you ready to hire?

Know when the business is genuinely ready, and when it isn't.
Who do you actually need?

Turn everything that's currently sitting with you into a clear, commercially useful role.
Find & choose the right person

Know where to look, what to ask and how to make a confident hiring decision.

Can you really afford to hire?

Understand the true cost, the numbers and what the hire needs to make possible.
Employee, freelancer or outsource?

Choose the right way to bring support into the business before you commit.
Become their employer

Get the offer, onboarding, expectations and first 90 days right from day one.

8 weeks of live group mentoring

See What's Included

WHY I CREATED THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

I’ve seen what happens when a first hire is done well, and when it isn’t.

I'm Laura Hartley, and for more than 25 years I've helped business owners recruit, build teams and grow with confidence.

I created The First Hire System™ because your first hire is different.

It’s the point where your business starts becoming bigger than just you. And that brings a whole new set of decisions.

Some business owners hire too soon.
Some wait until they’re completely overwhelmed.
Others know they need help, but aren’t sure who they need, what they can afford or where to start.

And getting the person is only part of it.

You also need to know how to bring them into the business, set expectations, manage them well and build a working relationship that actually gives you the freedom you hired them for.

That’s what The First Hire System™ is designed to do.

8 weeks of live guidance. 4 weeks of implementation support. One clear route from doing everything yourself to confidently becoming an employer.

✓ 25+ years in recruitment

✓ 15 years building my own recruitment business

✓ ILM Qualified Executive Coach

✓ Hundreds of successful hiring decisions supported

Ready to stop figuring this out on your own?

The First Hire System™ gives you the framework, support and practical tools to make your first hire with confidence.

See What's Included

FROM FIRST-HIRE UNCERTAINTY TO THE RIGHT PERSON

“Having support to shape the process and make a confident decision made all the difference. The working interview was key. I’ve now got the right person for my team.”

Ben, Business Owner

Successfully made his first hire

EVERYTHING YOU NEED

Make your first hire. And be ready to lead them.

This isn’t eight weeks of theory. You’ll work on your actual business, your actual role and your actual first hire, with the tools, templates and support to turn each decision into action.

01 Know you’re ready

Work out whether now really is the right time, what staying solo is costing you and what you can genuinely afford.

Includes: Readiness Assessment, Hiring Affordability Calculator, Capacity Audit + Decision Tools.

02 Build the right role

Get clear on what needs to come off your plate, who you actually need and whether an employee, freelancer or contractor is the right route.

Includes: Task Mapping, Hire Type Guide, Role Builder + Strategic Hire Planner.

03 Find the right person

Create a role people want, attract stronger candidates and know how to shortlist and interview without relying on gut instinct.

Includes: Job Advert Templates, Employer Brand Guide, Screening Tools, Interview Questions + Scorecards.

04 Make the hire confidently

Compare candidates properly, make an evidence-based decision and know what needs to be in place before you make the offer.

Includes: Candidate Comparison Tool, Pre-Offer Checklist, Legal/HR Preparation Guide + Offer Support.

05 Become their employer

Bring your new person into the business properly, delegate with confidence, set expectations and lead them with confidence from day one.

Includes: 30/60/90-Day Onboarding Planner, Ways of Working Agreement, Delegation Toolkit + Difficult Conversations Guide.

SUPPORT ALL THE WAY THROUGH

You’re not doing this alone.

Your first hire will raise questions. That’s why support continues beyond the weekly teaching, so you can make decisions as they happen.

8 weeks of live expert guidance

Work through each stage live with Laura, 60 minutes of structured delivery plus up to 30 minutes to ask questions and apply it to your business.

Weekly First Hire Clinic

Bring the questions and real situations that come up as you put your first hire into action.

4 weeks of implementation support

The teaching finishes at week eight. The support doesn’t. You have another four weeks to put everything into practice with Laura there to guide you.

12 weeks. One clear route from doing everything yourself to confidently becoming an employer.

THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

Everything you need to make your first hire, and lead them well.

You’re not buying another course to work through on your own. You’ll have live guidance, practical tools and support while you make the decisions and put them into action.

01 8 weeks of live expert guidance

Work through each stage live with Laura, with structured guidance, practical application and time to ask questions about your business and your hire.

02 Weekly First Hire Clinic

Bring the questions, decisions and sticking points that come up while you're putting the programme into practice.

03 4 weeks of implementation support

Keep the support while you take action, recruit and put the foundations in place for your new hire.

04 Your complete First Hire Toolkit

Keep the assessments, calculators, planners, templates, interview tools, scorecards and onboarding resources to use whenever you need them.

12 weeks. One clear route from doing everything yourself to confidently becoming an employer.

BY THE END

You won’t just know how to hire. You’ll be ready to do it.

Know the decision is right

Be clear on the role, affordability and whether an employee really is the right next step.

Have the hiring process ready

Know where to find them, what to ask, how to assess them and how to make the right offer.

Be ready to lead the them

Have the foundations in place to onboard, manage and support your first employee confidently.

The goal is simple: make your first hire with confidence, and know what you’re doing when they arrive.

EVERYTHING YOU GET

Everything you need to make your first hire and get it right.

THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

8 weeks of live group mentoring to take you from deciding who you need to making your first hire with confidence.

IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT

4 further weeks of support so you’re not left on your own when it’s time to put everything into practice.

AI RECRUITMENT TOOLKIT™

Practical training and ready-to-use AI prompts to help you recruit smarter and save time.

FAST-ACTION BONUS

1:1 Recruitment Profile Debrief when you join within 48 hours of the live workshop.

PAY-IN-FULL EXCLUSIVE — HIRE ME HIGH TEA

Join Laura in person for afternoon tea and a relaxed small-group business and first-hire session. Afternoon tea is on me.

BECAUSE GETTING IT WRONG COSTS MORE

Your first hire is already an investment. Make sure it’s the right one.

A hiring mistake doesn’t just cost you salary. It costs your time, recruitment costs, onboarding and lost productivity, and potentially the cost of starting the whole process again.

The First Hire System™ is designed to help you make the right decisions before an expensive mistake has to teach you instead.

YOUR INVESTMENT

Ready to make your first hire with confidence?

PAY IN FULL

£997 + VAT

Save £50 and receive our exclusive pay-in-full bonus

Everything in The First Hire System™

AI Recruitment Toolkit™
Practical training + ready-to-use AI prompts to help you recruit smarter and save time.

Fast-Action Bonus

1:1 Recruitment Profile Debrief*

Available when you join within 48 hours of the live workshop.

Pay-in-Full Exclusive
Hire Me High Tea

Join Laura in person for afternoon tea and a relaxed small-group business and first-hire session. Afternoon tea is on me.

JOIN & PAY IN FULL

PAY MONTHLY

3 x £349 + VAT

£1047 + VAT total

Everything in The First Hire System™

AI Recruitment Toolkit™
Practical training + ready-to-use AI prompts to help you recruit smarter and save time.

Fast-Action Bonus
1:1 Recruitment Profile Debrief*

Available when you join within 48 hours of the live workshop.

JOIN & PAY MONTHLY

GOOD TO KNOW

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you might want to know before joining The First Hire System™.

What if I’m not quite ready to hire yet?

That’s absolutely fine. In fact, this is often the best time to join. The First Hire System™ helps you work out when the right time is, what you can realistically afford and what needs to be in place before you hire — so you’re preparing properly rather than making decisions when you’re already at capacity.

What if I’m not sure whether I need an employee, freelancer or outsourced support?

You don’t need to know before you join. We’ll look at what your business actually needs, the work you need to hand over and the different ways you could bring that support in. You’ll be able to make the decision based on your business, your budget and where you’re heading, not simply because one option feels safer.

Do I need to know who I want to hire before I join?

No, that’s part of the process. We’ll start with what needs to come off your plate and what the business actually needs, then turn that into a clear role. You’ll know what you’re hiring someone to achieve before you start looking for the person.

What if I’ve never employed anyone before?

Perfect, this was built for you. You don’t need recruitment or management experience. I’ll guide you through the decisions, practical steps and conversations involved, so you know what to do before, during and after your first hire.

How much time will I need to commit each week?

The live mentoring session is 90 minutes each week. You’ll also have practical actions to complete between sessions, but this isn’t about giving you hours of coursework. Everything is designed to move your real first-hire decision forward, so the work you’re doing is work you’d need to do anyway.

What is the Hire Me High Tea?

Pay in full and you’ll be invited to join me in person for afternoon tea at a specially selected venue in Manchester or Liverpool.

It’s a relaxed, small-group session with time to talk about your business, your first hire and what comes next, with proper conversation away from Zoom.

Afternoon tea is on me. Travel and accommodation aren’t included.

How does the 48-hour Fast-Action Bonus work?

Join The First Hire System™ within 48 hours of the live First Hire Readiness Workshop and you’ll also receive a private 1:1 Recruitment Profile Debrief with me.

We’ll use your profile to explore how you naturally communicate, make decisions and lead, and what that could mean as you step into becoming an employer.

Once the 48-hour window closes, this bonus is no longer included.

When does The First Hire System™ start?

The next First Hire System™ cohort starts Tuesday 29 September 2026.

Your core live sessions take place every Tuesday at 10am, with the First Hire Clinic every Thursday at 2pm for questions, support and anything that comes up as you put the programme into practice.

The programme runs for 12 weeks — 8 weeks of live teaching followed by 4 weeks of implementation support. Core teaching sessions are recorded, so if you can’t attend live, you’ll be able to catch up.

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Your first hire could change what’s possible for your business.

Make sure you’re ready for it.

JOIN THE FIRST HIRE SYSTEM™

Helping business owners make confident hiring decisions.

About Laura Workshop Contact