Case Study: How Hawkwood Took Control of Payroll with Givver

Overview

Hawkwood is a small but growing UK business with a flexible and dynamic compensation model. Like many SMEs, they relied on an external accountant for payroll, which resulted in avoidable costs, slow turnaround times, and little control over their processes. As the team’s needs evolved, they needed a faster, more self-sufficient solution.

After switching to Givver — a payroll and HR platform built for SMEs — Hawkwood gained the tools to run payroll internally, flexibly, and with total confidence. This case study highlights how Givver enabled Hawkwood to simplify payroll, reduce costs, and take full control over when and how payroll is processed.

The Challenge: Manual Handoffs and Outsourced Dependency

Kristian had been managing payroll by sending monthly pay data to an accountant a few days before payday. This was necessary to give the accountant time to process variable pay amounts and issue payslips. However, it introduced:

• Delays in payroll processing

• Loss of control over timing and accuracy

• Monthly accountant fees for payslip generation

"We had to email the monthly figure to our accountant a few days in advance to ensure they had enough time. It was clunky and expensive."

Hawkwood needed a way to handle their flexible payroll model internally, without relying on third-party timelines or incurring extra costs.

What Hawkwood Needed

As a growing SME with a lean team, Hawkwood needed a platform that would simplify payroll and eliminate time-consuming manual steps. Their priorities included:

• Speed and control. The ability to run payroll in-house, instantly, without relying on third-party accountants.

• Support for variable pay. A flexible system that could handle month-to-month changes in employee compensation.

• Effortless handling of new starters and leavers. Automatic pro-rata calculations — no spreadsheets or manual adjustments required when employees join or exit mid-month.

• Holiday booking and accrual in one place. A built-in leave management system where employees can book holidays themselves, with automatic accrual tracking and updates to payroll.

• Simplicity and clarity. A user-friendly experience that makes complex payroll tasks feel straightforward — even without a dedicated payroll team.

• Cost savings. Eliminate unnecessary fees for standard tasks like payslip generation and payroll processing.

Why Hawkwood Chose Givver

Kristian decided to move to Givver after a recommendation from someone he knew and trusted.

For Hawkwood, the decision wasn’t just about software features — it was about confidence in the people behind the product. That trust played a key role in making the switch.

Implementation and Onboarding

Givver’s team provided hands-on support from the outset — ensuring a smooth transition with zero disruption. The entire system was fully implemented within just one day, allowing Hawkwood to get up and running immediately.

• Review of payroll policies and setup

• Audit of existing data and practices

• Clear onboarding guidance for in-house processing

As a result, Hawkwood experienced no errors during their first payroll run and found the platform intuitive and easy to use from day one.

What Hawkwood Says

"Givver is a great option for smaller businesses seeking a system that is simple to use. Additionally, it has made our payroll process quicker and has given us more control over when it is processed"

Kristian, Founder of Hawkwood — a growing business with no in-house payroll team or prior payroll expertise

Conclusion

Hawkwood moved away from outdated processes and accountant dependence to a modern, efficient, and easy-to-use solution. Givver gave them the power to manage payroll internally with speed, accuracy, and confidence — all while saving time and money.

For UK SMEs like Hawkwood looking to streamline payroll without the complexity or overhead, Givver is a clear partner for growth.