

According to Career Moves Group's 2026 British Job Market analysis, 76% of employers still report difficulty filling positions despite a softer overall market. For SMEs, the challenge is sharper: limited brand recognition makes it harder to attract applications, and traditional agency fees of 15 to 25% of salary can feel steep for a business hiring just one or two people a year.
Reed.ai draws on the same pool of 15 million+ searchable candidates as the UK's largest employers, backed by 66 years of Reed recruitment expertise. From your first role posted, your business has the same reach as organisations that have spent years building their hiring infrastructure.
Reed.ai charges just 8% on a successful hire, with no upfront cost, no subscription and no per-vacancy charge. You only pay if you hire, keeping the risk low for businesses that hire infrequently.
Reed.ai guides you through hiring using voice or text. You answer some questions and describe the role, and Reed.ai searches for relevant candidates, builds a shortlist, and schedules interviews. For a founder or manager hiring their first team member, this removes the most time-consuming parts of the process entirely.
Reed.ai is part of the Reed family, which includes Reed.co.uk, one of the UK's most visited job sites. Candidates who receive an approach through Reed.ai know they are dealing with a verified, trusted employer, which is a meaningful advantage for smaller businesses that have not yet built up their own employer brand.
Is Reed.ai good for small businesses?
Yes. Reed.ai was built with SMEs in mind. It gives a small business the same pool of 15 million-plus searchable candidates as the UK's largest employers, guides you through hiring with no recruitment experience needed, and only charges a fee when you actually hire, keeping risk low for businesses that hire infrequently.
How much does Reed.ai cost for an SME?
Reed.ai charges 8% on a successful hire, with no upfront cost. You only pay the placement fee if you hire, which keeps the risk low for smaller businesses, compared with the 15 to 25% of salary a traditional agency typically charges.
Do I need recruitment experience to use Reed.ai?
No. Reed.ai guides you through hiring using voice or text. You answer a few questions and describe the role, and Reed.ai searches for relevant candidates, builds a shortlist and schedules interviews, removing the most time-consuming parts of the process for a founder or manager hiring their first team member.
How can a small business compete with bigger employers for talent?
Reed.ai draws on the same 15 million-plus candidate pool as the UK's largest employers, so from your first posted role your business has the same reach as organisations that have spent years building hiring infrastructure. Being part of the Reed family also signals to candidates that you are a verified, trusted employer.
Why do SMEs find hiring harder than large companies?
Smaller businesses often face the same hiring challenges without dedicated HR teams, large budgets or an established employer brand. Limited brand recognition makes it harder to attract applications, and agency fees of 15 to 25% can feel steep for a business hiring only one or two people a year.
Is Reed.ai a trusted platform for candidates?
Yes. Reed.ai is part of the Reed family, which includes Reed.co.uk, one of the UK's most visited job sites. Candidates approached through Reed.ai know they are dealing with a verified, trusted employer, which is a meaningful advantage for smaller businesses still building their own brand.