Advanced notification of collective redundancies: The HR1 form goes digital

When an employer proposes to dismiss 20 or more employees as redundant at a single establishment within a 90-day period, it must comply with collective consultation obligations. This includes notifying the Secretary of State by submitting the HR1 form at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect if 20 to 99 redundancies are proposed, or at least 45 days before the first dismissal takes effect if 100 or more redundancies are proposed. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offence and is punishable by an unlimited fine.

Launch and mandatory use of the digital HR1 form

The Insolvency Service has recently launched a digital version of the HR1 form. Currently, employers can choose to either complete the digital version or download the Word version and submit it via email. However, from 1 December 2025, use of the digital version will become mandatory, and email submissions will no longer be accepted.

The move aims to streamline the notification process by allowing quicker submissions, reducing errors, and ensuring that employers only have access to the latest version of the HR1 form.

What’s new?

Key changes to the HR1 form include:

• links to guidance from Companies House, the Charity Commission and the Mutuals Public Register to assist with completion.
• a new redundancy reason of ‘change in supply chain/loss of supply chain contract’.
• restriction on consultation commencement dates by not allowing future consultation start dates.
• occupational group breakdown, specifically, removal of the requirement for employers to break down employees by occupational group.

Further information on key changes to the HR1 form can be found here.

Key practical points include:

• the digital HR1 form has eight parts and takes on average 40 minutes to complete.
• the digital HR1 form does not autosave, meaning it must be completed in one sitting.
• employers must save or print the final summary page before submitting the digital HR1 form, as receipt confirmation emails are sent, but copies of answers are not.
• the following information is required to complete the digital HR1 form: company number, nature of the business, timing and location of redundancies, expected number of redundancies, reasons for redundancies and details of trade union and/or employee representatives.

What next?

Employers planning large-scale redundancies should familiarise themselves with the new digital HR1 system well ahead of December 2025 to help avoid administrative errors and ensure compliance with the collective consultation regime.