MHR
MHR is a UK-based, family-owned technology company founded in 1984, providing cloud and on-premise HR, payroll, and finance software to over 1,400 enterprise and public sector organisations across the UK and Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MHR does
MHR (formerly Midland HR) is a UK-based, family-owned technology company founded in 1984 and headquartered in Nottingham, providing HR, payroll, and finance software to over 1,400 organisations across the UK and Ireland. The company claims to support more than 5% of the total UK workforce and holds a Royal Warrant as Supplier of Payroll and HR Systems to His Majesty The King. Its customer base spans large enterprises and public sector bodies, with notable logos including the London School of Economics, Severn Trent, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Sheffield City Council, and Nottingham Trent University.
The product portfolio centres on two core platforms: People First, a cloud-native, modular HR and payroll platform with AI-enabled capabilities such as AI check-ins, automated workflows, and real-time payroll; and iTrent, an established on-premise/hosted HR and payroll platform widely used in large enterprise and public sector deployments. Supporting modules include People First Learning (LXP), iTrent Salary Modelling, iTrent Shield (security), iTrent HR Chatbot, and Microsoft Finance, with an integration ecosystem of 60+ partners including Microsoft, Docebo, Wagestream, Broadbean, and GBG. MHR Labs functions as an internal research unit exploring AI agents, large language models, and cybersecurity implications.
MHR monetises primarily through annual software subscriptions priced on a modular, quote-based basis according to organisation size and selected functionality, supplemented by professional services (AI consultancy, digital transformation), outsourced/managed payroll services, and learning management revenues. Go-to-market is enterprise-focused direct sales in the UK and Ireland, complemented by event-driven demand generation through the annual World of Work events and content marketing via the Knowledge Hub and a media partnership with the Telegraph. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment or parent company.
MHR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MHR
- Legal name
- MHR International UK Limited
- Website
- https://mhrglobal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- MHR is a UK-based, family-owned technology company founded in 1984, providing cloud and on-premise HR, payroll, and finance software to over 1,400 enterprise and public sector organisations across the UK and Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MHR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Capital Management Software
- NAICS
- Payroll Services (541214), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Core HR & HRIS (BPACAPAA), Payroll, Time & Attendance (BPACAPAB), Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA)
Keywords
Where MHR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MHR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to People First and iTrent platforms with modular pricing based on organisation size and required functionality
- Professional Services: Consultancy services including AI consultancy, digital transformation, and implementation support
- Outsourced Payroll: Managed payroll services for organisations preferring to outsource payroll processing
- Learning Solutions: Learning management system and content delivery through Docebo-powered LMS integration
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Modular platform pricing based on organisational size and required modules |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
MHR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MHR provides cloud-based and on-premise HR, payroll, and finance software platforms—People First and iTrent—used by over 1,400 organisations across the UK and Ireland. Its offering combines core HR, real-time payroll, workforce management, learning, analytics, and Microsoft Finance modules with implementation, consultancy, and outsourced payroll services.
Product overview
MHR offers a platform-plus-modules portfolio of HR, payroll, and finance software. The core products are People First (a cloud-based, modular HR and payroll platform) and iTrent (a powerful, flexible HR and payroll platform for large and enterprise organisations). Both platforms share a common architecture and are supported by the same integrations ecosystem. People First serves as MHR's latest cloud-native offering, while iTrent is the established flagship solution. Additional modules include People First Learning (learning experience platform), iTrent Salary Modelling (pay forecasting), iTrent Shield (enhanced cybersecurity), and iTrent HR Chatbot (conversational AI). Microsoft Finance extends the platform into financial planning and reporting. MHR also offers professional services including AI Consultancy and Digital Transformation consultancy. The portfolio is unified by MHR's AI vision, which integrates AI capabilities into daily workflows, and complemented by MHR Labs, the company's research initiative exploring emerging AI technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- People First: Cloud-based, modular HR and payroll platform
- iTrent
- Microsoft Finance
- MHR Labs
- MHR Learning
Products and services
- People First Cloud-based, modular HR and payroll platform from MHR that unifies HR, payroll, finance, learning, analytics and employee experience into a single intelligent platform with AI-enabled capabilities such as automated workflows, AI check-ins, and real-time payroll processing. Targeted at organisations seeking an end-to-end workforce management solution.
- iTrent Award-winning, well-established HR and payroll software for large and enterprise organisations, providing reliable, secure and legislation-compliant HR and payroll functionality with modules covering workforce management, recruitment, HR chatbot, salary modelling, and enhanced security.
- Microsoft Finance Finance software module powered by Microsoft technologies that provides holistic financial planning, reporting and analysis integrated with MHR's HR and payroll data.
- People First Learning Learning Experience Platform (LXP) module within People First that helps organisations create engaging training programs, personalised learning pathways, and compliance training, delivered with automated, personalised learning aligned with employee development needs and business objectives.
- Outsourced Payroll Managed payroll service offering for organisations that prefer to outsource payroll processing to MHR rather than run it in-house, leveraging the same People First and iTrent technology.
- AI Consultancy Stand-alone consultancy service from MHR that helps organisations understand and implement AI within their HR and workforce operations, forming part of MHR's broader AI vision.
- Digital Transformation Consultancy Consultancy service from MHR that guides organisations through digital transformation programmes, supporting the transition from legacy HR and payroll systems to modern AI-enabled platforms.
- Workforce Management Suite of workforce management capabilities within the MHR platform designed to help organisations get the right people in the right place at the right time, covering time and attendance, rostering, flexi-time, and scheduling.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% staff adoption rate for self-service model at LSE
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use MHR
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MHR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
MHR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- WagestreamcoreWagestream integrates with iTrent to provide flexible pay access allowing employees to access earned wages before payday. Also offers financial information and advice supporting financial wellbeing initiatives.
- BroadbeancoreGlobal leader in job distribution and posting analytics. Multi-posting solution integrates seamlessly with iTrent for bulk job posting, saving time for recruiters and providing reporting on channel performance.
- Grosvenor TechnologycoreHCM terminals integrate with iTrent's paid, flexi-time and rostering modules, automating work patterns and streamlining time-saving processes for shift-based workforces.
- GBG (Loqate)coreIntegration with GBG fixes mileage expense claim inaccuracies (60% inaccurate claims reported). Provides postcode validation for journey recording and expanded into bank detail verification supporting onboarding and fraud prevention.
- DocebocoreDocebo-powered LMS operates outside formal training limitations, bringing social learning and content curation into an LMS that drives productivity with automated, personalised learning paths.
- Document Logistix (DLX)coreiTrent Document Manager (powered by DLX) consolidates and streamlines paperwork-based admin tasks, saving time, money, freeing office space, and providing additional security layers for sensitive documentation.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365strategicPeople First integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for organisations already using this for project management and finance, providing seamless data flow across systems.
- MicrosoftstrategicMicrosoft Finance solutions integrated with MHR platform. Microsoft Teams used for graduate interview process. Azure-based cloud infrastructure supporting platform capabilities.
- Telegraph Media GroupstrategicWorld of Work 2050 content partnership with Telegraph Media Group exploring future of work trends and positioning MHR as thought leader in HR technology space.
- iTrent ShieldcoreAdditional enhanced security module providing extra layers of security to defend against cyberattacks for iTrent customers.
- iTrent Salary ModellingcoreForecasting tool integrated with iTrent helping organisational planning for even the most complex pay structures.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MHR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sage Group: Sage is a UK-headquartered provider of accounting, payroll, and HR software serving SMBs and mid-market. Sage HR and Sage Payroll directly overlap with MHR's People First platform in the UK market for small and mid-sized employers.
- Zellis: Zellis is a UK-focused HR, payroll, and workforce management software provider (formerly part of NorthgateArinso). It competes head-to-head with MHR's iTrent in UK enterprise and public sector, including outsourced payroll services.
- IRIS Software Group: IRIS is a UK-based provider of HR, payroll, and accountancy software, with similar customers (accountancy firms, SMBs, mid-market employers). It directly overlaps MHR's payroll and HR software offerings in the UK.
- Ciphr: Ciphr is a UK HR, payroll, and learning software provider targeting mid-market and enterprise organizations. It offers comparable functionality to MHR's iTrent with focus on workforce management and people analytics in the UK.
- Personio: Personio is a European HR and people operations platform serving SMBs and mid-market. While Germany-founded, it has expanded aggressively into the UK, competing with MHR's People First platform for cloud-native HR buyers.
- SD Worx: SD Worx is a European payroll and HR services provider headquartered in Belgium with significant UK operations. It competes with MHR in both software (HCM) and managed payroll services across European markets.
Broad incumbents
- ADP: ADP is the global leader in payroll and HCM, with major UK operations including ADP Payroll and ADP Workforce Now. It competes broadly with MHR across all segments and represents the dominant incumbent in outsourced payroll.
- Workday: Workday is a global enterprise HCM and finance cloud platform. While serving larger enterprises, it competes with MHR's iTrent for large UK organizations pursuing unified cloud HR/payroll/finance systems.
Emerging players
- HiBob: HiBob is an Israel-founded modern HRIS platform for mid-market and high-growth companies. It competes with MHR's People First for cloud-first, employee-experience-focused HR buyers in the UK market.
Regional players
- Employment Hero: Employment Hero is an Australia-founded HR, payroll, and employee benefits platform expanding into the UK. It targets SMBs and mid-market with a similar cloud-native HCM and payroll proposition to MHR's People First.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MHR social profiles
Digital presenceMHR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
MHR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MHR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
MHR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MHR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MHR
What does MHR do?
MHR provides cloud-based and on-premise HR, payroll, and finance software platforms—People First and iTrent—used by over 1,400 organisations across the UK and Ireland. Its offering combines core HR, real-time payroll, workforce management, learning, analytics, and Microsoft Finance modules with implementation, consultancy, and outsourced payroll services.
Is MHR a public or private company?
MHR is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was MHR founded?
MHR was founded in 1984. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is MHR based?
MHR is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MHR make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are professional Services, outsourced Payroll and learning Solutions.
Who are MHR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sage Group, Zellis, IRIS Software Group, Ciphr, Personio and SD Worx. Broad incumbents are ADP and Workday. HiBob is listed as an emerging player. Employment Hero is listed as a regional player.
Does MHR have an API?
No public API is recorded for MHR.
What industry is MHR in?
MHR's product category is Human Capital Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAEAJ, Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms, with a secondary code of BPACAPAA, Core HR & HRIS. Its NAICS code is 541214 and its SIC code is 7372.