Employee reward is a complex field.

Let us guide you through it.

How EBRS can help

We work with clients to optimise their reward systems so they can more effectively recruit and retain employees, equipping them to better meet their business objectives.

Whether you want to check pay levels, review the way you organise your roles or improve your organisation’s reward processes, we can provide appropriate support:

  • We find out about your organisation and your needs.

  • Next, we recommend options and advise on a solution.

  • Then we deliver results, giving independent advice you can rely on.

Here’s a summary of the main ways we support our clients. Visit Our Services page for more details and case studies, and get in touch to talk about how we can help you.

  • Let us review your reward strategy, helping you decide what you want it to achieve and what needs to be done to build it.

    We will talk to the people responsible for reward about current reward practices and what they'd like to see in the future.

    Having summarised our findings, we will report these back to you, highlighting any risk areas and recommending how to address them.

  • We see job evaluation as an essential tool that, when applied correctly, provides clear direction without weighing you down.

    With the right guidance, the process can be streamlined and straightforward. The results can provide the basis for benchmarking pay against market data and as the foundation of a transparent grade and pay structure.

  • Getting basic pay and employee benefits right is crucial if you are to recruit and retain staff. Using our tried and tested approach, we can provide a robust and objective assessment of the market rate for any of your roles. 

  • When it comes to pay structures, one size does not fit all. To tailor yours, we will look at what works well and what issues you have with your current system, and also take account of how you see your organisation developing.

  • The best way to ensure that your reward strategy is relevant to your employees is to check their opinion and by using an external organisation, your staff are more likely to engage in the process and state their feelings.

  • We can help you work towards equality in your organisation’s reward structures and then develop strategies to maintain them.

    Knowing the detail of the pay gaps in your organisation makes sound business sense - and larger organisations have to publish their gender pay gaps annually. 

    We can audit pay gaps (typically by gender and ethnicity), then explain our findings and provide you with advice on tackling any risk areas we find. 

Who we are

Set up in 2009, we provide UK businesses with essential benchmarking and reward solutions (hence our name, EBRS), helping you to make the most of how you reward your employees. 

EBRS is run by Karl and Alison Ellis. We’re a unique husband and wife reward team based in Chepstow, on the edge of the beautiful Wye Valley (there are photos of the area all around the website!) And being a small consultancy, you’ll work with the two of us throughout.

You can find out what makes us tick on our About Us page!

How we work

  • Our clients really matter to us.

  • Most of our work comes through referrals.

  • We are friendly, open and collaborative.

  • We devise solutions that are backed with data evidence .

  • Your data is handled sensitively and with care.

  • We embrace using A.I., but with a cautious, human touch.

Find out more about what you can expect from us on our How we work page

... and all with great music playing in the background! ( here’s what’s currently on our turntable!)

Latest news

  • Pay Rise Survey results - reward trends

    Our final post highlights more of the findings from our recent Housing Association Reward Survey, focusing on reward strategy and examining the impact of A.I. on reward.

    (added 7 March 2024)

    Read more

  • Pay Rise Survey results - wellbeing

    Our second summary of the findings from our recent Housing Association Reward Survey, highlights wellbeing initiatives that have been implemented over the past year and what is being planned for 2024.

    (added 29 February 2024)

    Read more

  • Pay Rise Survey results - pay rises

    We recently published the our Pay Rise Survey for Housing report. We look at planned pay awards for 2024, with insights gathered from 24 senior HR professionals across the UK's housing associations.

    (added 22 February 2024)

    Read more

Some of our clients