{"id":14741,"date":"2025-10-11T12:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T12:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=14741"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:56:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T11:56:41","slug":"formation-of-the-employment-contract","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/formation-of-the-employment-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Formation of the employment contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p class=\"\">By <strong><strong>Sue Johnstone<\/strong><\/strong><br>Updating author: <strong>Lilia Dangi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Understand how employment contracts are formed, from making a valid job offer to identifying binding contract terms. This guide explains the legal principles employers need to know when creating, agreeing, and documenting employment contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Job offers can be in writing, be oral or made by conduct.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The person making the offer should have authority to do so.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Offers that are subject to conditions are incomplete until the condition is satisfied.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Acceptance must be by a positive act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Promises made during an interview may be legally binding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Each party must get something from the contract &#8211; this is &#8220;consideration&#8221;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If the parties intend that the contract shall not be legally binding it cannot be enforced in the courts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Mistakes, misrepresentation and illegality all affect the extent to which the contract can be enforced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The terms of the contract are fixed when the contract is made.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Contract terms should be put in writing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this guide, learn about:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">The offer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Conditional offers and references<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Acceptance and counter offers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Collateral contracts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Consideration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The contract as a compromise but with flexibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Intention to create legal relations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Mistakes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Misrepresentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Illegality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Identifying the contract terms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">The importance of written terms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Future developments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For full access to <strong>Formation of the employment contract<\/strong>, sign up to a HR and Compliance Centre subscription today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate HR complexity with confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organisation up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b7a3f7f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-72f618007039b5bcaf6a7361e284e524 wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter  editor-posts-filtered-topics \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/written-statement-of-employment-particulars\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/09075626\/colleagues-discussing-work-during-meeting-at-desk.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Employment law guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/written-statement-of-employment-particulars\/\">Written statement of employment particulars<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">A guide explaining employers\u2019 duties to provide a written statement of employment particulars, including required content, timing and &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/how-to-change-the-terms-of-existing-employment-contracts\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: 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&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/variation-of-contracts\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/09074952\/team-discussing-project-in-modern-office-setting.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Employment law guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/variation-of-contracts\/\">Variation of contracts<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">A guide explaining when and how employment contract terms can be changed, including agreement, consultation, dismissal and re\u2011engagement, &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5fb0786f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-topics-on-this-page\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Topics on this page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-topic has-link-color wp-elements-5ec59eb01c09ec2f1d84a6b36973ff83 wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/\" rel=\"tag\">Contracts of employment<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-about-the-authors\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">About the authors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-658170e2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/01\/13144636\/speaker-avatar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14506\" style=\"border-radius:25px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Sue Johnstone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Sue Johnstone is a freelance trainer and writer on employment law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Sue is an experienced writer on all aspects of employment law. She specialised for many years in discrimination law and equality practice and was editor of Equal Opportunities Review from 2002 to 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">She has many years&#8217; experience as a university lecturer on employment law, and is a freelance tutor on CIPD employment law courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1c134f44efc1cb9867b0bbd77207db0a\">Sue&#8217;s experience of employment law in practice includes more than 25 years sitting as an employment tribunal member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17647\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Lilia Dangi<\/strong><br>Legal Editor, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia joined the Employment Law and Compliance team as a Legal Editor in March 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia has over 10 years&#8217; experience in HR, with a strong background in employment law, compliance, and governance. She has worked across major organisations including Deloitte, Santander, and Unilever, advising on complex employee relations matters, immigration and change management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia also brings experience as a CIPD tutor, delivering modules on employment law and workforce planning. She holds a Law degree, a Law Masters in Corporate Governance, and is a certified Company Secretary and CIPD Associate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Connect with Lilia on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/liliadangi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how employment contracts are formed, covering job offers, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, and how mistakes or misrepresentation can affect enforceability. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":14819,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[12],"tags":[],"topic":[31],"class_list":["post-14741","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides-how-to","topic-contract-of-employment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast 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