Helicopter Pilots – Help Needed!

Hi folks,

Can anyone enlighten me on how the licencing works for private helicopter pilots at all?

A friend is buying a small chopper and wants to know how the licencing works if he employed someone to fly it for him? I’ve no idea, so I hope someone will be able to help me? Does it work the same way as aircraft where you are licenced to operate a certain type or not?

Cheers folks.