HR Business Partner

The HR Business Partner will provide hands-on operational HR support and strategic business partnering to leaders and employees across their designated business area. Acting as a trusted advisor to managers, the role will provide expert guidance on employee relations and all aspects of people management, ensuring consistent, fair and legally compliant practices.

Working within a fast-paced, multi-site operational environment, the HRBP will balance day-to-day HR delivery with a proactive approach to developing people strategies, improving management capability and supporting organisational effectiveness and business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Provide generalist HR support and advice across the employee lifecycle.

    • Build effective relationships with managers and senior leaders to understand business needs and workforce priorities.

    • Advise and coach managers on HR policies, employment legislation and people management matters.

    • Manage complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence and capability issues.

    • Lead investigations, formal hearings and sensitive employee relations processes.

    • Develop managers' confidence and capability in managing people issues independently.

    • Ensure consistent application of HR policies, procedures and employment legislation.

    • Work with the wider HR team to review and improve policies, processes and practices.

    • Identify workforce trends and employee relations issues, recommending appropriate actions and improvements.

    • Maintain effective relationships with trade unions and employee representatives, where applicable.

    • Partner with senior leaders to deliver people plans aligned with business objectives.

    • Support workforce planning, organisational design, restructuring, recruitment, talent management, reward and employee engagement.

    • Support organisational change, including TUPE transfers, restructures and consultation processes.

    • Lead and support initiatives relating to organisational culture, leadership development and employee engagement.

    • Deliver management training and development to strengthen people management capability.

    • Analyse HR data and workforce metrics to identify trends, risks and opportunities.

    • Provide workforce insights and recommendations to support business decisions.

    • Contribute to wider HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

    Person Specification

    • CIPD Level 5 qualification or above, or equivalent experience (desirable).

    • Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or experienced HR Generalist.

    • Experience supporting operational or frontline workforces, ideally within manufacturing, logistics, distribution, retail or similar sectors.

    • Strong employee relations experience, including managing complex and sensitive cases independently.

    • Good knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.

    • Proven ability to advise, coach and influence managers at all levels.

    • Experience partnering with senior stakeholders to deliver commercially focused people solutions.

    • Experience supporting organisational change, restructuring and workforce planning.

    • TUPE experience (desirable).

    • Trade union and collective consultation experience (desirable).

    • Ability to analyse HR data and use insights to inform decisions.

    • Strong commercial awareness and understanding of operational business needs.

    • Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.

    • Strong coaching and relationship-building abilities.

    • Ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on HR delivery.

    • Proactive, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.

    • Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

    • High levels of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality.

• Flexibility to travel regularly to other operational locations.