HR Business Partner

Based Herts, Essex, Kent or Sussex Areas

An exciting full-time opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Business Partner to join a fast-paced, people-focused retail organisation. Reporting to the HR Director, this role will play a key part in shaping and delivering HR initiatives that align with business goals while supporting a culture that champions strong values and a people-first approach.

The HR Business Partner will work closely with managers across multiple sites, providing trusted advice, coaching, and support on all aspects of the people agenda. With a proactive and collaborative approach, the successful candidate will influence key areas such as performance management, recruitment, succession planning, and employee engagement.

The role is hybrid and travel will be necessary to various sites around the M25.

The Role
The HR Business Partner will act as a true partner to managers, supporting them with day-to-day people management and long-term workforce planning. Responsibilities will include:

• Leading on core HR activities including performance reviews, talent discussions, and pay reviews.
• Providing guidance on HR policies, ensuring compliance with employment legislation while maintaining practical, business-focused solutions.
• Building strong working relationships with external partners such as recruitment agencies, training providers, and employee assistance programmes.
• Contributing to management meetings, representing the people agenda and highlighting the impact on wider business priorities.
• Staying up to date with developments in both retail and HR, suggesting and implementing improvements where appropriate.

Key Focus Areas

• Employee Relations & Support – Offering managers practical and timely advice on issues such as absence, conduct, restructuring, and change management, ensuring risks to the business are minimised.
• Learning & Development – Driving succession planning, facilitating robust talent discussions, and supporting the development of managers and their teams. Designing and delivering training where needed to enhance capability across the business.
• Employee Engagement – Leading on employee survey activity, translating results into clear action plans, and ensuring feedback loops are closed to enhance engagement at all levels.
• Data & Reporting – Using HR data and KPIs to inform decision-making and identify opportunities for improvement in recruitment, development, and retention.

The Person
The ideal candidate will be a CIPD-qualified HR professional, with proven experience of partnering in a multi-site, fast-paced environment such as retail. They will bring commercial awareness alongside strong knowledge of HR practices, legislation, and employee relations processes.
Key attributes will include:

• Excellent relationship-building, coaching, and communication skills.
• A proactive, solutions-focused, and customer-centric mindset.
• Strong experience in learning and development, with the ability to nurture talent pipelines.
• Flexibility to travel regularly to sites and offices.
• Experience of TUPE would be an advantage.

Why Join?
This role offers the chance to make a real difference in a growing organisation where people are at the heart of the business. The successful candidate will influence key decisions, shape HR initiatives, and help develop a positive, values-driven workplace culture.
If you are an experienced HR professional seeking a role where you can combine strategic influence with hands-on support, this is a fantastic opportunity to take the next step in your career.