Business Support Manager

Phenna Group; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Cansford Laboratories, a Cardiff-based drug testing lab, is seeking a Business Support Manager to oversee local HR, people support and facilities on site. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will shape people processes and ensure compliant, engaging operations.

You will own recruitment, onboarding, performance frameworks, employee engagement and data governance, working with Phenna Group HR for complex matters. This role offers real ownership within an SME.

Qualifications

• Experience across the core employee lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding and manager support.
• Solid knowledge of UK HR practice and when to seek specialist guidance.
• Ability to coach managers and develop practical performance, skills and training frameworks.
• Strong organisational skills, discretion and attention to detail in records and projects.
• Approachable, credible, and pragmatic with strategic and hands-on capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first local point of contact for day-to-day people matters and queries.
• Own and improve people frameworks such as performance cycles and skills matrices.
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding to provide a consistent joining experience.
• Coach managers and involve Phenna Group HR for complex matters.
• Lead employee engagement, culture and learning initiatives based on feedback.
• Maintain HR records with confidentiality and good governance.
• Coordinate pay review processes and people reporting.
• Oversee general workplace and facilities management, including supplier relationships.
• Collaborate with the MD and Phenna Group HR on strategy and compliance.

Skills

HR generalist experience

UK HR practice knowledge

Coaching managers

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Education

CIPD qualification

Tools

HRIS

Office management software

Job description

Company: Cansford Laboratories (part of Phenna Group)

Location: Cardiff, fully onsite

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Reports to: Managing Director

About Cansford Laboratories

Cansford Laboratories is a specialist drug and alcohol testing laboratory based in Cardiff. Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, we provide toxicology testing that people rely on to make important decisions in family law, social care and the workplace, so accuracy, impartiality and service are at the heart of everything we do. Cansford is part of Phenna Group, a leading testing, inspection and certification group, which gives us the backing of a larger organisation with the pace and personality of a growing SME.

The role

Cansford Laboratories is looking for a Business Support Manager to be the go-to person for people and workplace support on site. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will make sure managers and employees can do their best work in a well-run, engaging and compliant environment.

The main focus is local HR and people support, with a secondary focus on workplace and facilities management. This is not an Executive Assistant role: you will own the people processes and frameworks that help the business grow, working alongside line managers and with professional guidance from Phenna Group HR on more complex matters.

What you'll be doing

• Act as the first local point of contact for day-to-day people matters, including policy guidance, sickness, return to work, performance processes and employee queries
• Own and improve people frameworks such as objective setting and performance cycles, skills matrices, succession planning and training coordination
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding so every new starter has a consistent, positive joining experience
• Coach and support managers through performance and employee matters, involving Phenna Group HR where needed
• Lead employee engagement, culture and learning initiatives, using feedback to drive practical improvements
• Keep HR records accurate, confidential and well governed, including digitising files and improving data quality
• Coordinate pay and bonus review processes and people reporting
• Manage general workplace and facilities, including landlord and supplier relationships and office improvements

What you'll bring

• Practical HR or people-support experience across the core employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding and supporting managers
• Sound working knowledge of UK HR practice, and the judgement to know when specialist advice is needed
• The ability to coach managers and build practical performance, skills and training frameworks
• Excellent organisation, discretion and attention to detail when managing records, projects and suppliers
• An approachable, credible and pragmatic style, comfortable working at both a strategic and hands-on level

It would be great if you also have:

• CIPD qualification (full or part-qualified)
• Experience combining HR with facilities or office management in an SME
• Experience with succession planning, engagement surveys, learning programmes or tools such as DISC
• HRIS or digital HR file implementation experience
• Experience supporting organisational change or rapid growth

Why Cansford?

This is a genuine opportunity to join Cansford at an important point in its growth, in a role that has been shaped around where the business is heading. You will have real ownership, a visible impact on how the business performs, and the support of Phenna Group behind you.

Phenna Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer