HR Business Partner

Ipsum Utilities Limited; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent utilities company is looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to align HR strategy with business goals. In this role, you will lead local HR projects, support recruitment efforts, and manage an HR Apprentice. Ideal candidates will have previous utilities sector experience, strong knowledge of employment law, and a CIPD qualification. The company values diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all backgrounds.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid working

Group Personal Pension Plan

Car allowance

Career development opportunities

24/7 access to mental health support

Cycle to Work scheme

Discount club for various services

Life assurance cover

Long service recognition

Active local social committees

Regular social events

Qualifications

• Experience in leading complex change projects such as restructures and TUPE.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels and drive business impact.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver workshops to enhance line manager skills.
• Support recruitment activities to enhance candidate experience.
• Embed PeopleHR to strengthen accountability.
• Prepare monthly HR reports for leadership.

Skills

CIPD qualification (Level 5 minimum)

Experience from the utilities sector

Strong grasp of employment law

Excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office and SharePoint

Strong stakeholder influencing

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays with the option to buy more
• Hybrid working
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Car allowance
• Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications
• 24/7 access to a virtual GP and Mental health support & counselling services
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discount club - supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!
• Life assurance cover
• Long service recognition
• Active local social committees
• Regular social events

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to join our team at Ipsum, supporting our operational divisions across the utilities sector. This role is key to aligning HR strategy with business goals, working closely with the Head of HR (Operations) to deliver a people-focused plan that drives performance and engagement.

You’ll lead the delivery of local HR projects, partner with line managers to embed best practices, and play a hands‑on role in shaping our culture. As part of your remit, you’ll also line manage an HR Apprentice—providing guidance and mentorship as they grow within the team.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver targeted workshops to boost line manager skills in disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and more
• Empower managers to take ownership of everyday people issues and become more self‑sufficient
• Support recruitment activities—advertising, screening, interviewing, onboarding—to enhance candidate experience
• Champion employee engagement and positive relations through proactive collaboration with managers
• Partner with Head of HR (Operations) to implement engagement action plans that drive performance
• Embed PeopleHR across divisions to strengthen accountability and enable cultural change
• Maintain real‑time accuracy of operational data within PeopleHR
• Coordinate with Head of HR (Operations) on TUPE, acquisitions, integration, restructuring, and redundancy
• Coach managers on handling difficult conversations and resolving issues informally
• Provide pragmatic, risk‑aware HR advice to managers, escalating to Head of HR (Operations) when needed
• Prepare monthly HR reports for senior leadership and board‑level business reviews
• Use HR metrics to generate insights and drive performance improvements across operational teams

About you

We are looking for a confident and experienced HR Business Partner who thrives in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment. Ideally, you’ll bring experience from the utilities sector and have a strong grasp of employment law, with a proven track record of leading complex change projects such as restructures, TUPE, and variations to terms and conditions. You’ll be comfortable building relationships at all levels, influencing stakeholders, and driving meaningful business impact through strategic HR initiatives.

You’ll be CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum) and educated to degree level, with excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office and SharePoint. Resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to personal development are key, as is the ability to navigate change with confidence. If you’re passionate about making a difference and ready to take ownership of your HRBP remit, we’d love to hear from you.

Equal Opportunities

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Next steps

If you’re interested in this opportunity, please apply or reach out to the Talent Team for more info.