HR Business Partner

Ford & Stanley Recruitment; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm seeks an experienced HR Business Partner for their Milton Keynes site. The role demands operational autonomy and strategic influence, overseeing HR functions and leading a team. Candidates should have relevant HR experience, particularly in blue-collar environments, and a strong grasp of UK employment law. Benefits include a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and substantial holiday entitlements.

Benefits

25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays

Hybrid Working (3 days on-site, 2 days WFH)

1:00 PM Finish on Fridays

Qualifications

• Proven track record as an HR Business Partner or Senior HR Advisor.
• Experience in a blue-collar/site-based sector is essential.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law is critical.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full lifecycle of complex employee relations cases.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior managers and stakeholders.
• Supervise and develop a team of HR Administrators.

Skills

Employee Relations

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Change Management

Employee Wellbeing Initiatives

UK Employment Law

Education

CIPD Level 5

CIPD Level 7 or Chartered Status

Job description

HR Business Partner | Milton Keynes | Up to £45,000 | Permanent

Ford & Stanley are exclusively partnering with a leading Rail Engineering specialist to recruit a hands‑on, proactive HR Business Partner for their site in the Milton Keynes area.

This is a quintessential generalist role that offers a unique blend of operational autonomy and strategic influence. Reporting to a supportive HR Manager, you will be the "go‑to" HR lead for a busy, safety‑critical site, overseeing a team of three HR Administrators.

This role is perfect for a Senior HR Advisor looking for a step up or an established HRBP who thrives in a "sleeves‑rolled‑up" blue‑collar environment. Notably, this position offers an excellent work‑life balance with a 1:00 PM finish every Friday and a flexible hybrid working model.

The Opportunity

Responsibilities:

• Employee Relations: Lead and manage the full lifecycle of complex and routine ER cases, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, and performance management.
• Strategic Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to Senior Managers and Executive stakeholders, providing the confidence to challenge decisions and ensure best practices.
• Team Leadership: Provide day‑to‑day supervision, workload allocation, and professional development for a team of three HR Administrators.
• Operational Excellence: Support change management activities, including redundancy, TUPE, and restructuring where required.
• Culture & Engagement: Drive initiatives related to employee wellbeing, retention, and performance improvement within a unionised environment.
• Compliance: Ensure all HR activities align with UK employment law and specific rail/engineering industry standards.

The Candidate

We are looking for a resilient HR professional who thrives in fast‑paced, industrial, or manufacturing settings. You must have the "gravitas" to influence senior stakeholders and be comfortable working within a unionised environment.

• Experience: Proven track record as an HR Business Partner or Senior HR Advisor within a blue‑collar/site‑based sector (e.g., Engineering, Manufacturing, or Logistics).
• Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 is essential; Level 7 or Chartered status is a significant benefit.
• Skills: Strong hands‑on approach to ER casework and a comprehensive, up‑to‑date understanding of UK employment law.
• Attributes: A confident communicator who isn't afraid to challenge the SLT when needed to drive high standards of fairness and professionalism.

Location & Benefits

• Location: Wolverton / Milton Keynes (Hybrid: 3 days on‑site / 2 days WFH).
• Salary: Up to £45,000.
• Working Hours: Mon‑Thu 08:00-16:00; Friday 08:00-13:00.
• Holiday: 25 Days + Bank Holidays.

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on‑going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.