Human Resources Business Partner

FIRSTGROUP PLC; Down St Mary; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Your Wellbeing Matters

Vista Flexible Benefits Platform

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

FIRSTGROUP PLC is seeking a Human Resources Business Partner to support multi-site operations across South / South West England. You will coach leaders, analyse workforce data, and drive practical improvements to colleague experience in line with regional priorities.

This permanent role requires on-site presence, strong UK employment-law knowledge, and the ability to partner with senior leaders to deliver sustainable change. Competitive salary around £50k per year.

Qualifications

• Generalist HR experience in an operational or multi-site environment.
• Experience partnering with senior operational leaders.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Ability to analyse data and translate insights into action.
• Willingness to travel across portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated HR Business Partner for your regional portfolio.
• Maintain a regular on-site presence (minimum two days per week).
• Use workforce and engagement data to drive targeted action plans.
• Support leaders to interpret engagement results and implement improvements.
• Increase on-site support in hotspot areas and embed change.
• Help develop leadership capability and strengthen people management.
• Collaborate with HR Advice and other specialists for smooth handovers.

Skills

General HR generalist

Partnering with senior leaders

UK employment law

Data-driven decisions

Travel readiness

Job description

Human Resources Business Partner

Location: South West England

Country: GB

Postcode: EX17 5LG

Application Deadline: 2026-10-10T16:08:23.06

We're on a mission to make work life-supportive, and to help colleagues do meaningful, people-focused work. HR Business Partner (South / South West England)

Location: Multi-site - South/South West England residential and education services

Salary: £50,000 per annum depending on experience

Hours: 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

Contract: Permanent

This is a school-and-service facing HR role where you'll be a visible, trusted HR partner for leaders - using people data and real insights from across your region to drive practical improvements.

About the role

You'll coach and support operational leaders, identify trends early, and help shape measurable people action plans that improve colleague experience and outcomes for children and vulnerable adults. You won't be managing day-to-day employee relations cases — that support sits with our specialist HR Advice function — but you will use ER activity to spot themes, hotspot locations, and underlying organisational issues.

What you'll do

• Act as the dedicated HR Business Partner for your allocated regional portfolio.
• Maintain a regular on-site presence (minimum two days per week), increasing where additional support is needed.
• Use workforce and engagement data to turn insight into targeted action plans with clear ownership and success measures.
• Support leaders to interpret engagement results and deliver meaningful improvement (not just survey outputs).
• Increase on-site support for identified hotspot areas by stabilising issues and embedding sustainable change.
• Help develop leadership capability and strengthen people management practice.
• Work closely with HR Advice and other HR specialists to ensure smooth handovers and learning is embedded.

What we're looking for

• Strong generalist HR experience in an operational or multi-site environment.
• Experience partnering with senior operational leaders.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and good people management practice.
• Confidence using data to challenge assumptions and drive action.
• Approachable, solutions-focused, and comfortable travelling across your portfolio.
• Education experience is an advantage, but not essential.

Why join Outcomes First Group?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:
  • A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
  • 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
  • Cycle to Work Schemes
  • Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover

And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. Your work matters. You'll play a real part in helping children and vulnerable adults live comfortable lives and achieve their potential.

We are committed to safeguarding. All applicants will be subject to social media checks, and successful applicants will be required to complete a fully enhanced DBS. We are proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.