People Advisor

Tops Day Nurseries Ltd.; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

B Corp Certification

Queen's Award Sustainability

World's Happiest Workplace 2025

Recognition Scheme

Flexible Working

Engagement Surveys

Career Development

Wellbeing Focus

Job summary

Tops Day Nurseries is seeking a People Advisor to support managers across our nurseries with employee relations, absence, performance, disciplinary and other ER matters.

Based at Southbourne Hub in Bournemouth, this office-based role offers a hybrid pattern with some WFH days and a compressed 9-day fortnight option. You'll report to the People Manager and help managers navigate complex people issues with confidence and fairness.

Qualifications

• Experience in a People Advisor or HR Advisor role with strong ER exposure
• Good knowledge of employment law, ACAS guidance and ER processes
• Proven ability to manage multiple ER cases and deadlines
• Strong communication, influencing and coaching skills
• CIPD Level 3/5 or equivalent with commitment to development

Responsibilities

• Provide practical People and ER advice to managers across nurseries.
• Manage a varied ER caseload including absence, performance, disciplinary and grievances.
• Coach managers through ER processes with clear guidance.
• Support investigations, hearings, meetings and appeals when needed.
• Translate employment legislation and policy into practical advice.
• Build trusted relationships with managers and colleagues.
• Identify trends from casework to improve People processes.
• Collaborate with the wider People Team on initiatives.

Skills

ER Experience

Employment Law

Communication

Coaching

Stakeholder Management

Organisational Skills

Education

CIPD Level 3/5 or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

People Advisor

Location: Southbourne Hub, Bournemouth
Hours: Monday–Friday, 08:30–17:00
Working pattern: Office-based, Monday–Friday, with the option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays. You can also work from the office five days a week if you prefer. The option to work a compressed 9-day fortnight is also available.

Reports to: People Manager
Salary: £32,000–£37,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Why Tops Day Nurseries?

Love solving people problems? Enjoy variety and being the person managers turn to for advice?

At Tops, our people, culture and values come first. We're looking for a People Advisor who enjoys working closely with managers, building trusted relationships and providing practical, confident advice that makes a real difference.

You’ll also have access to:

• A Certified B Corp – committed to social, environmental and ethical business practices
• A former Queen's Award recipient for Sustainability – recognising our commitment to sustainable operations
• Recognised as one of the World's Happiest Workplaces 2025 – creating an environment where our people can thrive and feel valued

• Each Person Recognition Scheme – celebrate and reward achievements
• Flexible Working – with the option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays and compressed working arrangement options
• Quarterly Engagement Surveys & eNPS – giving our people a voice and helping us shape our culture
• Career Development – including CIPD support, training and opportunities to grow
• A Focus on Wellbeing – an inclusive, ethical and people-focused working environment

The Role

As a People Advisor, you'll be at the heart of our People Team, supporting managers and colleagues across our nurseries and support functions.

This is a hands‑on, advice‑led role, with Employee Relations (ER) at its heart. You'll manage a varied caseload covering areas such as absence, performance, disciplinary, grievance and capability, helping managers navigate challenging situations with confidence, consistency and care.

It can be a fast‑paced role, but that's part of what makes it interesting. You'll work across a wide range of employee relations situations, and you'll have the opportunity to use your HR knowledge, judgement and communication skills every day. You'll build strong relationships with managers, become someone they trust to pick up the phone to, and see the difference that good People advice can make.

While ER and day‑to‑day People advice will be your main focus, you'll also have opportunities to get involved in wider People projects, manager development and initiatives that improve the colleague experience.

You’ll:

• Provide practical, confident People and ER advice to managers, helping them navigate employee relations matters fairly, consistently and in line with employment legislation and company policies
• Manage a varied ER caseload, from day‑to‑day advisory queries through to more complex employee relations matters
• Coach and support managers through the different stages of ER processes, helping them understand their responsibilities and make confident decisions
• Support and, where appropriate, take an active role in investigations, hearings, meetings and appeals
• Provide advice on employment legislation, ACAS guidance and People policies, turning technical information into practical advice that managers can understand and apply
• Build strong relationships with managers and colleagues, becoming a trusted and approachable source of People advice
• Identify themes and trends from casework and use these insights to help improve People processes, manager capability and colleague experience
• Contribute to wider People projects, initiatives and manager development activity alongside your core advisory work
• Work collaboratively with the wider People Team to ensure a consistent and supportive approach across the business
• Manage your own workload effectively, balancing competing cases, priorities and deadlines
• Travel occasionally across our regions, so a driving licence and access to your own car is essential

About You

We're looking for someone who enjoys the variety that comes with a hands‑on People role and is confident working with managers through sometimes challenging and sensitive situations.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience working in a People Advisor, HR Advisor or similar role, with strong hands‑on Employee Relations experience
• Good working knowledge of employment law, ACAS guidance, HR policies and ER processes
• Experience managing a varied ER caseload, from day‑to‑day advisory queries through to more complex employee relations matters
• The confidence to provide clear, pragmatic advice and challenge managers constructively when needed
• Strong communication, influencing and coaching skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases, priorities and deadlines at the same time
• Strong administrative and analytical skills, including confidence using Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• CIPD Level 3/5 or equivalent experience, with a commitment to continued professional development
• A practical, solutions‑focused approach and the ability to remain calm and supportive when dealing with sensitive situations
• A genuine interest in creating a positive, inclusive and ethical colleague experience

What You’ll Love About This Role

If you enjoy variety, like getting to the heart of a problem and take pride in giving advice that genuinely helps people, this could be a great opportunity for you.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Build strong relationships with managers and become a trusted source of People and ER advice
• Work on a wide variety of cases, developing your ER knowledge, confidence and professional judgement
• See the impact of your advice directly, helping managers handle situations confidently and supporting positive outcomes for colleagues
• Get involved in wider People projects and initiatives alongside your core advisory work
• Develop your knowledge and career within a supportive People Team, with access to CIPD development and training
• Work for a people‑first organisation where your advice, experience and ideas are genuinely valued

Tops Day Nurseries is an equal opportunity employer. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

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