Regional HR Business Partner - Full Time

Freedom Leisure; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charitable leisure trust in the UK is seeking a Regional HR Business Partner to support teams across the East of England. The ideal candidate will manage employee relations, ensure compliance, and implement HR policies. Candidates should have experience in generalist HR roles in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a competitive salary of £40,000 - £43,000 per annum, plus a car allowance, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Staff benefit scheme

Discounted staff membership

Incremental holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Company pension

Various insurance and saving schemes

Cycle-to-work and car leasing schemes

Fully funded training and career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a generalist HR role managing a high volume of cases.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, customer-focused, multi-site environment.
• Exposure to employee development and compensation & benefits.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely HR advice to Business Managers.
• Manage complex employee relations cases.
• Support restructuring and change management initiatives.
• Report on HR metrics and KPIs.
• Lead projects to improve staff engagement and retention.

Skills

Generalist HR experience

Employee relations management

Change management support

Multi-site operational experience

HR systems exposure

Education

CIPD qualified Level 5 or 7 (desirable)

Tools

HRIS

ATS

LMS

Job description

Overview

At Freedom Leisure, we're all about positive vibes, great people, and making a real impact. We run leisure and cultural facilities, gyms, and swimming pools—but at the heart of it all, it\'s our people who make the difference. As one of the UK\'s leading charitable leisure trusts, we are committed to Improving Lives Through Leisure. We help communities live healthier, happier lives by making our centres welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to everyone. We strive to be a workplace where everyone is welcome, valued, and supported to thrive.

We are looking for a solutions-oriented Regional HR Business Partner to support our teams across the East of England (e.g. Great Yarmouth, Essex), Milton Keynes and North Northamptonshire. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and excel at delivering practical HR support that keeps operations running smoothly, this role is for you.

In this position, you\'ll be the go-to expert for day-to-day HR matters—managing employee relations, supporting line managers, ensuring compliance, and helping to implement HR policies and procedures consistently across the region. Your focus will be on enabling teams to perform at their best by resolving issues quickly, maintaining high standards, and fostering a positive working environment.

Job Purpose

To deliver professional, proactive and pragmatic generalist HR support across all Freedom Leisure sites giving commercial, practical and legally compliant advice that supports the attainment of commercial business objectives and drives organisational success.

The role holder will work in partnership with management teams (central functions and site-based) on a broad range of topics including employment law, terms & conditions, performance and absence management, dealing with unions, TUPE processes, remuneration and organisational development. Additionally, the role holder will work in close collaboration with the HR Director, Senior HR Business Partner and the other Regional HR Business Partners to drive forward HR topics that have a positive business-wide impact.

Key Relationships

• Executive Leadership Team
• Operations Director
• Regional & Area Managers
• Centre Management Teams
• Employees
• HR Department
• Support function teams
• Other external bodies as appropriate (e.g. ACAS, Unions, OHP providers)

Responsibilities

• Work in close partnership with Business Managers on a broad range of HR topics, providing pragmatic, timely and commercially-savvy HR advice; assist Managers to achieve business goals and drive performance in their centres through successful delivery of people initiatives.
• Manage, monitor and record HR casework, advising managers on complex employee relations, employment law and relevant legislation; support and participate in grievance and disciplinary investigations and hearings as appropriate, including appeal hearings.
• Lead mobilisation of new contracts and centres from a people perspective, with a focus on TUPE and transfer/integration of new staff in a compliant, best-practice manner.
• Continuously review policies and procedures, implementing changes as required; ensure all legislative advice is up to date, consistent and clearly communicated.
• Report on relevant HR metrics and KPIs; monitor and advise on absence triggers, performance management and general employee life cycle.
• Proactively suggest and support improvements and initiatives using HR data to meet business needs in areas such as remuneration, recruitment, retention, attendance and performance management.
• Collaborate with the Senior HRBP on business-wide, future-focused people initiatives (talent acquisition and management, succession planning, employee engagement, ED&I and employee voice).
• Take the lead on specific projects to drive positive improvements in staff engagement and retention across the business.
• Develop the HR service to add value and improve performance across the business.
• Home / Field based with frequent site visits and occasional overnight stays.

Key Experience, Qualifications And Skills

Essential

• Experience of working in a generalist HR role, managing a high volume of cases and providing advice and support to managers at different levels of seniority.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, customer-focused, multi-site environment, ideally within leisure, retail or hospitality.
• Experience of supporting change management including restructuring.
• Exposure to resourcing, employee development and compensation & benefits in previous roles.
• Experience of working with HR systems including an ATS, HRIS and LMS.

Desirable

• CIPD qualified Level 5 or 7 desirable (but not essential).
• Experience of supporting TUPE processes.
• Experience of leading HR related projects.
• Experience of implementing an HRIS.

Benefits

• My Staff Shop, our staff benefit scheme, offering discounts on cinema tickets, travel bookings, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and everyday spending.
• Discounted staff membership (including family members)
• Incremental holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential counselling
• Company pension
• Various insurance and saving schemes
• Financial advice
• Cycle-to-work and car leasing schemes (salaried staff only)
• Fully funded training and career progression opportunities

Closing date: 18 October 2025

Salary: £40,000 - £43,000 per annum + £2,220 Car Allowance

If you have any questions relating to this opportunity please email [e-mail].