Regional People Partner

The Bread Factory; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK bakery company is seeking a Regional People Partner for maternity cover, based in Milton Keynes. This role involves working closely with Regional Managers to implement people strategies and enhance employee engagement across multiple locations. The ideal candidate will bring experience in a People Partnering role, alongside strong skills in coaching, stakeholder engagement, and employee relations. The role offers a hybrid working arrangement and several attractive perks including discounts and holiday entitlement.

Benefits

50% discount at GAIL’s

40% discount at The Bread Factory & The Flour Station Markets

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Discounts from retailers and restaurants

24-hour GP service

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a People Partnering role within a growing business.
• Ability to engage diverse stakeholders and facilitate workshops.
• Strong employee relations experience and coaching confidence.

Responsibilities

• Build partnerships with Regional Managers to implement people strategy.
• Support management teams to improve engagement and reduce turnover.
• Lead projects that support the overall strategic plan.

Skills

People Partnering experience

Coaching and mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Employee relations

Job description

About us:

The Bread Factory is London’s leading Artisan Bakery, known for award-winning breads, pastries, and cakes, supplying top-quality products across e-commerce, grocery, food services, and retailers such as our GAIL’s Bakeries nationwide.

As our teams grow, we seek our next Regional People Partner - Maternity Cover to join our team.

As a Regional People Partner, you will work closely with each Regional Manager on all people‑related activities. You will be responsible for delivering and embedding the people strategy, providing expert employee relations advice and support where required, and driving positive cultural change across our Milton Keynes, Manchester, Bath and the Flour Station locations.

You will play a key role in delivering strategic projects which, through collaboration with other departments, will enhance employee engagement and retention, reduce turnover, and ultimately improve operational efficiency and business profitability.

Everything you will be doing:

• Build strong, trusted partnerships with Regional Managers to deliver the people strategy through effective challenge and coaching.
• Work with managers to ensure robust people and succession plans are in place for their teams.
• Analyse and interpret data to inform decision‑making.
• Own and drive the annual performance appraisal and calibration programme.
• Support management teams to improve engagement, reduce employee turnover and increase retention. Own the relevant data, tracking progress and holding managers to account where required.
• Collaborate with the wider People team on projects that shape future strategy and drive business excellence.
• Lead key projects that support the overall strategic plan.
• Manage and mentor the Talent Advisor, supporting succession planning and regional talent capability.
• Work closely with the Talent and Learning & Development teams to ensure a consistent approach, supporting and constructively challenging one another to enable continuous growth and development.
• Provide expert support on complex and high‑profile employee relations cases, offering front‑line advice and coaching to managers.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working within a growing business in a People Partnering role; manufacturing experience is desirable but not essential.
• View coaching and mentoring as key elements of your People toolkit and have experience working directly with operators, leadership teams and across entire organisations.
• Confidence engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, each with differing interests, perspectives and personalities.
• Enjoy facilitating practical, experiential workshops that drive meaningful development and behavioural change.
• Comfortable analysing and using data to inform discussions and initiatives.
• Strong level of employee relations experience and confidence coaching managers across a range of cases.

What’s in it for you:

• Hybrid: 3 days in Milton Keynes, 1 day in Hendon and 1 day WFH.
• 50% discount at GAIL’s and 40% off at The Bread Factory & The Flour Station Markets.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Discounts and savings from high‑street retailers and restaurants.
• 24‑hour GP service.
• Cycle to work scheme.

We Care about a Job Well Done:

Since 1993, we have been champions in traditional baking with the finest ingredients and techniques. We always do things the right way, not the easy way.

We Care about Baking:

At The Bread Factory, all our teams take pride in crafting beautiful, freshly baked loaves, pastries, and cakes. We are all passionate about our products and share knowledge among us all.

We Care about Each Other:

We always act with respect, empathy, and support to our employees, neighbours and customers.

We Care about Community:

We believe in minimising unsustainable practices and reducing waste, while ensuring we continue to provide everyone with nutritious high‑quality food.

We Care about Nature:

We’re committed to sustainability across our supply chain—from reducing waste and reusing surplus to supporting regenerative farming that helps restore the planet.