HR Business Partner 6-month FTC

HR Business Partner (FTC – 3 to 6 Months)

Salary: £52,000 – £60,000 (dependent on experience)

Location: Peterborough (3 days per week onsite)

Travel: Required to London and West Drayton sites as needed

Contract: Fixed-Term (3-6 months)

Reporting to: Senior HR Business Partner

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused HR Business Partner to join the business on a 3-6-month fixed-term contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned HR professional with strong Employee Relations expertise who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and can quickly build credibility with stakeholders across the business.

Partnering closely with leaders and managers, you will provide strategic and operational HR support, with a particular focus on managing complex and high-risk Employee Relations matters. You will play a key role in driving consistency, mitigating risk, and supporting the business through people challenges while delivering a positive employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted HR Business Partner to managers and leaders, providing pragmatic and commercially focused people advice.
• Lead and manage a broad range of complex Employee Relations cases from inception to resolution, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence management, restructuring, and workplace investigations.
• Provide expert guidance on employment law, HR policy, and best practice, ensuring compliance while balancing business needs.
• Support and coach managers to build capability and confidence in handling people-related matters effectively.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to identify risks, trends, and opportunities within employee relations and workforce management.
• Lead sensitive investigations and support formal hearings, appeals, and consultations where required.
• Analyse ER data and trends, providing recommendations and solutions to improve employee engagement, reduce risk, and enhance management capability.
• Support organisational change initiatives and workforce planning activities as required during the contract period.
• Collaborate with the wider HR team to ensure a consistent, high-quality HR service across all locations.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR policies, processes, and people practices.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience operating at HR Business Partner level within a complex and fast-paced organisation.
• Significant Employee Relations expertise, with the ability to independently manage complex, sensitive, and high-risk cases.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and current HR best practice.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and influencing decision-making across multiple business functions.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery.
• Strong coaching and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively where appropriate.
• Experience supporting organisational change, restructures, consultations, or transformation initiatives would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Highly organised, resilient, and comfortable managing competing priorities.
• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) desirable.

Working Pattern

• 3 days per week onsite in Peterborough.
• Travel to London and West Drayton sites as required.
• Immediate availability or short notice period preferred.