People Partner

Widnes Permanent £45,000 - £55,000 per year View Job Description
This role is a hands-on People Partner supporting a transport operation, coaching managers, handling ER, and improving engagement and retention across drivers and operational teams. It offers exposure to a fast-paced, PE-backed business undergoing growth and change, with travel to multiple sites and the opportunity to make a real impact.
  • Hands-on role shaping ER and engagement.
  • PE-backed business with growth and influence.

About Our Client

This is a UK-based, multi-site industrial business with a large operational and transport workforce. They provide essential services to a range of commercial and public sector customers and are backed by private investment. The business is focused on operational growth, efficiency, and improving workforce engagement across its sites.

Job Description

  • Act as a trusted advisor to employees and management on HR-related topics.
  • Act as the dedicated People Partner for the transport and operational workforce.
  • Support and coach operational managers on employee relations, performance, and people management.
  • Manage ER cases including disciplinaries, grievances, sickness, and conduct issues.
  • Support TUPE processes, redundancies, and workforce transitions.
  • Lead initiatives to improve driver engagement, retention, and wellbeing.
  • Deliver wellbeing presentations and support HR-related roadshows for new platforms or initiatives.
  • Advise on recruitment processes and challenge managers on hiring effectiveness.
  • Partner with managers to address operational workforce challenges and develop capability.
  • Work collaboratively within the wider People team to support cross-functional priorities.
  • Undertake own HR administration as needed (no dedicated admin support).
  • Travel to multiple sites as required to support the operational teams.
  • Embed a hands-on, practical approach in a fast-paced operational environment.

The Successful Applicant

A successful People Partner should have:

  • Strong operational experience, ideally in transport, manufacturing, or frontline environments.
  • Resilient and adaptable, able to handle a fast-paced, sometimes reactive environment.
  • Confident in employee relations and managing sensitive workforce issues.
  • Skilled at coaching and developing managers to take ownership of people management.
  • Pragmatic, hands-on, and willing to roll up their sleeves.
  • Collaborative, able to work effectively within a small People team.
  • Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
  • Comfortable working with a diverse workforce, including drivers and operational staff.
  • Able to travel regularly and plan visits to multiple sites.
  • Focused on engagement, retention, and practical solutions rather than just policy.

What's on Offer

  • Salary up to £50,000 plus £5,000 car allowance
  • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • Pension contribution of 3%
  • Medicash healthcare scheme
  • Salary sacrifice EV car scheme
  • Onsite parking with access to EV chargers
  • Hybrid working with 3 days in the office (option to do 4 if preferred)
  • Some flexibility around travel and school drop-offs
  • Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, operational environment with real impact on engagement, ER, and manager development
  • Exposure to a PE-backed business undergoing growth and change across multiple sites

If you are ready to take the next step in your Human Resources career, apply now to join the team in Widnes. This role offers a chance to make a real impact within a growing organisation

Contact
Ben Pottas
Quote job ref
JN-012026-6915792
Phone number
+441512553765

Job summary

Job function
Human Resources
Subsector
HR Business Partner
Sector
Transport & Distribution
Location
Widnes
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Ben Pottas
Consultant phone
+441512553765
Job reference
JN-012026-6915792