HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner (Water & Infrastructure) – Chorley (includes national travel)

What’s in it for you…

We believe in looking after our people, and it shows. When you join Ipsum, you’re not just taking a job, you are starting a career with real support behind it.

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays with the option to buy more

Group Personal Pension Plan

Car allowance

Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications

24/7 access to a virtual GP and Mental health support & counselling services

Cycle to Work scheme

Discount club – supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!

Life assurance cover

Long service recognition

Active local social committees

Regular social events

About the role…

We are looking for an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to join our team at Ipsum, supporting our operational divisions across the water utilities sectors. This role is key to aligning HR strategy with business goals, working closely with the Head of HR Operations to deliver a people-focused plan that drives performance and engagement.

You’ll lead the delivery of local HR projects, partner with line managers to embed best practices, and play a hands-on role in shaping our culture. providing guidance and mentorship as they grow within the team. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in a growing business.

As an HR Business Partner you will…

Deliver targeted workshops to boost line manager skills in disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and more

Empower managers to take ownership of everyday people issues and become more self-sufficient

Support recruitment activities—advertising, screening, interviewing, onboarding—to enhance candidate experience

Champion employee engagement and positive relations through proactive collaboration with managers

Partner with Head of HR (Operations) to implement engagement action plans that drive performance

Embed PeopleHR across divisions to strengthen accountability and enable cultural change

Maintain real-time accuracy of operational data within PeopleHR

Coordinate with Head of HR (Operations) on TUPE, acquisitions, integration, restructuring, and redundancy

Coach managers on handling difficult conversations and resolving issues informally

Provide pragmatic, risk-aware HR advice to managers, escalating to Head of HR (Operations) when needed

Prepare monthly HR reports for senior leadership and board-level business reviews

Use HR metrics to generate insights and drive performance improvements across operational teams

About you…

We are looking for a confident and experienced HR Business Partner who thrives in a fast-paced, matrixed environment. Ideally, you’ll bring experience from the utilities sector and have a strong grasp of employment law, with a proven track record of leading complex change projects such as restructures, TUPE, and variations to terms and conditions. You’ll be comfortable building relationships at all levels, influencing stakeholders, and driving meaningful business impact through strategic HR initiatives.

You’ll be CIPD qualified (Level 5 minimum), with excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office and SharePoint. Resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to personal development are key, as is the ability to navigate change with confidence. If you’re passionate about making a difference and ready to take ownership of your HRBP remit, we’d love to hear from you.

Our commitment to Equal Opportunities…

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences, and we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive

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