HR Business Partner

Based - County Durham

Office-first role | 8.30am – 5.00pm | Travel to operational sites couple of weeks

Sarah McKenna HR is recruiting on behalf of Banks Group for an experienced HR Business Partner to join their Group HR team at their Meadowfield Head Office.

Banks Group is a long-established, family business with a strong North East heritage and a diverse portfolio of businesses. This role will provide dedicated HR support to one the Divisions, while also contributing across the wider Group. You will work closely with managers in a practical, visible and commercially aware way.

This is a role for someone who is genuinely strong in employee relations. Someone who can support managers, build trust quickly and give clear, confident advice across a wide range of people matters, from absence, probation and performance through to disciplinary issues, restructures, consultation and TUPE activity.

The role

Working closely with the Group Human Resources Director and wider HR team, you will be a key point of contact for managers and leaders across the business. You will offer proactive, practical HR support while also helping to strengthen policies, people processes and wider HR projects.

Experience

The strength of your ER experience will be key.

You may already be working as an HR Business Partner, or you may be a Senior HR Advisor ready for a broader partnering role. Either way, you will need to be comfortable managing employee relations issues with confidence and credibility, while also building trusted relationships with stakeholders across different areas of the business.

You will bring:

• Strong hands-on employee relations experience
• Up-to-date employment law knowledge
• Experience supporting managers in a practical, solutions-focused way
• The ability to build trusted relationships and communicate clearly
• Exposure to HR projects, with evidence of owning and implementing improvements
• Experience working across varied business functions
• A full UK driving licence, as the role will involve travel to other offices and operational sites every few weeks

CIPD Level 5 or above would be helpful, but the real priority is someone with the right depth of experience, judgement and approach.

Why this role?

This is a chance to join a well-established HR team in a business where you can be close to the operation, influence managers directly and make a visible contribution.

It will suit someone who enjoys being hands-on, wants variety in their role, and is confident balancing day-to-day ER support with broader HR work that improves how the business operates.

For a confidential conversation, please contact Sarah McKenna at Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment.