People Business Partner in Leeds

HGF Limited is one of Europe’s largest intellectual property specialist firms offering a fully integrated IP solution, bringing over 200 Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys and IP Solicitors together to provide a full-service IP solution. With 25 offices across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & Austria, HGF’s Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys provide specialist technical and legal advice to blue chip organisations and small to medium businesses across the world. Many of our clients are household names and the work HGF does allows them to protect and exploit their inventions, new products and branding.

The Position

As a People Business Partner, you will act as a strategic and operational partner to Group and Function Heads, driving the delivery of our People & Culture strategy. This role is pivotal in fostering high performance, colleague engagement, and organisational effectiveness by providing expert guidance across the full employee lifecycle. Working closely with the People & Culture leadership team, you’ll ensure that all initiatives align with our values, culture, and commercial objectives. You will also play a key role in advancing our performance management processes embedding inclusive practices into every aspect of our people processes and influencing meaningful cultural change.

About You

You’re a commercially aware HR professional with experience in generalist HR or People Partnering, ideally within professional services or legal environments. Adaptable and resilient, you thrive in times of change and align decisions to organisational goals. Skilled in planning and problem-solving, you manage complex projects effectively while maintaining accountability. Your analytical ability enables you to interpret data, communicate insights clearly, and make informed recommendations. You bring strong knowledge of employment law, employee relations, and HR best practice, alongside specialist performance management expertise within a professional services setting, with a track record of driving meaningful impact. Confident in project management and risk mitigation, you work collaboratively with senior leaders and act as a trusted subject matter expert. A degree in HR, Business, or a related field is essential, and experience of European employment laws (German, French and Dutch) and merger and acquisition activity would be beneficial.

Business Partnering

• Build trusted relationships with Group and Function Heads to understand people needs and challenges.
• Provide expert advice and coaching on performance, engagement, change, and team development.
• Use a data lead approach to champion DEI initiatives, embedding inclusive practices across recruitment, promotion, and policies.

Employee Relations & Policy

• Manage complex employee relations cases with professionalism and legal compliance.
• Develop and implement policies that reflect best practice and the firm’s culture.

Performance & Engagement

• Drive performance management processes, including objective setting and development planning.
• Partner with leaders to address engagement drivers and retention risks.

Organisational Change & Culture

• Support change initiatives such as restructures and cultural alignment.
• Champion the firm’s values and behaviours across all people practices.

Data & Insights

• Use people data to inform decisions and measure impact of initiatives.
• Provide regular reporting and analysis to leaders and the People & Culture Director.

Why move to HGF?

HGF takes a transparent and merit-based approach to your career development and you will have the opportunity to shape your long-term progression. We’re a firm with a focus on DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion), with a staff led DEI Focus Group, affinity networks and a DEI Board sponsor. As a business we have a dedicated Learning and Development team focused on career long development of your skills along with a digital learning platform covering a wide range of content. Benefits including our award winning enhanced parental leave policy, 27 days holiday, bonus scheme and flexible working.

HGF Values

• People - People matter. We treat people fairly, with respect and compassion. We foster a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable culture for everyone to prosper in. We invest in our people and offer appropriate coaching and training to assist with development and learning. We promote a healthy work-life balance. Progression is based on merit.
• Excellence – We strive to be the best. We pursue excellence in all our individual roles resulting in outstanding legal and technical advice for our clients. Our people are pragmatic, responsive and commercially minded. We do not presume but listen to understand so we can engage proactively and appropriately.
• Teamwork – We stand together. We work with our clients to protect their interests, and with each other as a mutually supporting firm. We value, appreciate and listen to others, regardless of role, recognising each individual’s particular blend of talent, skill and experience. We are individually and jointly accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
• Progressive – We innovate. We continually improve our services and processes through understanding, creativity, and investment. We evolve by taking opportunities and adopting new business procedures, unencumbered by historical structures or out-of-date attitudes. As a firm, we have an entrepreneurial spirit, and encourage new thinking in our people.