HR Business Partner in London

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role: We are looking for a proactive and people-focused HR Business Partner to support our Specialty business. This role is perfect for someone with a solid HR Business Partnering foundation who is ready to take the next step in their career, working closely with senior HR colleagues and business leaders across Howden to drive a commercially aligned people agenda. As a key member of the Specialty HR team, you will provide hands-on support across a range of HR activities, including employee relations, talent development, engagement, and HR operations, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Business Partnering: Act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing guidance on HR policies, processes, and best practices. Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures and workforce planning. Assist in the implementation of HR strategies that enhance business performance and employee experience.
• Employee Relations & Engagement: Support the business to manage complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies. Support employee engagement initiatives, helping to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Collaborate with leaders to address feedback from employee surveys and drive continuous improvement.
• Talent & Development: Support the Talent team across the talent management and succession planning processes, working closely with managers to identify and develop future leaders of the Howden Group. Coordinate learning and development initiatives, ensuring employees have access to the right training and career growth opportunities. Work alongside the Group Talent Acquisition team on external hiring and internal mobility. Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across group functions.
• HR Operations & Compliance: Work with the centres of expertise to ensure HR policies and procedures remain up to date and are adopted by the assigned business unit. Work with the Reward COE to manage the annual performance and reward cycle for assigned business units, including salary reviews and bonuses. Analyse HR data and trends, providing insights and recommendations to support decision-making.

Who we’re looking for: Exposure to and experience in international matrixed organisations and demonstrable track record as a HR Business Partner within similar fast-paced, dynamic sectors where challenges are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practices. Ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels. Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a passion for continuous improvement. Excellent communication and organisational skills. CIPD qualification (Level 5 or working towards Level 7) or equivalent experience.

What do we offer in return? A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments: We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.