At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive HR excellence across Europe, supporting talent and enhancing employee experience.
- Company: Join Routeco, a leading industrial automation specialist with a global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, wellness benefits, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a focus on mental health and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping HR strategies and supporting diverse teams.
- Qualifications: 5+ years HR experience, strong analytical skills, and a degree in HR or Business.
The predicted salary is between 44000 - 44000 £ per year.
At Routeco, our vision is to be Europe’s leading industrial automation and controls specialist. We combine seamless customer experience with unmatched technical expertise to create lasting partnerships that make a real difference to businesses and people. This is Routeco Know-How.
As part of the Sonepar Group—the largest B2B electrical distributor globally—we offer the stability and scale of a global organisation, while staying firmly rooted in the UK market. We’re committed to shaping a forward-thinking future, valuing professionalism, agility and teamwork every step of the way, with customers at the centre of every decision.
This role forms part of the Sonepar UK people team, specifically focussed on Routeco’s UK and European entities in the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland. As a champion of Routeco Group and Sonepar’s wider people strategy, you will play a key role in delivering consistent, high-quality HR practices across Europe.
You will support both the associate experience and business growth by ensuring effective HR systems, processes, and initiatives are embedded across all locations. Working closely with the UK People Team and European Leadership, you’ll provide expert HR guidance across the full employee lifecycle — from recruitment and development to reward and day-to-day people matters — ensuring a cohesive and commercially aligned HR service.
Success in this role will depend on your ability to build strong, value-adding relationships with regional leaders and local HR teams, operating as a true Business Partner who aligns people strategy with business outcomes. You will also collaborate across Sonepar’s European HR network, sharing best practice, strengthening capability, and driving continuous improvement.
What you’ll be doing:
- Ensure full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements across Routeco’s European entities, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of employment law and reducing legal risk.
- Partner with local legal advisers where required to support complex employee relations matters and ensure best practice.
- Act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing guidance on performance management and supporting the rollout of global performance frameworks, policies and tools.
- Use people data and insights to contribute to quarterly and annual reporting, including trends, metrics and KPIs to inform business decisions.
- Support talent acquisition, development and succession planning to build future capability across the region.
- Drive associate engagement initiatives, including supporting ‘stay’ interviews and analysing exit trends, sharing insights with European leadership.
- Coordinate the delivery of a compliant and competitive European benefits offering, aligned to both local requirements and group standards.
- Promote associate wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion and Purpose initiatives, ensuring alignment with Routeco Group while respecting local cultural needs.
- Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery across all European entities.
- Contribute to pay benchmarking and reward reviews, helping ensure competitive and innovative salary and benefits packages across Europe.
What do you need to bring to Routeco?
- Minimum 5 years’ HR experience across Talent Acquisition, Benefits and Compensation, overseeing high level disciplinary, grievance, performance management, and appeal procedures.
- Strong knowledge of UK and wider European HR practices, with multi-country experience preferred.
- Degree in HR/Business (or related) and CIPD qualified (Graduate level).
- Fluent English; additional European languages (French, German, Dutch) advantageous.
- Proven customer focus with high attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information.
- Strong analytical, organisational, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Ability to use data to inform evidence-based people decisions.
- Experience managing workload independently in a hybrid environment, maintaining team alignment and stakeholder communication.
- Comfortable managing crisis/emergency HR situations.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Copilot) and digital tools.
- Willingness to travel.
What can we offer you?
- Base salary: A competitive basic salary + bonus.
- Generous Time Off: Start with 25 days of annual leave, increasing with length of service up to 30 days with the option to flex up/down 5 days.
- Long Service Rewards: Celebrate your milestones with special gifts and up to 5 extra holiday days in your anniversary year.
- Wellness Benefits: Access a health and wellbeing cashback scheme.
- BUPA Cover: Medical disregard for our associates.
- Financial Security: life assurance coverage at 2x your salary.
- Free Shares: you will be eligible to receive free shares after completing 3 years of service.
- Pension Plan: Join our Group personal pension plan with a 5% employer contribution.
- Continuous Learning: 1 hour of protected development every week to enhance your skills.
- Family-Friendly Leave: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
- Recognition: Discretionary ‘on the spot’ and value-based awards for outstanding performance.
- Volunteer Time Off & Workplace giving: Get paid time off for participating in our volunteering programs and contribute to meaningful causes.
- Exclusive Discounts: Access the Associate Discounts Portal for savings.
- Referral Bonuses: Earn financial reward for referring talented individuals.
- Cycle Scheme: Access to salary sacrifice Cycle Scheme.
- Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance: Access a 24/7 support program through Unum, and Mental Health First Aiders.
- Fitness Benefits: Enjoy gym membership discounts.
At Routeco, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you're interested but don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply—you might still be a great match. Please inform us of any needed adjustments to the recruitment process when applying.
We use blind CVs. We're GEISS accredited. We're a registered Member of Inclusive Employers. We have internal focus groups on Mental Health, Menopause, D&I and more. We're proud to publish our diversity aims and figures so everyone can see our great work!
Are you ready to make a difference? Apply now.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UK & EU HR Business Partner
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Sonepar!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Sonepar.
We think you need these skills to ace UK & EU HR Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Sonepar. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Sonepar and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Sonepar. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Sonepar's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sonepar
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Sonepar.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Sonepar will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Sonepar and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
