At a Glance
- Tasks: Support small businesses with practical HR advice and navigate people challenges.
- Company: Join a dynamic HR consultancy focused on growth and collaboration.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Enjoy a hybrid work model and opportunities for accelerated learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working closely with entrepreneurial leaders.
- Qualifications: Solid UK HR experience and strong employee relations skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Hybrid (WFH, Client Offices and minimum 1 day a month in Sevenoaks). Full time (4 days considers with a Tuesday or Wednesday as the day off).
At The Fractional HR Department, we provide practical, flexible HR support for small businesses and growing teams, giving them expert people advice without the cost or complexity of a full‐time hire. Our approach is simple, human and effective. We focus on clear advice, no‐nonsense processes and HR that genuinely helps businesses grow. We don't hide behind jargon or over‐engineered solutions; we give our clients what they actually need, when they need it.
We work as an embedded extension of our clients' teams, building close, trusted relationships with founders and leaders. Our clients are entrepreneurial, fast‐moving and values‐led, which means our roles are hands‐on, varied and full of opportunity to make a real impact.
The role involves being an experienced People Partner to join our Fractional HR team. This is a true generalist partnering role, ideal for someone who enjoys autonomy, variety and working closely with SME leaders. You'll support your own portfolio of clients, helping them navigate growth, change and day‐to‐day people challenges with confidence and calm.
Employee relations expertise is a core part of this role. While ER isn't the majority of our work, you'll need the confidence and judgement to lead on complex or sensitive situations when they arise, providing clear, practical and legally sound advice.
Alongside ER, you'll deliver and shape HR projects, contribute to account development and play an active role in evolving our services, all with the support of our wider People Partner and HR Support Teams.
What you'll be doing:
- Acting as a trusted People Partner to founders and directors, supporting business growth through annual People Plans.
- Providing clear, practical and legally compliant HR advice across the employee lifecycle.
- Leading on employee relations matters including disciplinaries, grievances, performance, sickness, redundancies, restructures, TUPE, change processes and variations to terms.
- Bringing structure and calm to evolving or ambiguous people situations.
- Using HR data and insight to inform recommendations (e.g. absence trends, benchmarking).
- Identifying and delivering HR projects that strengthen people practices in ways that are simple, scalable and genuinely useful.
- Coordinating recruitment activity and supporting effective onboarding.
- Developing and embedding performance management approaches.
- Implementing and managing our partner HR systems.
- Coaching and supporting managers to build confidence in handling people issues.
- Preparing and reviewing contracts, policies and core HR documentation.
- Designing and delivering practical client training on topics such as appraisals, ER basics and manager capability.
- Managing ongoing client relationships and undertaking periodic service reviews.
- Identifying opportunities for additional project work or enhanced support.
- Responding to inbound new business enquiries.
- Helping prepare realistic scopes, proposals and resource forecasts, with a commercially minded approach.
- Contributing to our wider team.
- Sharing insight and best practice across the People Partner team.
- Contributing ideas to improve processes, tools and ways of working.
- Supporting the development of specific service lines or offerings as we grow.
- Delivering our training courses and holding webinars that build trust in our expertise, showcase our approach, raise brand awareness and naturally generate new opportunities.
About you:
You'll thrive in this role if you:
- Have solid UK generalist HR experience, ideally supporting SMEs.
- Bring strong employee relations experience and confidence leading on cases.
- Can provide clear, structured advice even when situations feel fast‐moving or unclear.
- Have good commercial judgement and understand the realities of small businesses.
- Communicate with clarity, warmth and professionalism.
- Can balance multiple priorities without losing sight of detail.
- Enjoy working autonomously while valuing collaboration and shared standards.
- Hold CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent).
- Have experience within HR Consultancy.
What you'll get from us:
- Exposure to a wide variety of industries and people challenges.
- Accelerated learning and professional growth across ER, projects and partnering.
- Flexible and hybrid working options.
- A collaborative, supportive HR team who share knowledge and back each other.
- Opportunities to shape services and influence how we work.
- Free refreshments and snacks in the Sevenoaks office.
Experience in a consultancy environment is welcome but not essential; what matters most is your ability to build trust, deliver practical HR and work confidently with SME leaders.
Working pattern:
This role is offered on a full‐time, Monday to Friday basis. However, we're open to conversations about alternative working patterns (including part‐time or specific days/hours). Sharing your preferences won't affect your application; it simply helps us understand potential flexibility as we review candidates.
People Partner in London employer: The Fractional HR Department
At The Fractional HR Department, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture that empowers our People Partners to make a real impact in the lives of small businesses. With flexible hybrid working options, opportunities for professional growth, and a focus on practical, no-nonsense HR solutions, our team thrives in an environment where autonomy and trust are paramount. Located in Sevenoaks, our office offers a welcoming space with free refreshments, making it an ideal place for passionate HR professionals to develop their skills while contributing to meaningful client relationships.
Contact Details:
The Fractional HR Department Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People Partner in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the HR field. Attend industry events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that People Partner role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your insights on employee relations and HR projects. This will not only demonstrate your knowledge but also show that you're genuinely interested in helping businesses grow.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready for anything! In interviews, you might face some tricky scenarios related to employee relations. Prepare by thinking through how you'd handle various situations, showcasing your calm and structured approach to problem-solving.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative. Plus, it gives us a chance to see your enthusiasm for joining our team at The Fractional HR Department. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace People Partner in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for HR and how you connect with people.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the People Partner role. Highlight your relevant experience in employee relations and how you've supported SMEs in the past.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate straightforward communication, so keep your application clear and to the point. Use simple language and avoid jargon to ensure your message comes across effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Fractional HR Department
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your generalist HR knowledge, especially around employee relations. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've handled and how you provided clear, practical advice. This will show that you can navigate complex situations with confidence.
✨Showcase Your Autonomy
Since this role involves a lot of autonomy, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed projects or client relationships independently. Highlight your ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Connect with Their Values
Research The Fractional HR Department's approach and values. During the interview, demonstrate how your own values align with theirs. Share experiences where you've built trusted relationships with clients or colleagues, showcasing your warm and professional communication style.
✨Bring Ideas to the Table
Think about potential HR projects or improvements you could suggest that would benefit their clients. This shows initiative and a proactive mindset. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement these ideas in a way that's simple and genuinely useful for small businesses.
