Weldfast UK Limited is a leading provider in the welding industry, delivering high-quality products and services that support professionals and businesses across the country. We are committed to innovation, excellence, and becoming the go-to business in the welding sector.
The business is backed by investors and supported by a strengthened leadership team and currently going through a period of transformation. New senior hires are joining, systems and infrastructure are being upgraded, and the business is moving from a traditional founder led model to a more modern and scalable operation. This is a genuine opportunity to join at a pivotal moment and help shape the next stage of the business.
Role Purpose
The People Manager will act as a strategic advisor to the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team, driving people initiatives that support business growth, operational performance, and cultural development.
This role is responsible for aligning people strategy with business objectives in a fast-paced welding and manufacturing environment, ensuring the organisation attracts, develops, and retains the right talent while maintaining strong employee engagement and compliance with UK employment legislation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic People Partnering
- Partnering with the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver people strategies aligned to business goals
- Support organisational design, workforce planning, and business transformation initiatives
- Drive a high-performance culture across both shopfloor and office-based teams
Talent & Workforce Management
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies to attract skilled talent in a competitive industrial market
- Develop succession planning and talent pipelines, particularly for technical and operational roles
- Support workforce planning across production, warehousing, and commercial functions
Manager Support & Capability
- Coach and support managers on employee relations, performance management, and leadership capability
- Provide practical, commercially focused HR advice in line with UK employment law
- Build management confidence in handling people issues effectively
Employee Relations & Culture
- Act as a trusted advisor on employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, and conflict resolution
- Promote a positive, inclusive, and safety-focused working environment
- Support engagement initiatives across both office and workshop teams
People Data & Insights
- Provide insight and reporting to the leadership team on workforce trends and risks
- Leverage HR systems to improve efficiency and data accuracy
Change & Development
- Lead and support change initiatives, including organisational transformation and process improvement
- Drive employee development programmes, including leadership development and skills training
- Support the evolution from a founder-led business to a more structured, scalable organisation
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Proven experience in an HR Business Partner/ HR Manager or Stand-alone HR role
- Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice
- Experience supporting both operational (shopfloor) and professional teams
- Strong commercial awareness and ability to align people strategy with business objectives
- Confident in managing employee relations cases end-to-end
- Proficient in HR systems and Microsoft Excel
- Strong coaching, influencing, decision making, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience in a growing SME or transforming business
- Experience within manufacturing, engineering, or distribution
- Exposure to industrial or welding/fabrication environments
- Experience implementing HR systems or improving processes
- CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience
- Strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach
- Strong influencing and relationship-building skills
- Resilient and adaptable in a changing environment
- Data-driven with the ability to turn insight into action
- High emotional intelligence and professionalism
- Proactive problem-solving mindset
Why Join Weldfast UK?
- A dynamic role within a supportive, ever-changing working environment.
- Continuous training and development.
- Government enrolled Pension Plan.
- Competitive salary with annual review.
- One paid volunteering day per year.
- 20 days holiday plus public holidays and Christmas shutdown and additional holiday with length of service.
- Hybrid working, three days per week in the office, Tuesday to Thursday preferred however, depending on meetings and visits.
