Job title: People and Culture Advisor
Location: HSL -Batley, Comfort House
Salary: Circa £35,000 per year
Hours: 37.5 hours
About the role
HSL is a proud family business who have been helping people feel good in their furniture for over 50 years. The company is going through a period of rapid growth, but we are still wholeheartedly led by our values.
By joining HSL as a People and Culture Advisor, you will be one of the named HR contacts for employee relations across the business. Your work will be varied, meaningful and firmly rooted in supporting managers to do the right thing for their people.
This role is to primarily provide hands‑on casework support and trusted advice to managers, while reinforcing HSL’s culture and commitment to respect, dignity, and doing the right thing. People and Culture Advisor will be visible, approachable, and confident in balancing compassion with robust application of policy and employment law.
If you’re looking to join a supportive and collaborative organisation where no two days are the same, this is an excellent opportunity. You’ll gain hands-on experience across a range of HR activities while developing your skills and progressing your career.
About you
You’ll be a confident People Advisor who:
- Is a strong People Advisor with a robust background in HR
- Has experience providing first line Employee Relations (ER) advice to managers
- Is comfortable supporting ER cases end‑to‑end
- Understands employment legislation and applies it pragmatically
- Communicates calmly and professionally, even in challenging situations
- Is organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities
- Builds strong relationships, bringing personality and humour, whilst taking a solutions‑focused approach
Our feel-good benefits:
- Health cash plan - cashback on dental, optical and more
- Discounted shopping & gym memberships with Westfield Rewards
- Brilliant colleague discount (friends and family too!)
- 30 days' holiday (pro rata), rising to 33 with long service
- Contributory pension and death-in-service cover
- Potential discretionary bonuses
- Free onsite parking (at most locations)
- Lovely surprise & delight events throughout the year
- Career progression pathways
- Commitment to professional development opportunities via internal and external training courses
Key Responsibilities:
Employee Relations & Case Management
- Lead on the full lifecycle of ER cases including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, performance management, and flexible working.
- Chair and attend formal ER meetings, ensuring process, documentation, and outcomes reflect HSL’s values and legal obligations.
- Provide practical, commercially sound HR advice to managers, enabling them to make fair and defensible decisions.
- Support employees through sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity.
- Prepare outcome letters, investigation summaries, and supporting documentation.
Operational HR & Governance
- Ensure consistent application of HSL HR policies and procedures across the business.
- Provide feedback to the Head of People on operational HR risks, policy effectiveness, and areas for improvement.
- Lead end‑to‑end ER cases including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, capability, performance management, and flexible working.
- Chair and attend formal ER meetings, ensuring consistency, fairness, and legal compliance.
- Contribute to the review and development of HR policies in line with employment legislation and organisational change.
- Maintain accurate and confidential HR records in line with GDPR and company standards.
Stakeholder Relationships
- Build strong, trusted relationships with managers and teams, acting as a credible HR presence aligned to HSL’s culture.
- Promote early, informal resolution of people issues where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with the People Systems Lead to ensure ER data is accurately captured and trends are understood.
Flexibility & Team Support
- Actively support the work of the People Systems Lead and wider People Team, undertaking tasks commensurate with the role as required.
- Demonstrate flexibility to meet business needs during peak ER or organisational change activity.
- Maintain a clear commitment to ongoing professional development, keeping knowledge of employment law and best practice up to date.
- Adapt to the evolving needs of a developing People function.
Values in Practice
- Champion HSL’s values by encouraging respectful, inclusive behaviours.
- Ensure people decisions reflect fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Skills & Experience
- CIPD Level 5 qualified (or working towards), or equivalent practical experience
- 3-5 years’ HR advisory experience
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS principles
- Proven experience managing complex ER cases independently
A little more about us:
At HSL, we don't just sell furniture - we create feel good moments. Each piece is handcrafted to support comfort and wellbeing, tailored to fit the individual. Our commitment to world-class service has earned us an incredible 4.9/5 rating on Trustpilot, and we've been proudly recognised as a 2 Star Outstanding company by Best Companies in 2024.
At HSL, we're building something truly special - a community where you are valued for your contributions, inspired to make a difference and empowered to do the right thing. We recognise and celebrate what makes people unique.
Ready to apply?
We'd love to hear from you. Simply send your CV by clicking the apply button, and we'll be in touch soon.
