Department: HR

Location: Hybrid

Compensation: £35,000 - £41,000 / year

• Act as a strategic HR partner across the Group, providing professional support, coaching and challenge to senior leaders, people managers, and teams.
• Lead and inspire the HR team, creating a culture of continuous learning, empowerment, and collaborative working.
• Deliver the Group’s People Strategy, driving forward workstreams in areas such as leadership capability, talent development, workforce planning and engagement.
• Champion and embed a strong culture that prioritises colleague wellbeing, recognition, inclusion and positive behaviour.
• Provide timely and insightful HR data and analysis, including monthly MI reports, to the EMT to inform decision making and performance tracking.
• Take the lead on strategic HR projects including TUPE transfers, change management and cultural transformation.
• Continuously review and refine HR processes to ensure they support employee efficiency and experience.
• Build line manager capability through training, coaching and tools on performance management, employee relations, wellbeing and engagement.
• Manage complex employee relations matters effectively and sensitively, ensuring compliance with UK employment law and best practice.
• Drive consistency and compliance by embedding and maintaining effective HR policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Lead on health and wellbeing initiatives to ensure Acorn is a supportive and safe place to work.
• Play an active role in supporting Acorn’s values-led culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement, and Information Security and Quality priorities.

• Positive trends in employee engagement and wellbeing metrics
• Leadership capability improvements through 1-2-1s and development activity
• MI and HR insight provided to EMT accurately and on time
• Compliance with employment legislation and internal HR processes
• Positive outcomes in ER casework, demonstrating resolution and support
• Implementation of people strategies and cultural initiatives
  
  
  
  

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent (essential)
• Level 2 IT Qualification (essential)
• Level 5 management qualification (desirable)
• Degree level qualification (desirable)
  

• Significant HR experience in a business partnering role across complex environments (essential)
• Proven experience managing change and organisational development projects (essential)
• Strong background in employee relations and UK employment law (essential)
• TUPE transfer experience (desirable)
• Experience within education, employability, or skills sectors (desirable)
  

• Strong leadership and people management skills (essential)
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills (essential)
• Skilled in presenting data and insight to drive decisions (essential)
• Capable of managing sensitive/confidential information with integrity (essential)
• Strong problem-solving, time management and initiative (essential)
• Full driving licence (essential)