Wishford Education (Group) LimitedSN13 0ES

HR Business Partner

OVERVIEW

Are you passionate about people, culture, and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive? Do you have experience of supporting organisations during periods of change? Are you highly motivated and looking to make a positive impact?

Wishford Education is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic HR Business Partner to join our friendly team. If you love working with people, thrive on variety, and want to make a real difference across schools, nurseries, and camps—this could be your perfect next step.

You’ll help shape a positive, inclusive culture, champion staff wellbeing, and make sure our HR operations run like clockwork. You’ll also support the successful delivery of change, as our organisation continues to grow and adapt to a rapidly changing market.

The role includes:

• Strategic HR planning
• Advising Senior Leaders on HR matters
• Supporting change management and integration projects
• Recruitment, staff training and development
• Payroll and employee relations
• Policy development and implementation
• Compliance with employment law
• Performance management
• Employee benefits
• Leadership and management

As HR Business Partner, you’ll be the key link between our central team and the Business Managers in each setting on all HR matters.

Reports to: Director of Operations and Finance Director

Responsible for: Talent Acquisition Partner, HR & Payroll Administrator

Hours, Salary & Benefits:

Hours: Full-time, year-round permanent position, 40 hours per week.

Based at our support office in Corsham, with travel to our sites across the South of England. Flexible working is available.

• EV scheme with Octopus
• Cycle to work scheme and shopping discounts
• Means tested staff discount in our schools, nurseries and camps
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays pa with the option to purchase an additional 2 weeks
• Access to the group’s counselling scheme
• Access to fully funded apprenticeships
• Discretionary Christmas stand down
• Personal accident at work cover
• Flexible working patterns, hybrid working available

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Shaping and delivering HR strategies.
• Ensuring our Business Managers feel supported and confident in handling HR matters.
• Overseeing change management projects, such as the integration of new schools and nurseries into the group.
• Supporting our Talent Acquisition Partner to attract and retain the very best people.
• Ensuring our safer recruitment policy is up-to-date and consistently applied.
• Working with our settings to ensure that new starters feel welcome, supported, and set up for success.
• Keeping our HR policies clear, compliant, and easy to use, whilst ensuring consistent application.
• Reviewing our HR and payroll processes and procedures and offering advice and suggestions for improvement.
• Supporting staff development and training so everyone feels confident and capable in their roles.
• Helping our leadership team grow through development programmes and apprenticeships.
• Ensuring we stay on top of employment law and best practice, with regular audits and updates.
• Managing employee relations with empathy, fairness, and professionalism.
• Working with our settings to refresh our approach to Performance Management.
• Working with our HR and Payroll Administrator to coordinate our benefits, pensions, and life assurance schemes.
• Overseeing monthly payroll to ensure it is timely and accurate.
• Project managing the selection and roll out of a new HR system across the group.
• Promoting wellbeing and a healthy work-life balance across all our settings.

What You’ll Bring:

• Solid (preferably 5 years+) experience as an HR Business Partner (or similar role).
• A confident grasp of employment law and HR best practice.
• Proven experience supporting organisations through periods of change, such as integrating an acquisition or managing a restructuring.
• Great communication skills and a genuine love for working with people.
• A calm, organised approach—even when things get busy.
• Confidence using HR systems and Microsoft Office.
• CIPD Level 5 (or working towards Level 5) or equivalent experience.

Extra experience, that’s helpful but not essential:

• Familiarity with multi-site organisations.
• A background in education is helpful but not required—we welcome fresh perspectives!

As we support multiple schools and nurseries, you’ll need to be happy travelling between sites. Your own mode of transport and driving licence is essential to this role. You’ll be a visible and supportive presence across our sites, building strong relationships and ensuring consistency in our people practices.

Full details can be found in the job description.

To apply, please fill in The Group’s Application Form, and email it to HR@wishford.co.uk.

Wishford Schools (Group) Limited
25-27 High Street
Corsham
Wiltshire
SN13 0ES

Important Info and How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please complete an application form, or apply on TES (link here) and return it to HR@wishford.co.uk

The application form should be accompanied by a covering letter of no more than one page outlining your suitability for the role.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application deadline/closing date should a suitable candidate be found. Prompt application is encouraged as we will arrange interviews as applications are received.

Vacancy Closes: 8 th August 25 with interviews to take place in the weeks following