People Partner

Location: Field-based / Hybrid (Regular weekly travel to Aylesford (Kent) and Shrewsbury (Shropshire) is required, with travel to other offices once a month)
Salary: £50,000

At Commercial Services Group (CSG), we’re helping build the future of public sector and education services. As we continue to scale rapidly, we’re looking for a sharp, experienced, and forward-thinking People Partner to lead the people side of our growth.

This is not your typical HR role. You’ll be embedded in one of our high growth brands, partnering with senior leaders to drive strategic people initiatives and lead change during acquisitions, integrations, and large-scale transformations. Your work will directly influence how newly acquired businesses join our group, blending culture, talent and purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the People Strategy for your business area, aligning local goals with wider Group initiatives and change agendas

• Partner with leaders on mergers, acquisitions, TUPE, organisational design, and major change programmes, ensuring a smooth and people-centred transition

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, coaching and challenging on performance, culture, engagement, and transformation

• Own and resolve complex employee relations cases, maintaining compliance while prioritising people

• Use data insights to identify risks, inform interventions, and enhance the employee experience

• Collaborate with our Centres of Excellence (L&D, Talent, DEIB, HR Ops) to embed best practices across your business area

• Develop and support managers, building future capability and strong succession pipelines

What We’re Looking For

• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience)

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations

• Experience influencing and advising senior stakeholders

• Demonstrated success leading organisational change and managing complex HR cases

• Extensive experience with business acquisitions, integration, and change management

• Strong data literacy with the ability to translate insight into action

• Collaborative, agile, and comfortable navigating ambiguity

• Passionate about inclusion, equity, and fostering belonging in every aspect of people practice

What You'll Receive

• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 27 after 4 years

• An additional day off for your birthday

• Competitive pension scheme with 6% employer contribution

• Life assurance cover at 4x salary

• Generous discounts including retail and gym memberships

• Access to a contributory health cash plan

• Wellbeing support including EAP, counselling, and occupational health services

• One annual volunteer day

• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities

• A supportive, purpose-driven culture where you can make a real impact

About Us

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company, generating more than £800 million in annual revenue and supporting over 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide.

We reinvest our profits into frontline services—more than £77 million to date—proving that commercial success and social impact go hand in hand. With over 1,800 employees across 33 brands in 86 countries, we are committed to being the global leader in education and public service delivery.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.