Head of hr – uk & europe

At Sunbelt Rentals, we're not just growing - we're transforming. As one of the UK's leading equipment rental businesses and part of a global organisation, we're investing in our people, our capabilities and our future.

We're looking for an experienced and commercially minded HR leader to join us as Head of HR - UK & Europe. Reporting to the Chief Transformation Officer, this is a highly influential leadership role within our senior People team.

Working alongside colleagues across our HR Centres of Expertise and wider People Team, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering our people strategy, ensuring it supports the achievement of our business objectives across the UK and Europe. As part of the senior People leadership team, you will contribute to the development of strategic people priorities, whilst taking accountability for translating those priorities into practical, high-quality HR delivery that drives business performance.

As Head of HR you will act as trusted advisor to the Executive Board members and senior leaders, providing insight, challenge and support on all aspects of people, organisation and culture whilst they navigate organisational growth, transformation, capability development and workforce challenges.

Alongside your strategic contribution the key focus of your role will be to lead our HR Business Partnering, People Advisory and Employee Relations teams ensuring the business receives high-quality, consistent and commercially focused people support.

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine strategic influence, partnering with senior leaders and operational leadership within a business that genuinely values the contribution HR makes to organisational success. Due to the scope of the role we are looking for an experienced HR leader, who is equally comfortable influencing at Board level, leading organisational change, driving operational excellence and developing high-performing teams as they are in running a day to day HR function.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and delivery of the UK & Europe people strategy as part of the senior People leadership team.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated people plans aligned to business priorities.
• Lead and develop the HR Business Partner, People Advisory and Employee Relations teams, ensuring exceptional service delivery and commercial support to the business.
• Work collaboratively with HR Centres of Expertise to ensure effective delivery of talent, learning, reward, organisational development, engagement and inclusion initiatives.
• Lead the people aspects of business transformation, organisational change and growth initiatives.
• Ensure robust, commercially focused employee relations practices that balance risk management with business performance.
• Drive continuous improvement across HR processes, service delivery and people outcomes.
• Use people insights and data to inform decision-making and influence business strategy.
• Build organisational capability and leadership effectiveness across the business.
• Develop a high-performing HR team, creating an environment where colleagues can thrive and deliver exceptional support to the business.

Benefits

What can we offer you in return? You’ll be joining a highly successful company, the UK’s largest equipment rental provider. We provide an industry leading flexible rewards package including generous holiday allowance (with the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave), life assurance, retail discount scheme, employee recognition awards and a great company pension scheme. You will also be entitled to a company car/Car Allowance, laptop, phone and bonus scheme as part of this role.