Company Description
Demipower is a family-run business established in 1989 and is the largest KFC franchisee in the United Kingdom, operating 120 restaurants. With locations spanning London, the Midlands, East Anglia, the Home Counties, Western England, and Wales, the company takes pride in delivering operational excellence in line with the KFC brand. Demipower has experienced significant growth since its inception and remains committed to maintaining high standards in the quick-service restaurant sector.
Role Description
We are seeking an experienced HR Business Partner with a strong Employee Relations background to support our KFC restaurant estate. This role is critical in delivering a high-quality, people-centred HR service, with a particular focus on managing complex ER matters, advising leaders on employment law, and fostering positive employee relations across the business. Partnering closely with Operations and Head Office leaders, you will support change, mitigate people risk, and help build compliant, engaged, and high-performing teams aligned to business goals.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations (Core Focus)
• Lead and manage complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, and restructuring matters
• Provide expert, pragmatic employment law advice to managers and senior leaders
• Support and coach managers to handle ER matters confidently, fairly, and consistently
• Liaise with external solicitors and advisors where required
• Proactively identify ER risks and implement preventative solutions to improve employee relations and reduce business risk
Business Partnering
• Partner with Regional and District Managers to embed people initiatives and best practice
• Influence and coach leaders to improve people management capability
• Support organisational design, workforce planning, and succession planning
Employee Lifecycle & Talent
• Support all stages of the employee lifecycle, with a strong focus on employee experience and engagement
• Identify key talent and support development and retention strategies
• Promote a fair, inclusive, and empathetic people approach across the business
Training & Development
• Deliver and support training in line with the KFC curriculum
• Identify skills gaps, particularly in people management and ER capability
• Track, evaluate, and report on training effectiveness
Reporting, Change & Engagement
• Analyse HR data to identify ER trends, risks, and opportunities
• Produce clear reports and insights to support operational decision-making
• Support engagement initiatives, surveys, and wider people projects
Skills & Experience
• Strong, up-to-date employment law knowledge with significant ER case management experience
• Proven experience operating as an HR Business Partner in a fast-paced, multi-site environment e.g.(QSR/Hospitality/Retail)
• Confident handling of sensitive, complex, and high-risk employee relations matters
• Excellent influencing, coaching, and relationship-building skills
• Commercially minded with strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and HR information systems (Harri preferred)
• CIPD Level 5 or 7 (preferred)