Group hr manager

The Role

Nigel Wright Group are delighted to be partnering with BWS Group to appoint their first Group HR Manager — a pivotal hire at a defining point in the company’s growth.

This is not a traditional HR role. It is an opportunity to build and shape a modern, scalable HR function from the ground up within a fast-growing, multi-site, operational business.

You will work closely with the CEO and leadership team to create the people infrastructure needed to support continued expansion, influencing culture, capability, and performance across a field-based workforce where people remain at the centre of success.

The role combines strategic input with hands-on execution. You will be equally comfortable designing frameworks and rolling up your sleeves to deliver them in practice.

The role is primarily site-based across the Bath and Dorset locations, reflecting the importance of leadership visibility, relationship building, and close collaboration with operational teams. A degree of flexibility can be considered where appropriate.

What You’ll Deliver

• Build and embed a scalable HR function aligned to a growing, multi-site organisation
• Partner closely with the CEO and leadership team, providing pragmatic, commercially focused guidance
• Strengthen recruitment, retention and workforce planning to support sustained growth
• Lead on employee relations and ensure robust, consistent application of UK employment law
• Develop management capability across operational teams through coaching, structure, and tools
• Establish clear, consistent people processes that improve performance and reduce risk
• Shape a positive, high-performing culture aligned to business values and growth ambitions

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Strong HR generalist background (HR Manager / Senior HR Business Partner)
• Experience in a growing SME or mid-sized business environment
• Proven ability to operate both strategically and hands-on
• Strong UK employment law and employee relations experience
• Experience supporting operational, field-based or engineering workforces
• Credibility and confidence engaging senior stakeholders

Desirable

• Experience in engineering services, fire and security, construction, FM, utilities or similar
• Multi-site or decentralised workforce experience
• Exposure to acquisitions, TUPE or integration activity
• CIPD Level 5 / 7 (or equivalent experience)

Why This Role Stands Out

• A genuine opportunity to build an HR function from first principles
• Direct exposure to and partnership with the CEO and leadership team
• A business where HR is seen as critical to performance, not just compliance
• Clear scope to grow toward Head of / Director-level responsibility over time
• A people-led, operational environment where HR will remain central as organisations evolve

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded and pragmatic
• Confident, credible and able to influence at all levels
• Hands-on and delivery-focused
• Structured and organised, without over-complicating
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-moving environment
• Comfortable challenging and holding a clear position when needed