People Advisor

About the role

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is the regional electricity distribution division of National Grid.

We are the largest UK Electricity Distribution company, providing services and energy to over 25 million customers, through 8 million connections in our four regions across South Wales, the South-West, West Midlands, and East Midlands. 

Over the next five years we need to invest in over £7.5bn of infrastructure to fulfil the UK’s ambition, enabling capacity for more than 1.5 million Electric Vehicles and 600,000 heat pumps and ensuring our customers can connect to our network when they want and how they want.

We are currently recruiting for a People Advisor to work with and support the Lead Business Partner to provide support and HR advice to the assigned NGED business area(s), on a wide range of employee related issues and activities.

As a People Advisor you will be involved in the interpretation and application of wider HR policy and processes to suit specific business and organisation requirements. 

You will have an eye for detail leading on data and insights for the relevant business areas to enable decision making, value add conversations, evidence based challenge and HR / legal compliance.

The position is hybrid with the base office in Castle Donington so likely to work there 2 days per week.

We require a flexible approach to work with the ability to travel to sites within the regional base and required to travel potentially across our four licence areas (East & West Midlands, South Wales & the South West) with occasional overnight stays as required. Due to this, successful applicants will need to have a full UK driving licence.

Key Accountabilities

•  Working with the Lead Business Partner, supporting leaders on a range of matters related to our colleagues, acting as a trusted advisor to build a reputation as a credible, professional and flexible HR professional. Including effective signposting to relevant support and resources.

•  Support the delivery of key HR processes / cyclical, business as usual (BAU) activities by working across the NGED People team, with the Group People Function centers of excellence and business stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and compliance in the assigned business area.

•  Analyse data and provide insights by preparing a dashboard for the business to tell a meaningful story on which business decisions can be made. 

•  Support / deliver key projects to deliver people and business priorities (e.g. DEI, Talent Management etc.).

•  Support the identification of opportunities by analysing key themes, trends (internal and external) and metrics from people dashboards to identify how different scenarios may impact on the business and make recommendations for moving forward.

•  Support Trade Union forums and meetings as required on behalf of the NGED Business Unit.

•  Provide informal, local, ER support and advice to leaders in dealing with colleague matters effectively and sensitively, in line with policy, Code of Ethics and Company values.  Refer any formal process to the relevant team. 

•  Coach Leaders through Legal compliance matters i.e. flexible working requests/parental provisions etc. to ensure they are managing them effectively and in line with our culture. 

•  Support leaders to raise and manage Occupational Health referrals and absence management by providing advice and signposting effectively. 

•  Support Leaders with advice on NGED HR Policies.

About you

• Previous experience of working in a business partner/centre of excellence model 

• CIPD level 5 or working towards this

• Customer focus and stakeholder management – using influencing and communication skills to build relationships. 

• The ability to self-start and adapt to different business needs, with the mindset of continuous improvement

• Discipline and attention to detail in managing data, policies and processes.

• Confident with large volumes of data and manipulating data to drive insights.

• Comfortable working in highly confidential environments.

Desirable;

• High level knowledge and experience across the full spectrum of HR activities including recruitment, ER etc. 

• Experience of providing leaders with support and advice, tailored to the needs of the business but in line with NGED/NG policies, T&Cs etc. 

• Experience of managing projects from initiation to implementation and review.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £39,057 - £42,053 – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

About us

National Grid is pioneering ways to decarbonise the energy system; from building interconnectors to allow the UK to share clean energy with our neighbours in Europe, to investing in renewable energy generation in the United States.

More Information

This role closes on 13th June 2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. 

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. 

We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.