Job Description

Lanes Group is a leading nationwide utility services provider with c.5000 dedicated employees. Our diverse subsidiaries drive our success across various sectors, contributing to a remarkable turnover of over £700 million. We are committed to excellence and innovation, ensuring we provide industry leading services to our clients and stakeholders. Join us to be part of a dynamic and growing team that values diversity and fosters professional growth.

Department:

Southern Water is one of the UK’s leading water and wastewater companies, delivering essential services to 2.3 million customers across the Southeast of England.

As a trusted delivery partner, Lanes Group plays a vital role in maintaining critical infrastructure networks, delivering essential wastewater and drainage services that protect communities and the environment. Our teams carry out everything from sewer maintenance and network cleansing to CCTV inspections and pollution response, ensuring customers receive a safe, reliable, and resilient service every day

Purpose of the role:

As the HR Advisor, you will be responsible for providing professional, proactive, and commercially focused HR advice and support to managers and employees across the business. The role is responsible for delivering operational HR services, ensuring compliance with UK employment legislation, supporting employee relations matters, and contributing to HR initiatives that enhance employee engagement and organisational performance.

Location: Durrington office, Worthing, West Sussex

Job type: Full-time

Hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £35,000 - £39,000 (depending on experience)

Key Responsibilities:

Employee Relations

• Work closely with line managers and employees, providing them with expert guidance to managers and employees on the full range of people matters, in order to ensure a consistent and fair approach to people management.
• Support managers with disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence management, and flexible working processes.
• Advise on performance management issues and support the implementation of performance improvement plans.
• Attend formal meetings where required, take accurate notes, and provide guidance on employment law and company policies.
• Assist in managing employee relations cases through to resolution while ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant practices.
• Prepare, review, and issue formal HR correspondence, including invitations to meetings, outcome letters, contract amendments, and other HR documentation, ensuring all communications are clear, accurate, and legally compliant.

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Supporting the Talent Acquisition Partner on recruitment and selection strategies as required.
• Coordinate onboarding activities to provide a positive new starter experience.
• Assist managers with probation reviews and onboarding processes.

HR Operations

• Maintain accurate employee records and HR systems.
• Prepare HR documentation where required.
• Ensure HR policies and procedures are applied consistently across the organisation.
• Produce HR reports and management information as required.

Absence and Wellbeing

• Monitor sickness absence and advise managers on absence management procedures.
• Support and action occupational health referrals where appropriate.
• Promote employee wellbeing initiatives and support organisational wellbeing programmes.

Learning and Development

• Identify development needs through discussions with managers.
• Coordinate training activities and maintain training records.
• Support the delivery of learning and development initiatives.

Compliance

• Ensure HR practices comply with UK employment legislation and company policies.
• Support GDPR compliance in relation to employee data.
• Assist with HR audits and documentation reviews.

HR Projects

• Contribute to HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support organisational change programmes, restructures, consultations, and TUPE activities where required.
• Participate in the review and development of HR policies and procedures.

Key Requirements

Skills & Experience:

• CIPD Level 3
• Full UK Driver's Licence
• Excellent Communication
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suit and HR Systems
• High level of Confidentiality and Professionalism
• Strong Organisational Skills
• Interpersonal, Relationship-building and Networking Skills
• Ability to Multitask and Prioritise your Workload in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent attention to detail

Desirable:

• CIPD Level 5

Living the Company Values

By embedding our companies core values and purpose into each role, ensures that every employee, regardless of their role or level, understands how their individual development and contributions align with our purpose of ‘improving today for a better tomorrow’.

Each role and value has an alignment to set proficiency levels and expectations; this role holder is expected to:

• Leading: Acts as a role model, shaping the learning agenda and influencing change.
• Agile: Anticipates learning needs, adjusts quickly to changing operational contexts.
• Nurturing: Supports the development of others through coaching and structured development plans.
• Engaging: Inspires and motivates learners, builds trust and credibility
• Safe & Secure: Ensures all learning is aligned to safety and compliance standards.

Your Contribution to the company:

· Strive to be always positive and constructive

· Adhere to all company policies

· Straight talking about the facts of the situation – open discussions are the best way to find solutions

· Help others through communicating clearly

· Deliver on commitments

· Ensure that any ideas that may enhance the productivity or systems of the company are brought to the attention of Senior Management, or your colleagues

· Deliver our Company Values understanding that by working together in unity we are ‘Stronger Together’

Equality, Diversion & Inclusion

At Lanes Group, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that our differences make us stronger and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. Join us in our commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse world.