Strategic HR & People Leader

EPH Creative is one of the UK’s creative partners for live events. We design, make and hire out the props, furniture, sets and experiential installations that bring events to life for clients across the country. The heart of the operation is in Yorkshire – design studios, workshop and warehouse all under one roof- with a satellite office in London. Around 100 of us, more at peak.
We’re looking for a commercially aware and genuinely people-focused HR professional to lead our HR function. This stand-alone role sits at the centre of the business and works across every department including the workshop, warehouse and logistics teams who make up roughly half of our workforce.
This is not a “keep the paperwork tidy and stay in your lane” HR role. You’ll be joining a business where you can contribute to improving culture, people practices and ways of working across the full workforce – employees, freelancers and contractors alike. You’ll work closely with Directors and Managers, balancing hands-on operational HR with strategic thinking, coaching and organisational improvement.
The person we’re looking for will be just as comfortable coaching a manager through a difficult people issue as they are improving a process, reviewing a policy with the workshop team in mind, or assisting with content for our weekly staff e-flyer.
This role combines:

• Operational HR

• Employee relations

• Policy and compliance

• Careers & Recruitment

• Engagement and internal communications

HR & Employee Lifecycle

• Managing the full employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding

• Advising managers on employee relations matters including absence, performance, conduct and grievances

• Writing and maintaining contracts, policies and HR documentation

• Supporting recruitment, interviewing and hiring processes

• Maintaining accurate people records and related processes

Compliance

• Compliance with UK employment legislation including ERA 1996, Equality Act 2010 and ERA 2025 changes

• GDPR and data handling within the people function

• Managing freelance agreement processes and standards of behaviour across the business

Development & Engagement

• Coordinating training, development and employee engagement initiatives

• Supporting manager capability and team performance

• Overseeing employee benefits and wellbeing administration

• Supporting internal communications including our weekly staff e-flyer

• Contributing to development of people systems, reporting and continuous improvement

We’re looking for someone who combines strong HR foundations with emotional intelligence, commercial awareness and a collaborative approach to making things better.
You’ll likely be someone who:

• Has experience in a standalone or broad generalist HR role

• Is confident advising managers and handling employee relations matters

• Builds credibility quickly with people at all levels

• Is open and flexible – learns the business first, then brings your specialist knowledge

• Brings genuine views to the table & challenges constructively

• Is organised and proactive

• Enjoys improving processes and ways of working

• Is pragmatic and commercially realistic

• Adapts communication style to different audiences from workshop to boardroom

• Balances empathy with accountability

• Is comfortable in a fast-paced, changing environment

• Uses AI tools comfortably & responsibly

• Takes ownership and follows things through properly
Experience in SMEs, events, logistics, or creative industries would be particularly valuable.
Like most growing businesses, we’ve undergone a lot of change over the last year. We’re looking for someone who’ll…