HR Business Partner - EET Retail
Date: 2 Oct 2026
Location: Ellesmere Port, GB, CH65 4HB
Company: essaroiluk
Location: Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, Ellesmere Port, with regular travel across the EET Retail forecourt network
Reports to: Head of HR, EET
Employment type: Full time, 5 days per week, Monday to Friday
What we offer:
- Competitive salary
- 10% company contribution pension
- 25 days holiday, increasing with service
- Private medical insurance
- Additional flex benefits, including holiday purchase
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme with exclusive access to a range of discounts
- Free secure on-site car parking
About the company
Essar Energy Transition (EET) is creating one of the UK's leading energy transition hubs in the Northwest, with a planned investment of US$3.6 billion over the next five years. Our businesses span low-carbon fuels, hydrogen, power generation, carbon capture and future energy solutions. We produce over 16% of the UK's road transport fuels and are a key partner in the HyNet project.
EET Retail is building a nationwide forecourt network supplied directly from Stanlow. Following the acquisition of SGN Retail, we now operate 235 forecourts and aim to reach 800 by 2031, becoming the UK's retailer of choice.
Find out more: Redefining Energy | EET
About the role
As HR Business Partner for EET Retail, you will be the primary HR partner to the retail leadership team, regional and area managers, and support functions. You will build the organisation, capability and culture needed to integrate acquisitions, scale the network rapidly and deliver an outstanding customer experience on every forecourt.
You will:
- Partner with the EET Retail leadership team to translate the growth plan, site economics and operating model into targeted people plans.
- Lead and support change management initiatives, including TUPE transfers, employee consultation and harmonisation of terms, policies and processes.
- Act as a trusted advisor and coach to retail leaders, bringing a people perspective to decisions on network expansion and new site openings. Advise and coach managers on employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence matters.
- Partner with leaders on workforce planning for new sites, acquisitions and seasonal demand, and deliver high-volume, multi-site recruitment and onboarding.
- Build a pipeline of site, area and regional managers through succession planning and development programmes.
- Partner with Learning CoEs on training in customer service, fuel and site safety, and regulatory compliance, including age-restricted sales.
- Tackle attrition, absence and retention challenges in a frontline retail environment, and drive engagement and recognition across sites, including for acquired colleagues.
- Deploy enterprise HR initiatives, including performance management, reward and incentive schemes, talent and engagement programmes.
- Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation, including working time, National Minimum Wage and right-to-work requirements.
- Use workforce data such as turnover, absence and vacancy metrics to generate insight and inform decisions.
About you
You combine strong HR expertise with commercial retail understanding and hands-on delivery. You thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and are comfortable supporting a geographically dispersed, frontline workforce.
To succeed in this role, you'll have:
- Experience in an HR Business Partner, Senior Advisor or similar role.
- A track record of supporting rapid growth, organisational change (including TUPE) and high-volume recruitment.
- Strong employee relations expertise and up-to-date knowledge of UK employment legislation.
- Commercial acumen and the ability to turn workforce data into actionable insight.
- Strong coaching, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Integrity, resilience and excellent communication skills.
- Willingness to travel regularly across the UK retail network.
- CIPD Level 5, or an equivalent professional HR qualification.
It would be advantageous if you have:
- Experience in a multi-site retail, forecourt, hospitality or similar frontline environment.
- Experience integrating acquired businesses or opening new sites at pace.
Application process
This vacancy will be advertised for a minimum of two weeks and will remain open until an offer has been made and accepted. It may therefore close at any time after Friday, 16 October 2026, so we encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.