HR Advisor (maternity cover)
This is a fixed term role to cover a period of maternity leave (up to 12 months)
The role
At Energy Saving Trust, the HR advisor plays a key role in delivering expert guidance and support to both management and employees, ensuring HR practices align with legal requirements, company policies, and business goals.
You’ll act as a critical liaison between managers and employees, addressing workplace challenges, promoting a positive culture, and driving organisational success. This role is vital in supporting our HR function, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations, encouraging a productive, engaged, and thriving work environment.
The team
The HR Centre of Excellence is a vital support function, serving as a foundation for the organisation's success. Our role is to listen, support, advise, and empower our people throughout the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring an inclusive and equitable experience for all.
We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to making everyone feel they belong, are included, and can thrive. From recruitment to offboarding, we create pathways for growth, development, and the full realisation of potential.
We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. We’re constantly challenging ourselves to be the best professionals we can be, contributing to making Energy Saving Trust a fantastic place to work. Our values guide us, and we maintain an open and honest culture.
Successes are celebrated, and lessons are learned. We've built a culture of openness and vulnerability, allowing each team member to bring their whole self to work every day.
What you will do
Provide expert HR guidance on key areas such as sickness absence, performance, grievances, and disciplinary actions, using a coaching approach where possible. Ensure compliance with legal requirements and internal policies while fostering a positive, supportive workplace.
Drive successful onboarding and induction processes, gathering feedback to improve employee retention and reduce turnover.
Advise on HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliant and solution-focused hearings with thorough follow-up.
Analyse and present feedback to HR business partners, offering data-driven insights and actionable solutions for continuous HR improvement.
Stay ahead of HR trends and legal developments, continuously evolving strategies to keep our HR approach innovative and forward-thinking.
What you will bring
Demonstrated experience as an HR advisor or in a similar HR role.
In-depth knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and industry trends.
Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
Excellent organisational skills with a keen eye for detail.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Solution-oriented with a proactive, forward-thinking approach.
Strong empathy with the ability to adapt communication to suit various situations.
Eager to learn, grow, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
For more information, please see the Job description- HR Advisor
Please submit an anonymised CV and cover letter, removing your name, address, email address, and any other identifying details. Please note, applications submitted without a cover letter may be rejected.
Who we are
Energy Saving Trust is a leading and trusted organisation, dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as we transition to net zero.
At Energy Saving Trust we don’t just offer jobs – we offer careers. For our people, being part of the effort to address the climate emergency makes working for us truly meaningful and rewarding.
Work where you thrive
At Energy Saving Trust, flexibility isn’t just a policy, it’s how we work. Most of our roles can be done remotely, and many of our people choose to work from home full-time. Prefer an office environment? We have welcoming spaces in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Hadleigh for those who want to connect in person.
We’ll support you with:
Generous holiday (25 days + bank holidays + extra Christmas leave)
True flexibility in how and where you work
Strong pension & life assurance
Enhanced family leave
Green travel perks (EV scheme, cycle to work)
Professional development support
Yearly wellbeing allowance
These are just some of the benefits we offer.
Want to know more about how we make flexibility real? Check out our Benefits and Culture page
Reasonable adjustments: We want to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive of and accessible for, everyone.
If you think you may need additional support or reasonable adjustments made to any part of the recruitment process, please get in touch with recruitment@est.org.uk or call reception on +44 (0)20 7222 0101. We will do our very best to support you.
Diversity and inclusion
Energy Saving Trust is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can be themselves, with support to be their best.
We strongly encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with different identities and experiences to apply for roles with Energy Saving Trust.
We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and we ringfence a minimum number of interview slots for candidates who apply via the Disability Confident scheme and meet the criteria for a role. Find out more here.

You can find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion here.
To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications
Please note, that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this post. To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK
- Department
- HR - Human Resources
- Locations
- Flexible UK location
- Employment type
- Temporary
- Working environment
- Flexible within the UK. Home-based, blended or fully office based (from our offices in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh or London).
- End date
- 17 February, 2026
- Intended interview dates, either week commencing or exact date (please note, this is subject to change)
- 02 March, 2026
- Salary information
- Up to £35,000 per annum (£23,334 pro rata) (depending on experience)
- Working pattern
- 25 hours per week. Working pattern to include Fridays; remaining days/hours flexible by agreement.
Life at Energy Saving Trust
We’re all about creating a workplace where you can thrive. Diversity isn’t just something we talk about, it’s part of who we are. We welcome different perspectives, celebrate individuality, and believe that everyone should feel they belong here.
Learn more about our EDI commitment
We also know life isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we offer flexible working, remote options, and great benefits designed to support your work-life balance. From generous leave to wellbeing perks, we’ve got you covered.
Explore our benefits
About Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation, working to address the climate emergency.
A respected and trusted voice on energy efficiency and clean energy solutions, we continue to work towards a smart, decarbonised, decentralised energy system.
You can find out more on our official website
For more environmental jobs see environmentjob.co.uk