South West Water
People Services Advisor
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Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose
South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.
We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.
Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
People Services Advisor
South West Water | Exeter | £27,000 - £29,000 | 6–9 Month Fixed-Term Contract | Hybrid Working
The Organised Mind Behind Every Great Employee Experience
At South West Water, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Behind every successful new starter, promotion, contract change and employee journey is someone making sure every detail is handled accurately, efficiently and professionally.
We're looking for a highly organised, proactive and resilient People Services Advisor to join our People & Culture team in Exeter.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys juggling multiple priorities, and takes genuine pride in delivering an exceptional service. You'll be the person who keeps things moving, spots issues before they become problems and brings order to a busy and ever-changing workload.
If you're naturally organised, calm under pressure, can think outside the box while prioritising effectively and enjoy making a real impact behind the scenes, we'd love to hear from you.
Why This Role Matters
As a People Services Advisor, you'll play a critical role in supporting employees and managers across South West Water throughout the entire employee lifecycle.
From onboarding new colleagues and coordinating employment checks to supporting contractual changes and leavers, you'll ensure every process is delivered accurately, compliantly and with care.
As part of a business that supports the UK's Critical National Infrastructure, the quality and integrity of our people processes are essential. Your work will directly contribute to maintaining accurate records, supporting compliance and helping protect our organisation and our people.
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What You'll Be Doing
As a key member of our People Services team, you'll:
- Deliver accurate and timely HR administration across the full employee lifecycle
- Prepare and issue contracts, offer letters, variation letters and employment documentation
- Maintain accurate employee records within our HR systems, ensuring GDPR compliance
- Act as a first point of contact for employee and manager HR queries
- Conduct vetting checks and manage security clearance processes, ensuring all candidates meet the required compliance, screening and eligibility standards prior to appointment.
- Support recruitment administration and onboarding activities
- Coordinate and administer pre-employment and BPSS checks
- Monitor key dates, deadlines and clearance renewals, proactively following up where required
- Work closely with Payroll and People & Culture colleagues to ensure employee changes are processed accurately and on time
- Produce HR reports and support internal and external audits
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, systems and ways of working
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Experience in HR Administration, HR Shared Services, People Operations or a similar HR support environment
- Strong organisational and administration skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume role
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
- Confident communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships
- Strong understanding of confidentiality, GDPR and handling sensitive information
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and HR systems
- Ability to obtain and maintain BPSS clearance
Desirable
- Experience supporting BPSS, vetting or pre-employment screening processes
- CIPD qualification, or currently working towards one
What's In It For You?
- Competitive salary of £27,000 - £29,000
- Hybrid working available following successful completion of your training and induction period
- A supportive and collaborative People & Culture team
- Opportunities for development and career progression
- The chance to work for a purpose-led organisation serving communities across the South West
- A varied role where no two days are the same
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At South West Water, we believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our People Services Advisor You'll Enjoy:
- Competitive Salary – Based on experience and skills
- Bonus Scheme – Rewarding your performance
- Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future
- Healthcare Benefits – Access to employee assistance programs
- Professional Development – Support for career growth with training opportunities
- Employee Discounts – On various products and services
- Generous Annual Leave – Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement
Closing Date: 29th July 2026
The post holder will be required to obtain and maintain National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance appropriate to the role.
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
We look after the water and wastewater services for 1.8 million customers across Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Dorset and Somerset.
From treatment and maintenance, to innovation and improvements, we're busy every day finding and fixing leaks, unblocking sewers and going bigger and further in our environmental work to be a company you can be proud of.
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