L&D Business Partner - East Coast

Learning & Development Business Partner 
Hybrid working
East Lothian

At Syme Drummond, we're delighted to be partnering with Had Fab Limited, a family-owned Scottish engineering and manufacturing business, to recruit a Learning & Development Business Partner into their People team. 

Had Fab is going through a period of exceptional growth, playing an important part in major UK infrastructure projects supporting the future of renewable energy. The business has grown from around 100 to over 300 people in just two years, with ambitious plans to continue that journey. 

But what makes Had Fab particularly special is that, despite this growth, they've worked hard to hold on to the warmth, personality and family feel that have always been part of who they are. As the business continues to grow, there's a real focus on developing its people while holding on to the close-knit, down-to-earth culture that's been such an important part of its success. 

And with so many new people joining the business, there's never been a more important time to think about how colleagues are welcomed, supported, developed and empowered to succeed. 

The Opportunity 

This is a newly created position and Had Fab's first dedicated L&D appointment, offering the chance to take ownership of the learning and development agenda and build something that will genuinely make a difference. 

Working closely with the Head of People & OD and wider People team, you'll help move L&D from a largely ad hoc approach to a more structured, consistent and scalable offering. 

You'll have the autonomy to bring your own ideas, challenge existing thinking and introduce practical solutions that support the business as it continues to evolve. 

It's a role that offers the best of both worlds - the opportunity to think strategically while remaining genuinely hands-on in designing, delivering and embedding learning. 

What Will You Be Doing? 

• Building the foundations: Developing an L&D framework that supports the business today and grows with it tomorrow. 

• Developing leaders: Creating meaningful management and leadership development programmes, from frontline supervisors through to senior leaders. 

• Improving onboarding: Helping new colleagues feel welcomed, equipped and confident from the beginning. 

• Supporting performance: Partnering with managers to embed effective performance conversations, feedback and development. 

• Understanding the real need: Working closely with teams to identify capability gaps and recommend solutions that make a difference. 

• Designing and delivering learning: Bringing together workshops, coaching, digital learning and external expertise where appropriate. 

• Creating development pathways: Helping people see opportunities to grow and progress within Had Fab. 

• Measuring impact: Introducing greater structure around learning plans, evaluation and continuous improvement. 

What Are We Looking For? 

We're looking for an experienced L&D professional who enjoys getting under the skin of a business, building relationships and turning ideas into action. 

Someone who can see the bigger picture but is equally happy rolling up their sleeves and making things happen. 

What you'll bring: 

• Broad, hands-on partnering experience across learning and development, including both design and delivery. 

• Experience developing L&D programmes, frameworks or capability initiatives, ideally within a growing or evolving organisation. 

• A strong track record in management and leadership development. 

• A genuine business-partnering approach, with the confidence to ask questions, challenge thinking and influence stakeholders. 

• The ability to build relationships with people at every level, from operational teams to senior leadership. 

• A practical, adaptable approach and the confidence to work independently while being part of a supportive team. 

• Plenty of energy, curiosity and a genuine passion for helping people develop. 

Experience within manufacturing or engineering would be highly advantageous, but it's not essential. Had Fab is open to people from other similar fast-paced, operational environments who understand the importance of connecting with a varied workforce. 

Interested? 

If you're an L&D professional who gets excited by the thought of creating something from the ground up, building genuine relationships and seeing the impact of your work, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with Kelsie at Syme Drummond for a confidential conversation: kelsie.patterson@symedrummond.co.uk