At a Glance
- Tasks: Support HR teams and enhance employee experience in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join 2 Sisters Food Group, a leading UK food manufacturer with a rich history.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, up to 35 days leave, and comprehensive support services.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career development and process improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on workplace culture and drive positive change.
- Qualifications: HR advisory experience and strong knowledge of UK employment law required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Cavaghan & Gray, Carlisle
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits
Join a business that feeds the nation - and supports its people by shaping the future of food - and the people behind it.
About 2 Sisters Food Group
At 2 Sisters Food Group, we're one of the UK's largest food manufacturers, with a £3 billion turnover and 13,500 passionate colleagues. Our Cavaghan & Gray site in Carlisle is a flagship location, producing over 150 premium product lines for M&S and delivering 115 million units annually.
Carlisle has a proud history of innovation too. In the 1970s, our Carlisle site helped spark the ready meal revolution, launching the first-ever prepared dishes for M&S - including classics like cauliflower cheese, cottage pie and Cumberland pie. Today, we continue that legacy by driving quality, innovation and change, offering employees the chance to be part of something with real heritage and real ambition.
With a proud heritage of innovation and a culture built on collaboration, ambition, and care, we’re looking for an HR Advisor who thrives in a fast-paced, people-first environment where your HR expertise can make a real difference.
About the Role:
As HR Advisor, you’ll support the HR Business Partners and be a key trusted partner to our operational teams, supporting the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through to employees exiting the business and helping to shape a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. The role combines day to day HR advisory and administration duties where you will work closely with managers and colleagues to provide guidance on HR policies, employee relations to include investigations, consultations, disciplinaries, TUPE process and providing HR advice on performance, learning and development, absence, and engagement initiatives in a fast-paced values driven environment.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Providing proactive expert HR Advisory support across the site, ensuring consistency and fairness in all people matters.
- Advising on employee relations issues including disciplinary, grievance, and absence management.
- Supporting recruitment, onboarding, performance and development initiatives.
- Championing wellbeing, diversity, and engagement across the workforce.
- Collaborating with the wider HR team to drive continuous improvement and compliance.
- Ensure fair, consistent application of policies and employment law.
- Partner with managers to drive a positive workplace culture.
Key Responsibilities with Digital skills
- Trusted HR Advisor: Provide expert guidance to line managers on employee relations, absence, and performance management.
- Microsoft Teams - Advanced: Used daily for virtual coaching, case discussions, and quick resolution of queries.
- SharePoint - Intermediate: Maintain and share up-to-date HR policies, templates, and case documentation securely across teams.
- Data-Driven Insight: Analyse and present people data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Excel - Advanced: Create pivot tables, dashboards, and trackers for absence, ER cases, and KPIs.
- Power BI - Intermediate: Build visual reports to present trends and insights to senior stakeholders, supporting strategic decisions.
- Transformation & Change: Support organisational change initiatives including restructures, redundancies, and ill health capability cases.
- Jotform - Intermediate: Design and manage digital consultation forms and feedback surveys to streamline change processes.
- Collaboration & Escalation: Work closely with Strategic HR Business Partners to escalate complex cases and support delivery of people plans.
- Process Improvement: Identify and implement enhancements to HR processes and ways of working.
What We’re Looking For:
- Previous HR advisory experience in a fast-paced HR role, ideally within manufacturing or FMCG or similar fast-paced settings.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
- Excellent communication, coaching, problem solving and relationship-building skills.
- A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach with a passion for people.
- CIPD level 5 qualification (or working towards) is desirable.
We’re looking for a HR Advisor who can hit the ground running, quickly understand the site, and bring experience, confidence and initiative. Alongside daily responsibilities, you’ll support projects, analyse data and help turn ideas into action. This is an exciting time to join as we modernise our systems and ways of working. You’ll have the chance to take ownership, contribute to change, and make a real impact on both our people, business and identify and implement opportunities to enhance HR processes and ways of working within your business area.
Why Join Us?
- Work for one of the UK’s largest food manufacturers with a proud legacy - from launching the UK’s first ready meals to driving modern innovation.
- Be part of a team that values integrity, respect, and continuous improvement.
- Work in a collaborative, values-driven environment where your voice matters.
- Enjoy a competitive salary, opportunities for real career development and a benefits package that includes:
- Up to 35 days Annual Leave including Bank Holidays
- Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme and Grocery Aid, offering confidential support services 365 days a year
- Company Pension Scheme
- Boparan Restaurant Group Discount
- Cycle2Work Scheme
HR Advisor in Houghton employer: 2 Sisters Food Group
Contact Detail:
2 Sisters Food Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Advisor in Houghton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at 2 Sisters Food Group on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the HR Advisor role. Personal connections can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company culture and values. Familiarise yourself with their recent projects and initiatives. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common HR scenarios and how you'd handle them. Think about employee relations issues, performance management, and how to champion diversity and wellbeing. Being ready with real-life examples will impress the interviewers!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at 2 Sisters Food Group. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace HR Advisor in Houghton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the HR Advisor role. Highlight your relevant experience in HR, especially in fast-paced environments like manufacturing or FMCG. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about HR and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate your expertise.
Showcase Your Digital Skills: Since we value digital skills, make sure to highlight your experience with tools like Microsoft Teams, Excel, and SharePoint. Let us know how you've used these tools to improve HR processes or support teams in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at 2 Sisters Food Group
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices. Be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles, especially in fast-paced environments like manufacturing or FMCG.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills. Think about times when you've successfully resolved employee relations issues or improved workplace culture, as these will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Data Savvy
Since the role involves analysing people data, be prepared to discuss your experience with tools like Excel and Power BI. Bring examples of how you've used data to identify trends or improve HR processes in your past roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Initiative
The company is looking for someone who can hit the ground running. Share instances where you've taken ownership of projects or driven change in your previous positions. This will show that you're proactive and ready to make a real impact.