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- Tasks: Lead the People function, shaping hiring and performance strategies for a fast-growing fintech.
- Company: Join Apron, a dynamic fintech startup revolutionising payments for small businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy stock options, private health insurance, flexible hours, and 29 days holiday.
- Other info: Be part of an innovative team with exciting growth opportunities across international markets.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building a high-performance culture in a rapidly scaling company.
- Qualifications: Experience in scaling VC-backed companies and strong leadership coaching skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About Apron
Founded in 2021, Apron is set out to help SMBs win. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, yet the systems they rely on - especially payments - are slow, manual and not built for them. Cash flow remains their biggest challenge, driven by the gap between the demands of managing payments and the tools available to do it well. We are closing the gap by digitising and simplifying the payments process: capturing invoices, issuing expense cards, paying and getting paid, all in one place.
We have grown fast over the past few years, expanding our team to 100 individuals across the UK, Germany, Spain and more. We are backed by Index Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Zinal Grow and Tony Fadell and we’ve raised $50m. The ambition now is clear: build a category-defining, global fintech business. The next phase requires not just great product and ambition, but a world-class operating engine — and a People function that can scale performance without lowering the bar.
The Role
Reporting to the COO and working closely with the CEO and founder, you will own and evolve the People function end-to-end - shaping how Apron hires, operates and scales. Your mandate: build an environment where exceptional people can do the best work of their careers, at pace. This is a hands-on role requiring sharp judgement and strong execution.
What You’ll Do
- Build a High-Performance Culture
- Define a clear, founder-aligned people philosophy
- Set and maintain a high-performance bar across the business
- Ensure expectations are explicit and performance is measurable
- Strengthen a highly collaborative, in-person operating model
- Maintain consistency as the company scales internationally
- Enable Performance & Leadership
- Design and embed pragmatic performance frameworks
- Equip leaders to run high-quality performance and feedback conversations
- Coach senior leaders on team effectiveness, decision-making and conflict
- Identify and resolve organisational friction early
- Ensure scale enhances, not dilutes, performance
- Own Hiring & Talent Quality
- Define and uphold a rigorous hiring bar
- Improve role design, scorecards and structured interview processes
- Introduce robust, case-based assessments
- Embed clear 30-60-90 success measures
- Partner on workforce planning and prioritisation
- Build Scalable People Operations
- Own the full employee lifecycle
- Ensure compliance across geographies
- Build simple, scalable systems — avoiding unnecessary process
- Leverage AI and tooling to drive efficiency
- Oversee compensation and equity frameworks
- Shape Organisational Design
- Partner with leadership on org design and structure
- Translate strategy into effective teams and capabilities
- Support headcount planning and scaling decisions
- Contribute to long-term operating and location strategy
Who You Are
A commercial, founder-aligned People leader with experience scaling high-growth, VC-backed companies. You likely bring:
- Experience scaling a VC-backed tech business through rapid growth
- Close partnership with founders or C-level leadership
- A strong track record coaching senior leaders
- Deep expertise in organisational design and performance management
- A high-bar, structured approach to hiring
- Operational strength - turning strategy into simple, repeatable systems
- Sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations
- Experience across international teams
- Comfort in fast-paced, high-expectation environments
Compensation & Benefits
- Meaningful stock options
- Pension plan
- Private health insurance with AXA (including optical and dental)
- Life assurance with MetLife
- Enhanced parental leave
- Weekly Deliveroo allowance
- 29 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
- Flexible working hours
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Electric vehicle scheme
This role is being managed on behalf of Apron by Hawkwood Partners (recruiting agency). Your application will be processed by both Apron and Hawkwood.
People Lead in London employer: Apron
Contact Detail:
Apron Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Apron, they value high performance and collaboration, so think about how your experiences align with that and be ready to share examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You want to convey your passion for helping SMBs and your understanding of their challenges. Make sure you can articulate how your skills can contribute to Apron's mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Apron team.
We think you need these skills to ace People Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see why you're excited about joining Apron and how you can contribute to our mission of helping SMBs thrive.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the People Lead role. Highlight your experience in scaling high-growth companies and any relevant achievements that align with what we're looking for. We love seeing how your background fits with our goals!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible and avoid jargon. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Apron!
How to prepare for a job interview at Apron
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand Apron's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their approach to digitising payments for SMBs and how they aim to build a high-performance culture. This will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Given the role's focus on performance management and organisational design, be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you've successfully coached leaders or resolved conflicts. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.
✨Showcase Your Operational Strengths
Highlight your experience in creating scalable systems and processes. Be prepared to discuss how you've turned strategic goals into actionable plans in previous roles, especially in fast-paced environments. This will demonstrate your ability to contribute to Apron's ambitious growth plans.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company’s challenges. Inquire about their current performance frameworks or how they envision scaling their people operations. This shows your proactive mindset and genuine interest in contributing to their success.