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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Welcome and support new colleagues, ensuring they feel valued and equipped to succeed.
- Company: Join Bakkavor, a leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, life assurance, 25 days holiday, and a range of wellbeing offerings.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on colleague experience and drive career progression.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and previous experience in a similar role are essential.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth opportunities and a commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 30000 £ per year.
We drive our own success.
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000 p/a (depending on experience)
Benefits: Highly competitive rewards package, life assurance, and excellent career progression prospects across the Bakkavor group.
Location: Spalding
Ways of Working: Site Based
Shift: 08.30-17.00 (However must be flexible to cover all shifts where required)
Contract Type: Permanent
Why join us?
We’re constantly evolving, progressing and diversifying. And we want our people to do so too. For everyone to feel empowered, engaged and enabled. To create opportunities to move forward, climb higher and push for more. We believe in fuelling ambition and guiding success. In supporting everyone with talent and drive to own what they do, realise their potential and build a brilliant future for themselves at Bakkavor.
What we do
This fantastic opportunity will be based at our Bakkavor Spalding site, which employs over 1,470 people across 3 manufacturing facilities & 1 Distribution Centre. We specialise in making hand crafted sandwich wraps, salads, dips, soups & sauces and mayonnaise.
About the role
In this busy and exciting role as New Starter Champion, you will play a key part in welcoming new colleagues into the business each week. Your purpose is to champion their experience, ensuring they feel supported, valued, and equipped to succeed. By identifying and overcoming barriers to retention, you will help drive a reduction in site turnover and strengthen overall engagement.
You will act as a vital conduit between new colleagues and their line managers, the operations team, HR, and L&D, ensuring communication flows smoothly and that every new starter has the guidance and resources they need to thrive.
Role Accountabilities:
- Liaise with HR, Learning, Operations and Facilities to prepare for new colleagues' induction and first day.
- Ensure site access, PPE, lockers and systems are ready, and guide colleagues through processes like Epay and MyReward.
- Meet and greet new starters, attend induction, and remain a point of contact during their first three months.
- Support integration by introducing colleagues to managers, teams and workplace facilities.
- Manage the buddy system, allocate suitable buddies, and monitor effectiveness.
- Identify and address barriers to retention through feedback, listening groups and turnover data.
- Influence stakeholders to improve retention and support career progression opportunities.
- Work with SEF representatives to raise new colleague issues and seek solutions.
About You
This role requires the ability to build strong relationships at all levels, supported by excellent interpersonal and communication skills - you should be able to win the hearts and minds of stakeholders to influence change, while consistently exhibiting credibility.
Strong organisational and prioritisation skills are essential, along with the ability to work independently, reporting into a senior manager with minimal guidance.
You will need to demonstrate robust problem-solving skills, identifying issues and developing both immediate solutions and longer-term sustainable options. Previous experience in a role requiring a similar skill set will be highly valuable.
Joining as a New Starter Champion offers the chance to make a real difference to colleague experience, helping shape retention and career progression while adding genuine value to the business.
What you’ll receive
As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you.
- Life Assurance (1 x salary)
- 25 days holiday
- Staff Shop
- Stakeholder Pension Scheme
- MyBargains Discount Platform
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Free Independent Mortgage Advice
- Employee Assistance Programme
- A Range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans)
- Discounted tutoring for children
- Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary
- Private Medical Insurance (after 5 years service)
- Free Car parking
Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.
Proud to be Bakkavor
We’re proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry. We’re proud to supply meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. We’re driven by the hard work and passion of our people and are delighted to offer a wide range of careers across our business - come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!
At Bakkavor, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, and we believe that diversity makes us stronger. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and ensure fair, transparent recruitment practices.
New Starter Champion employer: Bakkavor Group
Contact Detail:
Bakkavor Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land New Starter Champion
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Bakkavor. Check out their social media and website to understand their values and what they stand for. This will help you connect better during your chat.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Grab a mate and do some mock interviews. Focus on common questions related to the New Starter Champion role, like how you'd handle new starters' concerns. This will boost your confidence and help you articulate your thoughts clearly.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you're in the interview, let your enthusiasm for helping new colleagues shine through. Share examples of how you've supported others in the past and how you can make a difference at Bakkavor.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows you're genuinely interested in the role and gives you another chance to reiterate why you're the perfect fit for the New Starter Champion position.
We think you need these skills to ace New Starter Champion
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the New Starter Champion role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with what we’re looking for, like strong communication and organisational abilities.
Show Your Passion: We want to see your enthusiasm for helping new colleagues thrive! Share examples of how you've supported others in the past or any initiatives you've taken to improve onboarding experiences.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bakkavor Group
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the New Starter Champion role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and how they contribute to the overall success of Bakkavor. This will help you articulate how your skills align with their needs.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
Since this role is all about building relationships, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully engaged with new colleagues or stakeholders in the past. Highlight your interpersonal skills and how you can influence change positively within the team.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your capability to identify barriers to retention and develop effective solutions.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Inquire about the current challenges the team faces regarding new starters or how they measure success in this role. This shows your genuine interest in contributing to their goals.
