Training & Development Officer in Cross Hands

Castell Howell Foods is Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler, servicing the length and breadth of Wales, the Border Counties and the South West of England. We currently have a vacancy for a Training & Development Officer based at the Cross Hands depot.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

As the Training and Development Officer, you will play a crucial role in cultivating a culture of continuous growth across the Company. You will be responsible for developing employee skills, competencies and knowledge to meet the current and future skills requirements of the organisation, by identifying the diverse needs of the workforce. You will be involved in every stage of the employee lifecycle:

• Attraction, onboarding and probationary periods: You will maintain comprehensive competency profiles for every role within our company, setting clear expectations for performance and growth, which will aid in the recruitment of the right people to the right role. You will also take ownership of the onboarding process of all new employees, tailoring induction programmes to suit the unique needs of each department. In addition, you will manage the probationary period process, ensuring regular reviews are conducted with relevant managers to provide guidance and support to new team members as they integrate into their roles.
• Maintain and Retain: You will lead the departmental appraisal processes to ensure alignment with our competency framework. This will involve identifying areas where additional support or training is needed, and implementing appropriate training and development interventions. You will be required to digitalise our appraisal process and provide support to both employees and managers through the transition period. When day-to-day performance falls short of expectations, you will provide targeted support and training through performance improvement plans, working closely with managers to help employees reach their full potential.
• Develop and Grow: You will design, source and implement effective training programmes that elevate performance and meet our high standards of competency. You will drive a robust Management/Leadership training programme to equip our managers with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective leaders.
• Future Talent: You will work in partnership with departmental managers to implement succession planning programmes, identifying and preparing potential successors for key roles within the company. You will oversee the apprenticeship programmes within relevant departments, working closely with training providers to support the development of our apprentices. You will also develop strong relationships with schools, colleges and external stakeholders to attract future talent, supporting careers fairs and work experience opportunities, educational visits and career development events to promote the organisation as an employer of choice.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: You will work closely with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Department to support public-facing events such as careers fairs, school engagement initiatives and career development activities within the local community. You will also collaborate closely with the Health & Safety Department to ensure all mandatory health and safety training requirements are identified, delivered, monitored and maintained in line with organisational and regulatory requirements. These responsibilities will require you to source and organise best-value learning solutions and work collaboratively with managers and external partners to deliver impactful and compliant training experiences.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven experience in Learning and Development and a genuine passion for nurturing talent within an organisation.
• Flexibility to support management outside of normal office hours.
• Strong knowledge of HR policies, employment law and regulations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organisation.
• Demonstrated project management abilities.
• High level of discretion and sensitivity when handling confidential information.
• Detail-orientated with strong organisational and analytical abilities.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent HR-related certification is desirable.

What we offer:

• A full-time position working Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00
• £28,000-£32,000 per annum
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• 5% Company contribution pension scheme
• Generous discounted staff purchase scheme - save money on your weekly food shop
• Subsidised canteen
• Free onsite parking

Additional Information:

• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK is required
• DBS check required
• Castell Howell is a member of the Armed Forces Covenant and encourages applications from veterans.