At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives and develop people strategies across diverse teams.
- Company: Join CEF, the UK's top electrical wholesaler with a family-oriented culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, profit share bonus, company car, and wellness programmes.
- Other info: Opportunity for extensive travel and career growth in a supportive team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment focused on people and innovation.
- Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or above with HR experience in a commercial setting.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join CEF - The UK’s Industry-Leading Electrical Wholesaler. With over 390 branches nationwide, CEF offers a fantastic opportunity for professionals in the electrical wholesale industry who are looking for a brighter tomorrow!
About the Role: We’re seeking an experienced HR Leader to partner with our Professional Services and Support Functions (IT, Marketing, Finance, Procurement & Legal) across the UK. Based within the People, Culture and Talent team, you will work closely with stakeholders across our business, to design, develop and deliver end-to-end People processes, practices and policies—enabling teams to make sound, fair and legally compliant people decisions. In this newly created position, you will provide expert guidance on talent management, employee relations and organisational development, delivering solutions that strengthen capability and support business objectives and functional goals.
For functions that operate as part of a global team, the role will contribute to the design of people frameworks and practices that are scalable, consistent and reusable across regions, while allowing for appropriate local delivery and compliance. You’ll be tech-savvy, AI aware and commercially astute, with strong data analysis skills and the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies. As our Professional Services and Support Functions continue to evolve driven by digital transformation, automation and new ways of working, you will play a key role in helping leaders adapt roles, skills and operating models in a structured and people-centred way.
Equally, you’ll be passionate about building strong relationships and bring a people-centred mindset—helping to close critical gaps while reflecting our purpose, goals and values. This role will require you to spend time between our Durham, Kenilworth and London offices, meeting regularly with stakeholders across the Professional Services & Support departments.
Key Skills & Experience:
- Proven experience partnering with senior leaders as a trusted People & Culture advisor, aligning people strategies with commercial and operational goals.
- Strong background in talent management, including workforce planning, retention, succession planning and performance frameworks in evolving, skills-led environments.
- Hands-on experience supporting organisational design, restructuring and change initiatives, with the ability to build high-performing, inclusive teams.
- Sound knowledge of employee relations, with confidence advising on complex cases and ensuring fair, consistent people practices.
- Data-driven mindset, with experience using people insights to identify trends, assess organisational readiness and translate insight into practical actions.
- Proven coaching capability, supporting managers to strengthen leadership skills, performance management and team engagement.
- Strong understanding of employment legislation and HR compliance, with the ability to apply this pragmatically in a business setting.
- Experience implementing and continuously improving People, Culture and Talent programmes, processes and systems, ideally in changing or digitally evolving organisations.
About You:
- Qualified to CIPD Level 5 or above.
- Generalist HR experience within a dynamic and commercial environment.
- Ability to work independently, make decisions and deliver solutions.
- A track record of communicating and influencing at all levels of an organisation.
- Experience in collaborating across and connecting cross-continent teams.
- Experience supporting Professional Services functions (e.g. Finance, Marketing, Procurement, IT, Legal).
- Data literate with the ability to interpret insight in context and translate into action.
- Capable of operating at both a strategic and operational level.
- Flexible, consultative, and adaptable in nature.
- Previous experience in a multi-site/multi-channel and ideally multi-country business.
- Ability to travel extensively across the UK.
Process:
- Screening call with Talent Acquisition - Phone Calls - 30 Mins
- 1st Stage Teams Interview with the People, Culture & Talent team - 60 Mins
- 2nd Stage on-site interview with the People Culture & Talent Director and Senior CEF Leadership team members - 90 Minutes
Our Package:
- Competitive Basic Salary
- Unique uncapped profit share style bonus scheme
- Company Car
- Company Pension Scheme
- Light Up Learning - Our Learning & Development platform
- MySavings - Employee Discount Platform
- Wellbeing platform for physical, mental and financial wellbeing
- Free use of the state-of-the-art private gym at our IT & Marketing Offices in Durham
About Us:
City Electrical Factors is the UK’s leading electrical wholesaler, with over 390 stores nationwide, an award-winning website and a strong reputation for supplying innovative electrical solutions. We supply the equipment that powers the nation. From over 300+ industry-leading brands and our own in-house manufacturing to renewables expertise and on-site support, we're more than a wholesaler!
Our Values:
- We are a caring family - At CEF, we care about our people, as friends, as a community and as one team.
- We are humble & honest - At CEF, we are modest and act with integrity, always holding ourselves to the highest standard.
- We are passionately curious - At CEF, we are resourceful, we encourage our teams to take the initiative with a strong desire to be curious, and seek out opportunities to learn and grow. We work together to find creative solutions.
Our Mission:
At CEF, we are more than a business – we’re a family. We are a family that values one another, our customers, and our suppliers — always placing people at the heart of everything we do. We are driven by a clear purpose, guided by meaningful goals, and united by shared values. Together, they give us direction, inspire how we work, and strengthen our commitment to building a brighter tomorrow for everyone.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re excited by technology, value collaboration and want to make a genuine impact, we’d love to hear from you.
People & Culture Manager in London employer: City IT
Contact Detail:
City IT Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Culture Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people know you’re looking, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research CEF’s values and mission, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and have your own ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! If you’ve got data analysis chops or experience in talent management, be ready to discuss specific examples. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After interviews, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your professionalism.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Culture Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the People & Culture Manager role. Highlight your experience in HR leadership and how it aligns with CEF's values and mission. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since this role requires a data-driven mindset, don’t forget to mention any experience you have with data analysis and how you've used insights to drive people strategies. We love seeing how you can turn numbers into actionable plans!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value humility and honesty at CEF, so share your genuine passion for people and culture. We’re looking for someone who fits right into our caring family!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quickly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at City IT
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into CEF's values and mission. Understand how they align with your own experiences in HR and people management. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their goals and demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since the role requires a data-driven mindset, be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data analysis in previous roles. Bring insights or trends you've identified and explain how they led to actionable strategies. This will show that you can translate data into meaningful outcomes.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in building strong relationships across various functions. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with senior leaders and teams in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to partner effectively with stakeholders in the Professional Services and Support Functions.
✨Be Ready for Change
With the evolving nature of the role, be ready to discuss your experience with organisational design and change initiatives. Share how you've successfully navigated transitions in previous positions and how you can help CEF adapt to new ways of working while keeping a people-centred approach.