HR & Recruitment Manager

HR & Recruitment Manager

Chester Full-Time 39000 - 45000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead recruitment and employee relations, ensuring a supportive workplace culture.
  • Company: Cogent Group is dedicated to fostering talent and values within the HR sector.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work, generous holiday, and wellness perks.
  • Why this job: Join a vibrant team focused on people development and making a real impact.
  • Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or 7 required, along with strong HR experience.
  • Other info: Inclusive employer committed to safeguarding and diversity.

The predicted salary is between 39000 - 45000 £ per year.

Cogent have an exciting opportunity for an HR & Recruitment Manager to provide a people-centred approach to Human Resource activities throughout the Cogent Skills Group, embedding our culture and values and providing expert advice and services on people related matters, ensuring our employees and managers feel supported and valued.

Remuneration Package

  • Salary between £45,000 - £50,000 per annum dependent on experience
  • Full time permanent role
  • Pension – employer contribution 6%
  • Life Assurance
  • 28 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (FTE)
  • Birthday off work
  • Opportunity to buy-back 5 extra days annual leave (FTE)
  • Optional Private Health Care package
  • Hybrid working with the requirement to be in the Warrington office 1 day per week
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Bonus Scheme
  • Aspire Values Award Scheme
  • Annual Values Awards
  • Long Service Awards
  • Annual Company Events
  • Gym Discount
  • Access to Training & Development Opportunities

Key Accountabilities

  • To lead on recruitment activity up to manager level throughout the Cogent Skills Group ensuring KPIs are met and everyone involved has a first-class recruitment experience.
  • To be the internal expert on all employee relations matters, providing advice on policies and procedures, training managers on best practice and leading (where needed) on complex matters such as TUPE, consultation and on absence cases.
  • To be responsible for the annual training budget and company plans, ensuring that requests are collated, assessed against budget and that all approved training plans are completed.
  • To work with the People and Culture Director on the Talent Register, providing information on progress in line with annual performance reviews and agreed plans.
  • To lead on people related training modules to ensure that managers are upskilled on Cogent Skills policies and processes and that employees going through the process are treated fairly and in line with our policies.
  • To be the company Safeguarding Lead, supporting the Finance and Business Functions Director on reporting activity to the Cogent Skills Group Board and leading a cross-business working group to ensure best practice and continuous improvement.
  • To lead the annual performance review process, reviewing documents, communicating process to employees and ensuring a timely return of all documentation, following up on any concerns and supporting line managers and employees.
  • To work closely with the Apprenticeship and Graduate business unit, ensuring that our apprentices and graduates are sufficiently supported on employee relation matters and supporting our Skills Account Managers by providing technical advice and information.
  • Responsibility for the SharePoint site, ensuring that all policies, processes and information remains in-date and advising managers when updates are required. Overall responsibility for the people related policies and processes, reviewing them in line with employment law and best practice and effectively communicating these to employees.
  • To work with the People and Culture Director on annual benchmarking and analysis.
  • To work with the People and Culture Director and the HR and Payroll Manager on the Employee Value Proposition (EVP), to enable our retention rates to remain above 85% and to continue to attract the best talent as our business grows.
  • Leading on the development of on-boarding and induction improvement with the HR & Payroll Manager.
  • To work with the HR & Payroll Manager on the practical application of new benefits.
  • To lead on employee engagement, ensuring that we have a robust approach to collating data and analysing the results with the People and Culture Director.
  • To continually review and develop all people related documentation, offering improvement in line with our company values.
  • To be an active part of the Cogent Skills Group Management team, championing collaboration and cross-departmental working.
  • To support with work on migrating all information over to the SAGE HR system with the HR & Payroll Manager.
  • To support the People and Culture Director on HR reporting once a quarter.
  • Joint responsibility alongside the HR and Payroll Manager to manage our biennial Investors in People Accreditation along with other accreditations and awards.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Targets identified through the people plan are maintained or improved.
  • Employee engagement remains above 90% and this is evident through the annual survey.
  • 100% compliance on annual performance reviews from the Cogent Skills Group.
  • Recruitment activities are completed within the agreed timeframes and to budget.
  • Employee relations activity is completed well, and that risk is mitigated.

Essential Knowledge Skills and Qualifications

  • Level 5 or 7 CIPD qualified.
  • Level 3 (Grade C GCSE) Maths and English.
  • Up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge of employment and HR matters and a proactive approach to continual learning.
  • Significant experience of managing complex employee relations matters including consultation, disciplinary, absence management and TUPE.
  • Experience of working within an SME environment and working across all areas of HR.
  • A confident and proactive approach towards recruitment, with considerable experience of leading on values-based recruitment.
  • A consultative approach to working with colleagues, providing advice and support in a coaching style.
  • The ability to coach and train colleagues in people management modules.
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft products with the ability to use the new HR System along with encouraging others to use the system well.

Cogent is an inclusive employer and we value the diversity our workforce brings. We welcome applications from all candidates and will consider all applications equally and fairly.

Cogent is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS (to be arranged for suitable candidates).

To apply please click on the link: https://www.cogentskills.com/about/work-for-us/

Please complete the Candidate Information Sheet and send together with a letter of application and your CV. PLEASE NOTE: This role has been advertised once already, so when we have sufficient candidates, we will close this advert. You are encouraged to apply for this role as soon as you see the advert due to there not being a closing date.

If you have additional needs that you would like us to consider during the application and interview process please contact Denise Bentley on 01925 515222 to discuss ways that we can support your application.

If you haven’t heard back from us within 21 days of your application, it means that unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Websites: www.cogentskills.com

HR & Recruitment Manager employer: Cogent Skills

Cogent Group is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Warrington, where employees are valued and encouraged to thrive. With a comprehensive benefits package including a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and opportunities for professional development, Cogent fosters a culture of growth and collaboration, ensuring that every team member feels empowered to contribute to our mission of excellence in HR and recruitment.
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Contact Detail:

Cogent Skills Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land HR & Recruitment Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Cogent's culture and values. Understanding their people-centred approach will help you align your responses during interviews, showcasing how your experience and philosophy match their expectations.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare to discuss your experience with complex employee relations matters. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed situations like TUPE or disciplinary actions, as this is crucial for the HR & Recruitment Manager role.

✨Tip Number 3

Highlight your experience in values-based recruitment. Since this role requires a confident approach to recruitment, be prepared to explain how you've implemented similar strategies in previous positions.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your ability to coach and train colleagues. This role involves upskilling managers on HR policies, so share examples of how you've successfully trained others in the past, demonstrating your consultative approach.

We think you need these skills to ace HR & Recruitment Manager

CIPD Level 5 or 7 qualified
Knowledge of employment law
Employee relations management
Recruitment and selection expertise
Training and development facilitation
Coaching and mentoring skills
Performance management
Data analysis and reporting
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Experience with HR systems (e.g., SAGE)
Strong communication skills
Project management abilities
Problem-solving skills
Attention to detail
Adaptability and flexibility

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in HR and recruitment. Focus on your achievements that align with the key accountabilities mentioned in the job description.

Showcase Your Qualifications: Clearly state your CIPD qualifications and any other relevant certifications. Mention your experience with employee relations, recruitment, and training, as these are crucial for the role.

Demonstrate Cultural Fit: Cogent values a people-centred approach, so emphasise your commitment to fostering a supportive workplace culture. Share examples of how you've contributed to employee engagement and development in previous roles.

Follow Application Instructions: Ensure you complete the Candidate Information Sheet and submit it along with your CV and cover letter as specified. Pay attention to detail and double-check your documents for accuracy before sending them off.

How to prepare for a job interview at Cogent Skills

✨Know the Company Culture

Before your interview, take some time to research Cogent's culture and values. Understanding their people-centred approach will help you align your answers with what they value in their employees.

✨Prepare for Employee Relations Questions

Given the role's focus on employee relations, be ready to discuss your experience with complex matters like TUPE and absence management. Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your expertise and problem-solving skills.

✨Showcase Your Recruitment Experience

As the role involves leading recruitment activities, highlight your experience in values-based recruitment. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully met KPIs in previous roles and the strategies you used.

✨Demonstrate Coaching Skills

Since the position requires coaching and training colleagues, think of examples where you've successfully trained or mentored others. Emphasise your consultative approach and how it has positively impacted team dynamics.

HR & Recruitment Manager
Cogent Skills
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  • HR & Recruitment Manager

    Chester
    Full-Time
    39000 - 45000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-04-22

  • C

    Cogent Skills

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