Group HR Advisor

The Group HR Advisor delivers high-quality, operational HR support across the full employee lifecycle. This role blends hands-on HR administration with proactive advisory support, acting as a trusted first point of contact for both managers and employees. You will provide practical, solutions-focused guidance on a broad range of people matters, including employee relations, policy interpretation, absence management, and recruitment. The role requires sound judgement, confidence in applying HR best practice, and a strong commitment to consistency and compliance. As a key member of the HR team, you will contribute to strengthening people practices, enhancing the employee experience, and supporting a positive, aligned organisational culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruitment & Onboarding
  • Partner with hiring managers to support workforce planning, job scoping, and recruitment activity
  • Coordinate end-to-end recruitment processes including advertising, screening, and interviews
  • Ensure a professional and engaging candidate experience throughout the hiring journey
  • Lead onboarding processes, including new starter inductions
  • Liaise with recruitment agencies and preferred suppliers
  • Monitor agency performance and recruitment costs
  • Maintain accurate recruitment records and reporting
  • Identify opportunities to improve recruitment and selection processes
• Employee Relations & Policy Support
  • Provide timely, practical HR advice to managers and employees on policies, procedures, and people matters
  • Support employee relations cases including disciplinary, grievance, and absence management
  • Assist with investigations, minute-taking, outcome documentation, and case tracking
  • Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the HR Director as appropriate
  • Promote fair and consistent application of policies across the organisation
  • Support early intervention approaches to performance and wellbeing concerns
• HR Operations & Compliance
  • Manage employee lifecycle administration (starters, leavers, changes) with accuracy and efficiency
  • Maintain and update HR systems (People HR) ensuring data integrity and compliance
  • Produce and analyse HR metrics (e.g. absence, turnover, engagement trends)
  • Support internal audits and compliance requirements
  • Ensure all HR practices align with UK employment legislation and company standards
• Culture & Engagement
  • Support delivery and analysis of the annual Employee Engagement Survey
  • Work with stakeholders to implement actionable engagement initiatives
  • Promote company values, behaviours, and a positive working environment
  • Contribute to initiatives that enhance inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• HR Projects & Continuous Improvement
  • Support the development and review of HR policies and procedures
  • Contribute to HR projects and cross-site initiatives
  • Assist with HR communications, briefings, and guidance materials
  • Act as an HR representative during audits or external reviews
  • Identify and implement opportunities to improve HR processes and service delivery
• People Management & Support
  • Guide and support managers in applying performance, development, and attendance processes
  • Promote consistency, fairness, and accountability in people management practices
  • Support development of HR resources, templates, and toolkits to enhance management capability
  • Act as a role model for professional, respectful, and values-driven behaviours
• Relationship Management
  • Build strong, trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation
  • Maintain effective communication with Trade Union representatives
  • Collaborate across departments and sites to support a unified culture
  • Approach all interactions with professionalism, credibility, and a solutions-focused mindset
• Self-Management
  • Operate with integrity, discretion, and strict confidentiality
  • Proactively manage workload, priorities, and deadlines
  • Demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment
  • Maintain up-to-date HR knowledge through continuous learning and external benchmarking
  • Take initiative in identifying improvements and contributing to team effectiveness

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in an HR Advisor, HR Coordinator, or HR Generalist role (ideally within an SME or multi-site environment)
• CIPD qualified, or working towards CIPD Level 5, or equivalent practical experience
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels
• Experience using HR systems (People HR or similar) and Microsoft Office tools
• High level of professionalism when handling sensitive and confidential matters
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Resilient, proactive, and adaptable with a positive approach
• Fluent in English; additional language skills (e.g. Polish) are advantageous

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to shape and influence HR practices across a growing organisation
• Exposure to a wide range of HR activities and projects
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Commitment to employee development and continuous improvement

Benefits:

• Private medical insurance
• Company pension
• Death in service benefit
• Employee retail discounts
• Life insurance
• Free on-site parking
• Canteen facilities
• You will receive 33 days holiday per year which includes a Christmas closure
• You’ll have ample opportunities to grow and develop within the team, while working in a supportive and collaborative environment