Legal Counsel & Assistant Company Secretary

Location: Haydock Head Office / Hybrid Working

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Since Speedy Hire was established in 1977, we've grown into the UK's leading provider of tools, specialist equipment, plant and support services. Innovation, safety and exceptional customer service are at the heart of everything we do, and it's our people who make that possible.

We're looking for an experienced Legal Counsel & Assistant Company Secretary to join our Legal team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified legal professional with strong corporate and commercial experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced, publicly listed business where no two days are the same.

Reporting to the General Counsel & Company Secretary, you'll play a key role in supporting the legal, governance and company secretarial obligations of the Group, working closely with senior leaders, Board members and external advisers while helping protect and support the continued success of the business.

What you'll be doing

• Company Secretarial
  • Supporting the annual Board and Committee programme, including preparing agendas, Board papers, reports and meeting minutes.
  • Assisting with the preparation of the Annual Report & Accounts, including the Directors' Report and Corporate Governance sections.
  • Ensuring compliance with the Companies Act, UK Corporate Governance Code and Listing Rules.
  • Supporting the planning and delivery of the Annual General Meeting, including notices, filings, proxy engagement and shareholder communications.
  • Assisting with the preparation and release of Stock Exchange announcements.
  • Maintaining statutory registers, corporate records and governance documentation.
  • Managing insider lists and company secretarial filing systems.
  • Supporting relationships with registrars, brokers, financial advisers and share scheme administrators.
  • Assisting with dividend processes, share plans and employee share schemes in partnership with the People Team.
  • Managing company licence renewals and statutory filings.
• Legal & Compliance
  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts and legal documentation.
  • Providing practical legal advice across a wide variety of business matters, including corporate governance, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance and risk management.
  • Supporting corporate transactions, including due diligence activities and data room preparation for acquisitions.
  • Assisting with litigation matters and managing relationships with external legal advisers.
  • Undertaking legal research and monitoring changes in legislation and regulatory requirements.
  • Supporting the development and implementation of legal compliance policies, including data protection, anti-bribery and whistleblowing.
  • Assisting with internal compliance training and audit activities.
  • Supporting ESG initiatives, including the preparation of the Group's Annual Modern Slavery Statement.
  • Working collaboratively across the wider business to provide commercially focused legal support.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an approachable and commercially minded legal professional who enjoys building relationships and influencing stakeholders across all levels of the business. You’ll ideally have:

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales with a current practising certificate.
• Strong corporate and commercial legal experience, ideally gained within an in-house environment or leading private practice.
• Experience supporting the company secretarial function of a UK listed PLC.
• Good understanding of the Companies Act, UK Corporate Governance Code and Listing Rules.
• Company secretarial experience, with CGI (formerly ICSA) qualification desirable.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professional judgement.
• Exceptional organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills together with experience of Board management software such as Board Intelligence. Experience of Blueprint would be advantageous.
• A collaborative approach with the confidence to constructively challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• A genuine commitment to continuous professional development.

What you'll get in return

At Speedy, we know our people are our greatest asset. That's why we invest in your development and wellbeing while offering a competitive rewards package, including:

Competitive salary, Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus