HR Business Partner - Talent in Manchester

We are proud of our heritage and position as one of Europe’s largest specialist food companies, manufacturing and supplying authentic global foods which serve the chefs and owners of restaurants and takeaways, as well as a diverse range of consumers. With a strong portfolio of leading brands including Lucky Boat, Elephant Atta, Rajah, Green Dragon and Patak’s, our product range is as diverse as the people who chose to work here, and includes noodles, flour, rice, spices, sauces and oils. We pride ourselves on our passion for food and people, where collaboration, diversity, and inclusion are integral in everything that we do. This is underpinned with our employee resource groups where members and allies help create an inclusive environment and special events are celebrated. Westmill is a place where no one feels like the new person for long and everyone has the chance to make a real difference to the business by being their authentic selves.

Overview Of Role

Location: Manchester

You’ll play a pivotal role in attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent across every level of our organisation—from operational teams to the Board. This means shaping recruitment strategies, crafting career pathways, and creating development programmes that establish Westmill as a centre of excellence within the ABF Grocery Group. This is a highly autonomous position with the scope to influence senior leaders and deliver initiatives that make a measurable impact. You’ll work closely with the Board, Heads of Function, and peers across ABF businesses to share best practices and drive continuous improvement. Alongside this, you’ll partner with HR and Marketing teams to strengthen Westmill’s employer brand and value proposition through targeted social media campaigns and compelling communication channels.

You’ll take full ownership of recruitment excellence, overseeing everything from end‑to‑end processes and onboarding standards to managing external partnerships and optimising recruitment systems. Beyond hiring, you’ll maximise the Apprenticeship Levy, expand e‑learning and AI‑driven training solutions, and design leadership programmes for our Board and management teams. Every initiative you deliver will be focused on achieving real ROI and driving business performance.

Key Accountabilities

• Design and implement the end‑to‑end recruitment process and new Westmill standard for candidate attraction, assessment & selection, through to and including induction and onboarding across the UK and European teams.
• Establish cost effective attraction strategies, using key metrics such as reach, days to fill and cost per hire etc.
• Enhancement of the ATS capability and efficiency, working with the wider Group to develop the system and best practice.
• Implementation, then Management of an appropriate PSL for external recruitment, negotiating rates and terms on behalf of the business.
• Development of management capability to attract and retain talent, deliver and support right first‑time recruitment for their areas.

Development

• Maximise the Apprenticeship Levy by creating schemes aligned to business needs across all relevant functions, fostering strong partnerships with training providers and colleges, and supporting participants through to successful completion.
• Enhance training delivery by expanding the use of e‑learning and AI solutions, collaborating with the centre to advance system capabilities.
• Design and manage the annual development calendar, ensuring the right content, delivery methods, and expertise to drive individual and organisational performance.
• Develop and implement leadership development programmes for the Board and Management Teams.
• Establish clear KPIs and feedback mechanisms to monitor and evaluate training effectiveness, ensuring a high return on investment (ROI).
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners to conduct annual Training Needs Analyses (TNA) through the PDR process and deliver targeted, value‑added solutions.

General

• Position Westmill as a centre of excellence for talent across the Group, fostering the development of high‑potential and effective leaders.
• Collaborate with the HR & Marketing teams to strengthen Westmill’s employer brand and value proposition through targeted social media campaigns and appropriate communication channels.

The Right Person

You’ll bring extensive expertise in recruitment, including internal hiring and strong technical knowledge of recruitment systems. Your experience will span HR generalist responsibilities, giving you the confidence to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders. With a proven track record in developing learning and development strategies, implementing apprenticeship programmes, and delivering impactful initiatives that drive performance, you'll know how to design and deliver training solutions from concept to implementation, ensuring measurable ROI. To excel in this role, you’ll be highly self‑motivated, proactive, and solutions‑focused, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. You’ll have the credibility to influence and engage people at every level of the business, combining resilience and persistence with strong listening and problem‑solving abilities. Your mindset is rooted in continuous improvement, and you make decisions with a clear focus on people and business outcomes. A full driving licence and flexibility to travel across multiple sites is essential. If you’re results‑driven and passionate about shaping the future of talent, we’d love to hear from you.

A competitive salary and car allowance, ABF Pension Scheme membership, an annual Incentive Plan, Private Healthcare. Additionally, you will have access to a range of benefits aimed at enhancing your wellbeing both at home and at work; from a free and confidential 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to access to affordable loans and financial education, electric vehicle and cycle to work salary sacrifice schemes, an option to buy additional holidays and a day dedicated to volunteering in your local community. You will also have access to our benefits platform Extra Spice from day one, offering a huge variety of retail and leisure discounts.