Apprentice HR Generalist: Launch Your HR Career

Smiths Group; Slough; Remote; GBP 16,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is seeking an Apprentice HR Generalist to join our UK HR team. You will gain hands-on experience across recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, engagement, HR administration, reporting, and learning & development.

You will work closely with the Senior HR Generalist, taking ownership of key HR activities while receiving guidance on more complex matters. This role focuses on delivering efficient, compliant HR services to employees and managers.

Qualifications

• HR experience and handling confidential information with discretion.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Pivot tables).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Good attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to plan, meet deadlines and take ownership.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as first point of contact for day-to-day UK HR queries.
• Support recruitment activities and onboarding processes.
• Monitor pre-employment screening and right-to-work verification.
• Coordinate site inductions and HR systems demonstrations.
• Conduct new starter engagement check-ins.
• Manage lifecycle administration with Shared Services.
• Produce monthly HR metrics and reports (headcount, starters, leavers, absence).
• Support quarterly HR audits by running reports and validating data.
• Maintain accurate employee records across HR systems.
• Support employee relations meetings and documentation.

Skills

HR experience

Confidentiality

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Deadline management

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is seeking an Apprentice HR Generalist to join our UK HR team. You will gain hands-on experience across recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, engagement, HR administration, reporting, and learning & development.

You will work closely with the Senior HR Generalist, taking ownership of key HR activities while receiving guidance on more complex matters. This role focuses on delivering efficient, compliant HR services to employees and managers.