Graduate Trainee (HR)

Exeter and North Devon College; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CIPD qualification funded

North Devon location

Job summary

Exeter and North Devon College is seeking a Graduate Trainee (HR) in Barnstaple. You will join a friendly team while you develop through recruitment, training, pay and benefits tasks and build experience in HR operations.

The role emphasizes learning, with mentoring and progression towards HR Advisor and then Business Partner roles, and potential to be funded for CIPD qualifications in North Devon. Autumn 2026 start is expected, with occasional travel to Exeter.

Qualifications

• Impressive academic record and a strong schooling background.
• Admin experience is desirable.
• Customer service comes naturally with a positive, enthusiastic approach.
• Openness to learn and adapt in a HR support role.

Responsibilities

• Assist in recruitment, training, pay and benefits for the team.
• Support background checks, contract changes and interview scheduling.
• Learn and contribute to policies and training activities.
• Grow into people issues and advise senior managers on culture and development.

Skills

Admin experience

Customer service

Organisation skills

Enthusiastic attitude

Education

Graduate with strong academic record

Job description

Graduate Trainee (HR)

Location: Barnstaple, Devon

Salary: £25.6k + progression

Type: Permanent

Institution: Exeter and North Devon College

You don't need a background or qualification in HR for this role. But what you do need is an impressive academic record, some admin experience, a reputation for getting things done and a positive, enthusiastic approach to work. If you're eager to learn and if customer service comes naturally to you, this could be right up your street.

What's in it for you?

• Join a friendly team in a growing organisation
• Work towards becoming HR Advisor and then Business Partner
• Potential to be paid to get CIPD qualified
• In gorgeous North Devon, with Exmoor and great beaches on your doorstep
• Join one of the biggest and best Colleges groups in the UK, with over 14,000 students and over 1,600 staff

You'll need to be:

• enthusiastic, cheerful and positive
• supremely organised
• a graduate with an impressive academic track record
• happy and confident talking to people at all levels
• totally trustworthy
• willing to have tricky conversations
• able to start in Autumn 2026
• willing to travel to Exeter occasionally

Role Details:

In your first year you'll work on recruitment, training, pay, benefits and anything else that crops up to support the team. You could be carrying out background checks, processing contract changes, organising interviews, reviewing policies or scheduling training. You'll be mentored by a senior member of the team and will be given more responsibility as soon as you're ready. You'll gradually take on more senior projects and become accountable for people issues and advice within one or more departments. In time, you'll advise and work alongside senior managers, helping them recruit, retain and develop their teams, respond to people issues and shape company culture.

In year 2, if everything goes well, we'd expect you to begin studying towards a CIPD qualification, funded by us.

Interested? What are you waiting for?

Closing date: midnight, 23rd September

Assessment: 9th October (we may schedule phone interviews beforehand)

You don't need a background or qualification in HR for this role. But what you do need is an impressive academic record, some admin experience, a reputation for getting things done and a positive, enthusiastic approach to work. If you're eager to learn and if customer service comes naturally to you, this could be right up your street.,

• enthusiastic, cheerful and positive
• supremely organised
• a graduate with an impressive academic track record
• happy and confident talking to people at all levels
• totally trustworthy
• willing to have tricky conversations
• able to start in Autumn 2026
• willing to travel to Exeter occasionally

In your first year you'll work on recruitment, training, pay, benefits and anything else that crops up to support the team. You could be carrying out background checks, processing contract changes, organising interviews, reviewing policies or scheduling training. You'll be mentored by a senior member of the team and will be given more responsibility as soon as you're ready. You'll gradually take on more senior projects and become accountable for people issues and advice within one or more departments. In time, you'll advise and work alongside senior managers, helping them recruit, retain and develop their teams, respond to people issues and shape company culture.

• Join one of the biggest and best Colleges groups in the UK, with over 14,000 students and over 1,600 staff