HR Advisor

Northpoint Ltd UK; Dukinfield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Northpoint Ltd UK is seeking an HR Advisor to provide day-to-day HR advice across the Dukinfield factory. You will manage core people processes, maintain confidential records, and support managers in applying policies consistently.

The role acts as the first point of contact for routine HR matters; complex cases are escalated to senior management and external HR support. 37.5 hours per week, on-site.

Qualifications

• Generalist HR experience with employee relations duties.
• CIPD Level 3 qualification or progress towards CIPD.
• Knowledge of UK employment law and HR procedures.
• Experience managing sickness absence, attendance, performance and conduct.
• Experience maintaining HR records and using an HR information system.
• Strong written communication, organisation and discretion.
• Experience in manufacturing or operational environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical guidance to managers and employees on HR policies and procedures.
• Support sickness absence, attendance, probation, performance and conduct issues with documentation and follow-up.
• Advise on disciplinary and grievance steps, including meetings and case records.
• Monitor progress of employee relations cases and escalate as needed.
• Refer complex cases to senior management and external HR support.
• Coordinate recruitment administration, vacancy documentation and onboarding.

Skills

Generalist HR experience

Employee relations

Sickness absence management

HR policies and procedures

Education

CIPD Level 3 or higher

Tools

BrightHR

Blip

Job description

Location: Dukinfield, Greater Manchester – on-site

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £35,000–£40,000 per annum, depending on experience

About Northpoint

Established in 1976, Northpoint is an employee-owned business specialising in protective and decorative coatings. From our Dukinfield facility, we provide powder coating and wet paint services for customers across sectors including water, oil and gas, marine, defence and infrastructure.

We take pride in the quality of our work and in understanding what our customers need. Our values include responsible working, fair business practices and opportunities for our people to learn and develop.

Job purpose

To provide day-to-day HR advice and support across Northpoint’s factory operation. The HR Advisor will manage core people processes, maintain accurate HR records and systems, and support managers in applying policies and procedures fairly and consistently.

The postholder will act as the first point of contact for routine HR matters. Complex or higher-risk matters will be escalated to senior management and external HR support.

Key responsibilities

Employee relations and manager support

• Provide practical guidance to managers and employees on HR policies, procedures and routine employment matters.
• Support managers with sickness absence, attendance, probation, performance and conduct issues, ensuring appropriate meetings, records and follow-up actions are completed.
• Advise managers on the procedural steps for disciplinary and grievance matters, including preparing documents, coordinating meetings, taking notes where required and maintaining case records.
• Monitor the progress of employee relations cases and identify delays, inconsistencies or matters requiring escalation.
• Refer complex cases, potential dismissals, discrimination concerns and other significant employment risks to senior management and external HR support.

HR administration and systems

• Maintain accurate, confidential employee records and ensure the HR system is kept up to date.
• Prepare employment documentation using approved templates, including contracts, letters confirming changes to terms, probation correspondence and leaver documentation.
• Monitor key dates and actions, including probation reviews, training renewals, leave and right-to-work follow-up checks.
• Record and review absence and attendance information, produce reports and highlight trends or outstanding actions to managers.
• Collate and check employee information for payroll, including starters, leavers, contractual changes and absence, in line with agreed deadlines.
• Maintain secure records of HR meetings and formal processes in accordance with Northpoint’s procedures.

Recruitment, onboarding and agency workers

• Coordinate recruitment administration, including vacancy documentation, interview arrangements, candidate communication and offer paperwork.
• Complete pre-employment and right-to-work checks for directly employed staff in accordance with the agreed process.
• Coordinate employee onboarding, inductions and offboarding, ensuring the required documentation and system updates are completed.
• Liaise with recruitment agencies regarding worker supply, onboarding information, site requirements and any people-related issues.
• Obtain and maintain the agreed assurance and records relating to agency workers, with the responsibilities of Northpoint and each supplying agency clearly documented.

Policy and process improvement

• Support consistent application of HR policies and procedures across the business.
• Identify gaps in records, processes or manager guidance and recommend improvements.
• Assist with policy updates, employee communications, training coordination and other HR projects as required.
• Keep up to date with relevant changes in employment practice and refer proposed policy or legal changes for appropriate review.

Working relationships and decision-making

This is a standalone HR role, with the HR Advisor acting as Northpoint’s main day-to-day HR contact. They will work closely with factory managers, senior management, employees and recruitment agencies, with external HR support available for complex or higher-risk matters.

The postholder may manage routine HR processes and provide procedural advice within agreed policies. Factory managers retain responsibility for managing their teams and making operational decisions. Formal employment decisions, including disciplinary outcomes and dismissals, remain with the appropriate Northpoint manager. The escalation and approval process for complex cases will be agreed with senior management and external HR support.

Person specification

• Experience in a generalist HR role, including practical support with employee relations matters.
• CIPD Level 3 qualification or above, progress towards a relevant CIPD qualification, or equivalent demonstrable HR knowledge and experience.
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR procedures, with the judgement to recognise when specialist advice is required.
• Experience supporting managers with sickness absence, attendance, performance and conduct processes.
• Experience maintaining accurate HR records and using an HR information system.
• Strong written communication, organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and build effective working relationships at all levels.
• Experience in manufacturing or another operational, shift-based environment.
• Experience coordinating agency workers and liaising with recruitment agencies.
• Experience completing right-to-work checks, preparing payroll information and producing HR reports.
• Familiarity with BrightHR and Blip, or comparable systems.