HR Advisor

apetito Limited; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living Wage employer

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Discretionary annual bonus

Pension with employer contributions

Free parking

.apetito perks scheme

Job summary

apetito Limited in Trowbridge is seeking an experienced HR Advisor to join our on-site team. You will report to the Senior HR Manager and work full-time (37.5 hours) across five days weekly, handling high-volume ER cases and providing expert HR guidance.

You will cultivate strong relationships with managers, champion policy adherence, and support projects such as TUPE and organisational change while developing a practical, proactive HR service.

Qualifications

• Experience in a HR Advisor role.
• Significant experience in employee relations casework and advising managers on HR policy and procedures.
• Experience using HR databases and case management systems.
• Able to plan and prioritise workload and cases.
• Deliver excellent customer service internally and externally.
• Strong listening, questioning, persuading and influencing skills.
• Up-to-date employment law knowledge.
• Proactive in building stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Advise on all employee relations matters (performance, absence, disciplinary, grievances).
• Provide timely guidance in line with legislation and policy.
• Manage ER casework to resolution using HR systems.
• Coach managers to handle people issues.
• Support HR projects (e.g., TUPE, redundancies, organisational change).
• Deliver training on key HR policies.
• Maintain and update HR templates and guidance.
• Attend and support formal case meetings.
• Analyse HR KPIs (absence, disciplinaries, turnover, headcount).
• Produce reports from HR systems.
• Improve HR processes and communications.
• Prepare contracts and onboarding documents.
• Assist with employee forums.

Skills

HR advisory experience

employee relations

HR policy & procedures

case management

customer service

communication & influencing

MS Office (Word & Excel)

Education

GCSEs in Maths & English

CIPD qualified

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

HR Advisor – based onsite in Trowbridge

Reporting to Senior HR Manager

Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Due to additional investment in HR services we're lookingfor an experienced HR Advisor to join our friendly and supportive team.

You will develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues across the business.

This is a role with lots of variety and offers a great opportunity to be part of a thriving business.

You will champion best practice and timely adherence to company policy in order to ensure the interests of the business and our employees are prioritised.

A true partner with managers across the business regarding employee relations, policies and procedures and ways of working.

You will balance supporting, advising, coaching and, where appropriate, influencing and challenging managers to bring fair and consistent procedures and policies to life.

You'll need confidence to pro-activelymanage high volume and often complex ER cases, including administration and attending meetings such as hearings, grievances, investigations and appeals. We are looking for a HR Advisor who has proven experience in a HR employee relations role which includes providing expert advice in a fast-paced environment.

This role is based on-site in Trowbridge 5 days a week. You will needa driving licence and access to your own transport and be prepared to travel to support operational requirements.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Advise on all employee relations matters (performance, absence, disciplinary, grievances).


• Provide timely, compliant guidance in line with legislation and policy.


• Manage ER casework to resolution using HR systems.


• Partner with and coach managers to build confidence in handling people issues.


• Support HR projects (e.g. TUPE, redundancies, organisational change).


• Deliver training on key HR policies.


• Maintain and update HR templates and guidance.


• Attend and support formal case meetings.


• Analyse and report on HR KPIs (absence, disciplinaries, turnover, headcount).


• Produce reports from Zellis and other HR systems.


• Continuously improve HR processes, policies and practices.


• Support HR communications and employee benefit initiatives.


• Prepare contracts, offer letters and onboarding documentation.


• Assist with Works Council and employee forums.


• Provide general HR and project support as required.

About you

Essential:

• Experience in a HR Advisor role


• Significant experience in employee relations casework- advising managers on HR policy, procedures and best practice: absence management, disciplinary, grievance and performance management


• Experience using HR databases and case management systems


• Able to plan and prioritise workload and cases


• Give excellent customer service- to internal and external customers


• Excellent listening, questioning, persuading and influencing skills


• Able to handle challenging situations with diplomacy and tact


• Up to date employment law knowledge


• Think clearly and stay focused when under pressure


• Forge relationships with a wide-range of stakeholders and adapt personal style


• Lead by example and demonstrate actions and behaviours required of others


• Confident using Microsoft Office applications, in particular word and excel


• GCSE's or equivalent Grade C in Mathematics & English


• CIPD qualified- part or full


• Full UK driving licence and access to own transport

Desirable:

• Experience developing HR processes, procedures and policies


• Experience of coaching managers


• Advising on restructuring and redundancy situations


• Experience of a multi-site environment


• Understanding of TUPE legislation and dealing with TUPE transfers

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer


• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays


• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year


• Discretionary annual bonus scheme


• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%


• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary


• Subsidised canteen


• Free parking


• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas


• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.