Human Resources Apprentice

Macfarlane Packaging; Coventry; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Holiday purchase

Pension scheme

Volunteering day

Employee assistance

Discount scheme

Health cashback

Long service award

Job summary

Macfarlane Packaging in Coventry is offering an HR Apprentice role at our head office. You’ll join a friendly HR team, gain hands-on experience across recruitment, payroll and people administration while completing a Level 3 HR Apprenticeship with CIPD accreditation.

This full-time position provides a basic salary of £21,227 to £24,862 with a bonus and a strong benefits package, including 25 days’ annual leave, pension, volunteering day and staff discounts.

Qualifications

• Organised with strong attention to detail.
• Interest in HR or Recruitment.
• Willing to learn and develop in a team.
• Previous office experience is advantageous but not required.

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment administration, advertising vacancies, arranging interviews and onboarding new colleagues.
• Process new starter and leaver documentation, ensuring legal compliance and accurate record keeping.
• Maintain employee records and HR systems to ensure information remains accurate and up to date.
• Support payroll administration and the preparation of employee data.
• Assist with absence management administration and reporting.
• Help maintain HR policies, procedures and company documentation.

Skills

Organised

Communication

Team player

Telephone manner

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

Human Resources (HR) Apprentice

Location: Coventry Head Office (Middlemarch Business Park)

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours) Monday to Friday

Package: Basic Salary £21,227 – £24,862.30 (National Minimum Wage dependent upon age) plus Bonus & Excellent PLC Benefits

Sector: Packaging Distribution

An amazing opportunity to kick start a HR career

Protecting What Matters, Together

We're dedicated to protecting what matters most – our people, our customers, our communities and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a highly collaborative, supportive and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows.

With history stretching back over 75 years, we offer stability whilst always striving for continual growth. Our fast-paced, results-driven approach will challenge and stretch you, but it will also provide outstanding opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to directly influence our success, leading to genuine job satisfaction at every stage of their career.

We provide competitive pay alongside flexible benefits that help your rewards package go further. Our business values commitment, teamwork, adaptability and a genuine desire to learn – so if you're looking to build a long-term career, we'd love to hear from you.

The Human Resources (HR) Apprentice Role

This is an exciting opportunity to begin a career in Human Resources with one of the UK's leading packaging businesses. Working from our Coventry Head Office, you'll become part of our friendly and experienced HR team, supporting colleagues across the wider business whilst gaining valuable hands‑on experience across a broad range of HR, recruitment and people administration activities.

Alongside your day‑to‑day role, you'll complete a Level 3 Human Resources Apprenticeship, which includes professional CIPD accreditation, giving you an excellent foundation for a long‑term career in HR.

You'll receive full training, ongoing mentoring and the opportunity to work on a variety of projects whilst developing practical knowledge across multiple areas of the HR function. For the right individual, there is genuine potential for a permanent career with our business upon successful completion of your apprenticeship.

What You Will Be Doing

Throughout your apprenticeship you'll gain experience across a wide variety of HR activities, including:

• Supporting recruitment administration, including advertising vacancies, arranging interviews and onboarding new colleagues.
• Processing new starter and leaver documentation, ensuring legal compliance and accurate record keeping.
• Maintaining employee records and HR systems to ensure information remains accurate and up to date.
• Supporting payroll administration and the preparation of employee data.
• Assisting with absence management administration and reporting.
• Helping maintain HR policies, procedures and company documentation.
• Supporting training and development administration, including training records and communications.
• Assisting with management reporting and wider HR projects.
• Providing administrative support across the HR team and wider Central Services function.
• Supporting Head Office reception and associated duties

What You Will Bring

We're looking for someone who is organised, enthusiastic and eager to begin a career within Human Resources.

You’ll Ideally Bring

• A genuine interest in developing a career within HR or Recruitment.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Genuine team player
• A confident and professional telephone manner.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• The ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Previous HR experience whilst always desirable, isn't required – we'll provide the training and support you need to succeed. Some form of previous office-based experience would though certainly be advantageous.

What You Will Get

We provide a competitive starting salary together with an excellent range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidays
• Additional Holiday Purchasing Scheme
• Contributory pension scheme with Death in Service benefit
• Annual company-paid Volunteering Day
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee discount scheme with major retail and leisure brands
• Health cover cash back plan
• Long service awards

Your Future With Us

At Macfarlane Group, We're Passionate About Developing Future Talent.

This apprenticeship is designed to give you the knowledge, practical experience and professional qualifications needed to build a successful HR career. Many of our colleagues have progressed into specialist and management roles through structured learning, mentoring and internal promotion.

Whether your ambition is to become an HR Advisor, Recruitment Specialist, HR Business Partner or People Manager, you'll be joining an organisation committed to helping you achieve your long‑term career goals.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion or sexual orientation. Should you require any support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.

No recruitment agencies please.