Human Resources Associate

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading job portal is looking for an HR Associate to join their Corporate Centre People team. This entry-level role offers hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment and aims to develop future HR Business Partners. Responsibilities include providing HR guidance, building relationships with departmental leaders, and supporting HR initiatives. Ideal candidates are proactive, curious, and eager to learn, with a bachelor's degree preferred. Mentorship and a fully funded CIPD apprenticeship are provided.

Benefits

Fully funded CIPD Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship

Mentorship and tailored on-the-job learning

Qualifications

• No prior HR experience is required.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with departmental leaders and become their go-to HR partner.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees on HR policies and procedures.
• Drive the broader People Strategy and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Skills

Clear communication

Problem-solving

Relationship building

Critical thinking

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Job description

Better places, thriving communities.

Role Purpose

As a HR Associate, you will join our Corporate Centre People team, reporting into the Senior People Partner to support central corporate functions (such as Finance, IT, Legal, etc.) in driving the people agenda. This entry-level role offers hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment, working closely with managers and employees to implement HR initiatives and provide day-to-day HR guidance. You will act as a trusted advisor on people matters and lead specific HR projects to broaden your expertise across the HR profession.

This is a leadership development role, designed for someone who is ambitious, curious, and ready to grow into a future HR Business Partner.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Business Partnering: Build relationships with departmental leaders and become their go-to HR partner. Work closely with these managers to align HR strategies with business objectives and ensure people plans support each department's needs.
2. HR Advisory: Provide guidance to managers and employees on HR policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure fair and consistent HR support.
3. Be a value-driven champion: Drive the broader People Strategy and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion into the organisation.
4. Support HR activities: Cover the entire employee lifecycle, including performance management, talent review, and recruitment to support the business.
5. Project Involvement: Take ownership of specific HR projects or initiatives across the corporate centre to gain exposure to different HR Centres of Excellence and build experience across various corporate functions.
6. Build relationships: Foster great relationships with colleagues in the One HR community and across the organisation.
7. Critical friend & Change Agent: Act as a trusted point of contact for managers, addressing queries and concerns professionally and confidentially. Support change management efforts by helping employees and managers navigate organisational changes or new HR programs, ensuring smooth adoption and understanding.

This role is part of our early talent development pathway, designed to accelerate your growth as a future HR Business Partner. From day one, you'll be supported to build skills and experience through meaningful initiatives, mentorship, and potential rotation within the HR function. Additionally, you will complete a fully funded CIPD Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship over 20 months, alongside mentoring and tailored on-the-job learning, supported by a dedicated coach and 6 hours of dedicated time weekly for off-the-job learning. This role is ideal for someone people-focused, curious, and eager to learn in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.

What we are looking for

You may be a recent graduate or someone with equivalent professional experience seeking a career in HR. While a bachelor's degree in any discipline is preferred, we value your potential—particularly your ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and build strong relationships. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential, and we welcome diverse routes to demonstrate these strengths.

No prior HR experience is required. We seek someone who is curious, proactive, and people-oriented—ready to make a difference from day one. The skills and behaviors that will help you succeed include:

• You communicate clearly and confidently, adapting your style to different audiences and listening actively.
• You're a natural problem-solver, able to think critically, use data to inform decisions, and contribute practical, people-focused solutions.
• You build positive relationships easily and work well with others at all levels, engaging with empathy and influencing through collaboration.
• You exercise sound judgment, make considered decisions, and know when to act independently or escalate issues.
• You are proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn, taking ownership of your development and seeking continuous improvement.