People (HR) & Office Manager

SUMWON STUDIOS; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 working days of annual leave plus 1

Health Scheme

30% employee discount on Sumwon brands

Company social events

Creative work environment

Enhanced parental leave

Pension contributions

Job summary

SUMWON STUDIOS is seeking a dedicated People (HR) & Office Manager for our Manchester office to support 55–60 staff in a hybrid role with a strong People & HR focus and day-to-day workplace coordination.

You will be the main point of contact for HR queries, help manage probation, performance, onboarding, supplier relationships, and ensure UK employment compliance while keeping the office well-organised and safe.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in HR, People, Office Management or Workplace Management.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day HR and employee lifecycle processes.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Experience supporting managers and employees with People-related matters.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing suppliers, contractors and workplace services.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach.
• A professional, approachable and solutions-focused attitude.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a wider HR and management team.
• Experience within a fast-paced, growing or entrepreneurial business.
• Facilities or workplace management experience.
• Health & Safety administration experience.
• IOSH Working Safely qualification.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day People and HR queries across the Manchester office.
• Support managers with probation, performance, attendance, wellbeing and employee matters.
• Provide first-line coordination of employee relations matters, escalating complex cases where appropriate.
• Support the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to development, internal changes and offboarding.
• Coordinate recruitment activity, interviews, candidate experience and new starter preparation.
• Support onboarding and ensure new employees have a positive introduction to the Manchester office.
• Support probation and performance review processes and ensure key People processes are followed.
• Coordinate absence, return-to-work processes, workplace adjustments and employee wellbeing support.
• Support employee engagement, recognition, communication and culture initiatives.
• Maintain accurate People documentation and ensure local processes are delivered in line with UK employment requirements.
• Provide central HR and leadership with insight into employee sentiment, recurring People themes and potential areas of concern.
• Take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the Manchester office.
• Coordinate facilities, building management, maintenance and external suppliers.
• Manage office supplies, equipment, visitors, deliveries and general workplace standards.
• Coordinate workspaces and ensure new starters have the equipment and facilities they need.
• Maintain a professional, organised and welcoming office environment.
• Coordinate office events and employee engagement activities.
• Manage relationships with landlords, building management, contractors and workplace suppliers.
• Coordinate office repairs, cleaning, security, waste management and other facilities requirements.
• Maintain relevant office records, asset registers, supplier documentation and compliance records.
• Act as the key point of contact for urgent workplace issues and operational incidents.
• Coordinate workplace Health & Safety requirements and risk assessments.
• Maintain relevant H&S records and coordinate workplace inspections.
• Support accident reporting and ensure actions are followed through.
• Coordinate Display Screen Equipment assessments where required.
• Coordinate Fire Warden coverage, fire drills and emergency procedures.
• Maintain appropriate first aid provision and coordinate First Aider training.
• Support workplace adjustments and pregnancy-related risk assessment coordination.
• Liaise with external Health & Safety providers and relevant workplace specialists where required.

Skills

HR operations

Office management

Employee lifecycle

Recruitment support

Health & safety

Stakeholder communication

Compliance knowledge

Facilities management

First aid coordination

IOSH qualification

Job description

Employment Contract: 12-month FTC

Location: Manchester, UK

About SUMWON STUDIOS

SUMWON STUDIOS is a global brand house building, scaling and reimagining culturally relevant fashion, lifestyle and consumer brands. Our portfolio includes MISSGUIDED, SUMWON, BALR, Baby Phat, Playboy, AiiRZ, KiZN, KSTM and 11SKNDS.

In just a few years, we have grown from a start-up to one of the fastest-scaling brand platforms in theindustry. By combining creativity, data, technology, and an agile supply chain, we build brands designed to win in today's digital-first world.

We operate at the intersection of culture, commerce and innovation. Whether launching new brands, acquiring established ones, or unlocking growth opportunities across our portfolio, we move quickly, think globally and challenge conventional ways of working.

The Role

We are looking for a People (HR) & Office Manager to provide a dedicated People and workplace presence for our Manchester office, supporting approximately 55–60 employees.

This hybrid role has a strong People & HR focus, alongside responsibility for day-to-day management and coordination of the Manchester workplace.

You will act as a key connection between employees, managers and the central HR team, providing an approachable first point of contact for day-to-day People matters while ensuring the office is organised, safe, compliant and well supported.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, personable and proactive, with the confidence to manage a broad range of People and workplace responsibilities in a fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

People & HR

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day People and HR queries across the Manchester office.
• Support managers with probation, performance, attendance, wellbeing and employee matters.
• Provide first-line coordination of employee relations matters, escalating complex cases where appropriate.
• Support the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to development, internal changes and offboarding.
• Coordinate recruitment activity, interviews, candidate experience and new starter preparation.
• Support onboarding and ensure new employees have a positive introduction to the Manchester office.
• Support probation and performance review processes and ensure key People processes are followed.
• Coordinate absence, return-to-work processes, workplace adjustments and employee wellbeing support.
• Support employee engagement, recognition, communication and culture initiatives.
• Maintain accurate People documentation and ensure local processes are delivered in line with UK employment requirements.
• Provide central HR and leadership with insight into employee sentiment, recurring People themes and potential areas of concern.

Office & Workplace Management

• Take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the Manchester office.
• Coordinate facilities, building management, maintenance and external suppliers.
• Manage office supplies, equipment, visitors, deliveries and general workplace standards.
• Coordinate workspaces and ensure new starters have the equipment and facilities they need.
• Maintain a professional, organised and welcoming office environment.
• Coordinate office events and employee engagement activities.
• Manage relationships with landlords, building management, contractors and workplace suppliers.
• Coordinate office repairs, cleaning, security, waste management and other facilities requirements.
• Maintain relevant office records, asset registers, supplier documentation and compliance records.
• Act as the key point of contact for urgent workplace issues and operational incidents.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Coordinate workplace Health & Safety requirements and risk assessments.
• Maintain relevant H&S records and coordinate workplace inspections.
• Support accident reporting and ensure actions are followed through.
• Coordinate Display Screen Equipment assessments where required.
• Coordinate Fire Warden coverage, fire drills and emergency procedures.
• Maintain appropriate first aid provision and coordinate First Aider training.
• Support workplace adjustments and pregnancy-related risk assessment coordination.
• Liaise with external Health & Safety providers and relevant workplace specialists where required.

What you’ll bring

• Previous experience in HR, People, Office Management or Workplace Management.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day HR and employee lifecycle processes.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Experience supporting managers and employees with People-related matters.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing suppliers, contractors and workplace services.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach.
• A professional, approachable and solutions-focused attitude.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a wider HR and management team.
• Experience within a fast-paced, growing or entrepreneurial business.
• Facilities or workplace management experience.
• Health & Safety administration experience.
• IOSH Working Safely qualification.

What we'll bring

• 25 working days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Health Scheme
• 30% employee discount on all Sumwon Studios brands (Sumwon, Missguided, Aiirz)
• Company social events
• Creative work environment
• Enhanced paternity and maternity leave
• Pension contributions: employee 5%, employer 3%

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a business in growth mode. You'll have the chance to make a visible impact, take ownership, move quickly and help shape the future of a multi-brand platform operating across global markets.