Purpose
The HR Assistant provides essential support across HR operations and payroll processing for a busy food manufacturing site. The role is key to ensuring smooth HR operations, with accountability for payroll and responsibility and involvement in HR activities including Engagement, Recruitment, Wellbeing, Comms and HR administration.
What you’ll be doing
1. Payroll Processing
* Manage the accurate processing of the weekly payroll and supporting monthly payroll
* Ensure timely submissions of starters, leavers, changes and time off data.
2. HR Administration & Reporting
* Maintain accurate HR & People records on HR systems and P files (Workday, ADP, Honeydew & Darwin)
* Liaise with system Account Managers to ensure continuous system accuracy and improvement
* Produce weekly and monthly HR reports (headcount, turnover, time off, recruitment) and Finance reports
* Raise purchase orders for the HR team (SAP).
3. Engagement & Communication
* Facilitate the Engagement and Charity meetings and produce the annual planner
* Coordinate employee events, site social events and volunteer days
* Create site communications for notice boards and quarterly newsletters and provide creative ideas
* Conduct Stay interviews and maintain reporting data for employee engagement.
5. Wellbeing
* Support wellbeing initiatives across site, support managers with absence cases and occupational health referrals
* Schedule and plan Annual Health Checks
4. Recruitment & Onboarding
* Advertise roles, screen applicants, arrange interviews, complete right‑to‑work checks, issue contracts, and coordinate HR inductions
5. Employee Relations Support
* First point of contact for colleague queries, note‑taking in meetings, supporting investigations, escalating issues appropriately
* Act as minute taker for Employee Forums
6. Compliance & Audit Readiness
* Ensure documentation meets SMETA, customer audit, and UK employment law requirements
* Support HR Manager and produce documentation for any inhouse audits and for SMETA audit
* To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required for this role
What we’re looking for
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
* Ideally experience of running or working with payroll
* Experience of Workday, ADP & ADP RealTime would be helpful but not essential
* Some experience of supporting recruitment and new starters would be a plus
* Excellent administrative and organisational skills is a must
* Confident IT skills & proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Canva
* High accuracy and attention to detail
* Problem solving/analytical ability
* An understanding and/or interest in UK employment law, right‑to‑work checks, and GDPR
* A positive, proactive, “can‑do” mindset
* Team player who will support the site
* Care and a great work ethic
Qualifications:
* GCSEs including English and Maths; A‑levels or equivalent desirable
Working here:
* Core office hours - Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.00pm
* We offer a competitive salary of £30,000 -£33,000 per annum.
* Our benefits package includes a company pension scheme, life insurance & income protection
* 33 days of holiday each year, inclusive of Bank Holidays
* We provide free on-site parking
* We support a healthy lifestyle with our Cycle to Work scheme, Employee Assistance Program, Annual Health Checks, Free eye tests
* We believe in ongoing development and investment in our people
* We foster a sense of community with family social events and activities.
* Based on‑site in a food‑production environment.
* Regular interaction with production lines, hygiene teams, technical teams, and shift managers.
* Occasional flexibility for payroll deadlines, investigations, or recruitment needs.
Our values:
The role holder will demonstrate and promote the Company’s core values of:
* Integrity & Respect
* Empowerment
* Accountability
* Collaboration
* Agility