Colleague Relations Advisor (Vet Business)
Location: Hybrid – Handforth Support Office & WFH
Hours: Full-time, 39 hours/week
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Make a difference where it matters most – to People and Pets
At Pets at Home, we’re more than a pet care business – we’re a passionate community of pet lovers, professionals, and innovators. With over 450 stores, 310 Groom Rooms, and 440 First Opinion Vet Practices across the UK, we’re proud to be the nation’s leading pet care provider. We’re now looking for a Colleague Relations Advisor to join our dynamic People team and support our Veterinary Practices across the country.
About the role
As a Colleague Relations Advisor, you’ll play a key role in delivering proactive, commercially focused HR support to our Practice Owners and Business Development Managers. You’ll manage a wide range of colleague relations cases, provide expert advice on HR policies and employment law, and help shape a positive and inclusive working environment across our vet network.
This is a hybrid role, with a mix of home working and time spent at our Handforth Support Office. Occasional travel may be required for sensitive or complex cases.
Key responsibilities
* Provide timely, professional HR advice via phone, email, and in-person where needed.
* Manage your own caseload of colleague relations issues, prioritising based on business risk and urgency.
* Coach and support Practice Owners and Business Development Partners on people matters, ensuring best practice and legal compliance.
* Attend and support complex hearings and meetings, including note-taking and outcome letter reviews.
* Use our HEAT case management system to maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
* Collaborate with the wider Colleague Relations team across Retail, Grooming, Distribution, and Support Office.
* Contribute to strategic people projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Stay informed on changes in employment legislation and HR trends.
What we’re looking for
* Proven HR experience, ideally in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
* Strong working knowledge of UK employment law.
* CIPD Level 5 qualified or working towards (or equivalent experience).
* Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
* Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
* A pragmatic, commercial, and solutions-focused mindset.
* Resilience, adaptability, and a genuine passion for people.
What you’ll get in return
We believe in rewarding our people for the great work they do. As part of the Pets at Home family, you’ll enjoy:
Competitive salary – £28,000 per annum
33 days holiday (including bank holidays), rising to 36 after 2 years
Birthday leave – take your birthday off, on us!
Colleague discount – across Pets at Home, The Groom Room, and Vets4Pets
Private health insurance (when enrolled in our pension scheme)
Pension scheme with company contributions
Wellbeing support – including mental, emotional and financial wellbeing resources
Recognition schemes – monthly awards and peer-to-peer e-cards
Career development – access to learning and development opportunities tailored to your goals
We take our inspiration from pets in embracing people from all walks of life, and we value, respect and celebrate difference. We encourage our people to be their best selves so that we can create a better world for Pets, our Planet, and People. Our ambition is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and we are intentional in addressing and removing barriers to create opportunities for the exceptional talent and potential in our communities. Even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!