Step into a pivotal HR Advisor role at Wernick Group, Britain's largest independent manufacturer of portable and modular accommodation. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the employee experience across our diverse operations, supporting approximately 1,000 colleagues.
As a key member of our HR department, you will drive the full employee lifecycle, ensuring the consistent application of employment law, company policies, and HR best practices within our dynamic commercial environment. We're seeking a confident HR generalist with robust employee relations expertise, someone who thrives on variety, autonomy, and making a tangible difference.
Join our successful, growing family business where HR is central to operational success. You'll find a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact both our people and the wider business, offering significant scope for professional growth.
About The Role
As an HR Advisor, your day-to-day will be dynamic and varied. You'll be the go-to expert for managers on all employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, and performance issues. You will manage the end-to-end recruitment process, from drafting offer letters to conducting inductions.
A significant part of your role will involve absence management, promoting well-being, and developing HR policies to ensure legal compliance. You'll also collaborate on payroll administration and contribute to continuous improvement projects within the HR function. This role offers broad exposure to all facets of HR, providing a fantastic platform for professional growth. You'll have the autonomy to shape processes and the opportunity to make a tangible impact in a supportive, family-owned business that values its people.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations
- Provide advice and guidance to managers on employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, capability and performance management issues.
- Support investigations, hearings and meetings, ensuring policies and procedures are applied fairly and consistently.
- Assist with the resolution of employee issues while minimising business risk and ensuring legal compliance.
- Support complex cases and liaise with external advisers where required.
Onboarding
- Draft and issue offer letters, contracts of employment and onboarding documentation.
- Conduct remote and in-person inductions where required.
Absence Management & Wellbeing
- Monitor absence levels and trends, producing reports and recommendations as required.
- Support managers with return-to-work interviews and absence management processes.
- Administer maternity, paternity, adoption and other family-friendly policies.
- Promote employee wellbeing initiatives and best practice.
Policy Development & Compliance
- Draft, review and update HR policies, procedures and employee guidance documents.
- Interpret changes in employment legislation and recommend policy and procedural improvements.
- Ensure employee records are maintained accurately and confidentially in line with GDPR requirements.
- Support the business in maintaining compliance with current employment legislation and HR best practice.
Payroll & HR Administration
- Liaise with the Payroll Manager to ensure accurate monthly payroll inputs.
- Provide HR data and reports to support business decision-making.
- Assist with statutory reporting requirements and HR audits.
- Maintain accurate HR systems and personnel records.
Projects & Continuous Improvement
- Support the implementation of HR initiatives and projects across the Group.
- Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, documentation and employee experience.
- Contribute to continuous improvement activities within the HR function.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications
- CIPD Level 5 qualified or equivalent professional HR experience.
Experience
- Proven experience in a generalist HR role.
- Experience managing a wide range of employee relations cases.
- Experience supporting the full employee lifecycle.
- Experience drafting, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
- Experience working in a fast-paced commercial environment.
Skills & Knowledge
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships with managers and employees at all levels.
- Highly IT literate, including Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
Personal Attributes
- Professional, approachable and resilient.
- Practical and solutions focused.
- High levels of integrity and discretion.
- Strong judgement and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
- Self-motivated with a proactive approach to work.
Desirable
- Experience working in a standalone HR role or within a small HR team.
- Experience supporting multi-site operations.
- Experience of Employment Tribunal preparation and case management.
- Experience supporting settlement agreements.
- Experience within the construction, manufacturing, engineering or related sectors.
- Previous experience working within a growing business environment.
Your Future with the Wernick Group
At Wernick, you're more than an employee; you're a vital part of a team that’s building the future of construction. Join us in our journey of continuous innovation and commitment to quality, and let's be 'Altogether Stronger'.
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Competitive salary and bonus scheme
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Generous holiday allowance (rising with service)
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Option to buy up to 5 days holiday per year and spread the cost
- Option to sell or carry over up to 5 days holiday
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Christmas Shutdown
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Early finish Friday
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Group pension scheme
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Annual Salary review – takes place each January
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Long service awards
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Employee of the Month awards
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Customer service awards
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Life Assurance
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Personal Accident Insurance
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Free onsite parking
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Employee assistance programme
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Training and progression opportunities
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Family run and well established, secure company (trading over 90 years)
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Open door policy
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Employee Referral scheme
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Benefits scheme (discounted retailers such as money off Apple, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, Currys, Argos, Tesco and restaurants including Harvester, Miller and Carter, Nandos and many more)
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Corporate Eyecare Scheme through Specsavers
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Ideas portal (message the CEO) and awards for implemented suggestions
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Cycle to work scheme
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Annual paid volunteering day
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Healthcare Cash Plan
The company is unable to sponsor employment of international workers in this role. You will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We thank you in advance for your interest in this role and our company. If you require any reasonable adjustments for your interview, please advise our recruitment team as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:
Any unsolicited CV’s will be sent at the recruitment agency’s own risk and will be interpreted as ‘gifts’ and we have no liability to you for any fee or otherwise. We reserve the right to engage with candidates directly having not, in any way, entered into your terms and conditions for this vacancy. By submitting an unsolicited CV to us, or to any member of our staff, you accept these terms as the default position. If we require your assistance with any vacancy we will contact you.
Required Criteria
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CIPD Level 5 qualified or equivalent experience.
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Strong generalist HR background across the full employee lifecycle.
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Proven experience managing employee relations cases.
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Excellent knowledge of UK employment law.
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Experience writing, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
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A confident communicator with the ability to influence and support managers at all levels.
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CIPD Level 5 qualified or equivalent professional HR experience.
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Proven experience in a generalist HR role.
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Experience managing a wide range of employee relations cases.
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Experience supporting the full employee lifecycle.
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Experience drafting, reviewing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
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Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
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Experience working in a fast-paced commercial environment.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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Strong organisational and administrative skills.
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Ability to build effective relationships with managers and employees at all levels.
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Highly IT literate, including Microsoft Office applications.
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Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
Desired Criteria
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Experience within a standalone HR role or small HR team.
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Experience with Employment Tribunals and settlement agreements.
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Experience working in a standalone HR role or within a small HR team.
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Experience supporting multi-site operations.
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Experience of Employment Tribunal preparation and case management.
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Experience supporting settlement agreements.
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Experience within the construction, manufacturing, engineering or related sectors.
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Previous experience working within a growing business environment.
Skills Needed
Contract Negotiation, Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Requirements, Prioritisation, Problem Solving, Payroll, Microsoft Office Suite, Flexibility and Adaptability, Working Under Pressure, Initiative, Building Relationships, Employee Relations, Leadership, Communication, Self Management, Administrative skills, Time Management, Organisational skills
About The Company
Why Build Your Career with Wernick Group?
Rich Heritage, Progressive Future: As a family-owned and operated business since our inception, we blend traditional values with a forward-looking approach. This unique combination ensures a work environment that respects legacy while embracing the future.
Diverse Opportunities: Our expansive operations, with 40 centres across 36 UK locations, offer a vast array of roles and career paths in the public and private sectors. From modular building solutions to off-grid power, your professional journey can be as dynamic and varied as our services.
Commitment to Excellence: At Wernick, excellence isn’t just a goal; it's our way of life. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding product quality and service, creating an environment where your work directly contributes to customer satisfaction and business success.
Continuous Investment in People: We believe in nurturing talent from within. Through ongoing training and development opportunities, we invest in your future, ensuring that your career at Wernick is not just a job, but a journey of growth and learning.
Simplicity and Efficiency: Our business model is streamlined to reduce bureaucracy, enabling you to work in an environment that values decisiveness and efficiency. This approach allows you to focus on what you do best, without unnecessary complications.
Environmental and Social Responsibility: We're committed to reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring a safe, positive working environment. Working with us means being part of a team that cares for the planet and its people.
Company Culture
Clear path to progression: We believe everyone should have a clear path on how they can progress. That’s why we have developed the Wernick Way Forward, a personal development plan catered to each employee.
With the Wernick Way Forward, we provide a roadmap that outlines clear and achievable steps for employees to follow in order to reach their career goals.
Trainee programmes: Start your career with one of our trainee programmes. These are designed to help you develop and grow in our business and offer an advance career progression.
The Trainee Yard Operative Programme offers individuals the opportunity to develop their skills and work as a Yard Operative at one of our Hire depots. Engage in hands-on experience as you become a member of our team.
The Graduate Training Programme opens doors to explore every aspect of the company. Gain valuable insights, mentorship and the tools needed to excel as a leader within our company.
Training and development: Feel confident in your role and enjoy what you do. We recognise the need to invest in training and development.
By offering a range of training days/courses for our team we want to create an environment where you can move towards your career goals. We make sure that everyone who works with us has the resources they need to learn and develop their roles. We value mentoring and offer clear routes for career progression.
Company Benefits
Your Future with the Wernick Group
At Wernick, you're more than an employee; you're a vital part of a team that’s building the future of construction. Join us in our journey of continuous innovation and commitment to quality, and let's be 'Altogether Stronger'.
Vacation, Paid time off, Retirement plan and/or pension, Employee development programs, Employee discounts, Free parking, Cycle to work, Referral bonus, Competitive salary, Life insurance, Long service recognition, Free parking or Discounted parking , Employee Assistance Scheme, Wellbeing Scheme, Shopping Cashback, Work With Charities, Social Opportunities, Annual Rise, Profit Share, Employee of the Month, Employee Recognition Scheme, Culture of recognition, On the job learning, Progression opportunities, Access to Health & Wellbeing app, Long service awards, Service recognition increases to annual leave, Staff celebration events
Salary
Not disclosed
