Find More Than 10K+
United Kingdom Jobs

Location: Coventry (Middlemarch Business Park)
Hours: Full Time, Monday-Friday (37.5 hours per week)
Package: Basic Salary £14,801 to £20,319 (based on national minimum wage linked to age) plus company benefits
Sector: Packaging Distribution


Our Company
We, the UK’s largest packaging distributor have an exciting entry-level/development role for someone to join our business as an apprentice, providing the first step in an HR career. We are seeking to complement our Human Resources team based at our Coventry Head Office with the appointment of an apprentice to support the wider HR, Recruitment, and our central services function. We are a committed equal opportunities employer that champions ‘dignity in the workplace’. Our focus is to provide customers with fully integrated and innovative packaging solutions, augmented by outstanding customer service.

The Human Resource (HR) Apprenticeship Role
Working at our Head office in Coventry, you will report to the HR Manager, providing administration support to the wider HR & Recruitment team, whilst also working closely with our wider ‘central services teams’. There will be the potential to become involved in different projects and your tasks & responsibilities will be varied, incorporating both a range of administrative support and direct liaison/interaction with internal colleagues & external providers.

We are seeking to employ someone on an apprenticeship basis, studying for a ‘Level 3’ qualification in Human Resources (which also carries CIPD professional accreditation).
You will be keen to hone your administrative & customer service skills whilst working within a fast-paced head office function and welcome the opportunity to gain hands-on daily experience of HR and recruitment processes. Whilst this is an apprentice position, there is the potential of a permanent offer of employment following the completion of the program.

Human Resource (HR) Apprenticeship Core Duties
Among other things, you can expect to gain exposure and experience in the following areas during your apprenticeship journey with us…

• Support recruitment administration activities, including requisition approval processes, advertising of positions, and booking in candidates
• Ensuring all starter information is received in a timely manner, ensuring legal compliance
• Supporting the administration of leavers, including the issuing of p45s
• Updating documents & procedures to ensure correctly presented, as well as on the company intranet
• Involvement in HR administration activities to support the wider team
• Supporting payroll administration procedures and the collation of data
• Maintaining HR systems and files
• Supporting head office reception activities and duties, including switchboard support, and meeting and greeting visitors
• Administration of the HR absence management platform
• Ensuring e-payslip procedures are communicated effectively to all new starters
• Supporting management information processes and reporting requirements
• Ad-hoc project support as and when required
• Supporting training and development – including training records, P&D databases, and delegate communications

Do you have the correct profile?
We welcome your application if you are seeking an opportunity to join a larger corporate organization that can provide a structured career path and training. It would therefore help if a career in HR or Recruitment were something that may interest you in the longer term. Any prior experience of these disciplines (whilst clearly a bonus) is not essential as full ‘on the job’ training will be provided throughout.
We do ask though for strong computer literacy (MS Outlook & MS Word/Excel), effective communication/interpersonal skills, underpinned by strong attention to detail and a confident telephone manner. With this being an apprenticeship contract, you must be happy to commit to an 18-month learning plan. Applicants will ideally have GCSE grades Math’s & English A-C (grade 4 or above) level, or in the absence of this, a willingness to sit a functional-skills exam to gain level 2 qualification in the missing subject(s) whilst completing the program (as this is a government requirement).
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.

Our Company Benefits
We provide a competitive basic starting salary whilst our flexible employee benefits package can include: –

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidays
• Additional Holiday purchasing scheme (run annually)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free parking at most of our site locations (or nearby)
• Annual (company paid) volunteering day
• Employee assistance program to support & advise with well-being & any issues
• Extensive range of training/development & potential progression opportunities
• Employee discount scheme (discounts on several major retail/leisure brands)
• Simply Health/Dental Cover option or BUPA cover for qualifying roles
• Enhanced HR policies relating to various employee rights & entitlements
• Candidate referral scheme (awards £750 for referring successful applicants to Macfarlane job vacancies)
• Financial support with eye-tests/purchasing glasses (DSE users only)
• O2 Mobile discount scheme (up to 25% off)
• Charitable giving options
• Long service awards (5-40 years)

Macfarlane Group is also dedicated to maximizing every employee’s potential, by providing career development plans and pathways in an environment that fosters personal growth and continuous improvement.

How to apply/next steps
This is an urgent appointment whereby we will be seeking to identify and review the very best of applicants swiftly in the hope of selecting the successful candidate to commence with us ASAP. Our interview process will consist of an initial telephone screening call followed by a first-stage Teams/video interview and then a second face-to-face interview.
To make an application please simply click ‘apply’ ensuring that your CV is up to date and relevant.

All applications will be acknowledged, shortlisted applicants normally hearing from us within 2-3 weeks. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified at the end of our process, although if you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of applying, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.