People Advisor

Cookfood; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned food company based in Sittingbourne is seeking a People Advisor to act as the first point of contact for HR-related inquiries. You will provide valuable HR advice and support employee relations processes. The ideal candidate has experience in a generalist HR role and a good understanding of UK employment law. Enjoy excellent benefits including paid leave for special occasions, staff discounts, and a commitment to sustainability. Join us to build a positive workplace culture where everyone feels they belong.

Benefits

Paid leave for birthdays and special occasions

Staff profit share

Wellbeing program

30% staff discount

Access to discounts and free food perks

Team meals and events

B-Corp-certified business benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced operational environment such as manufacturing or food production.
• Confident in balancing empathy and pragmatism.
• Genuine passion for creating great workplaces.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for HR-related questions.
• Provide practical HR advice to managers and teams.
• Support employee relations processes ensuring fairness.
• Coach managers on people management capabilities.
• Maintain accurate people data and records.
• Champion COOK's values and foster a positive culture.

Skills

Experience in a generalist HR or People Advisor role

Good knowledge of UK employment law

Strong communication skills

Organised approach with attention to detail

People-first mindset

Ability to build trusting relationships

Education

L5 CIPD desirable or L3 CIPD working towards

Job description

People Advisor

Hours: Monday – Friday 8.30am -5pm

Location: Sittingbourne, Kent

Salary - £35,000 per year

Purpose

To be part of Britains Best Kitchens with sites we’re proud of, where remarkable people work together with care and efficiency, cooking the very best meals and puddings that look and taste homemade.

Knowledge you’ll draw on‿

L5 CIPD desirable or L3 CIPD working towards, or happy to train.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as a friendly, approachable first point of contact for people-related questions on site.
• Providing practical, values-led HR advice to managers and team members on topics such as absence, performance, conduct, wellbeing, and engagement.
• Supporting employee relations processes, including investigations, disciplinary and grievance cases, ensuring fairness and consistency.
• Coaching and supporting line managers to build confidence and capability in people management.
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, and retention to ensure new starters feel welcomed and supported from day one.
• Maintaining accurate people data, records, and reports, using insights to spot trends and suggest improvements.
• Championing COOK’s values and helping create a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture on site.

What You Bring

• Experience in a generalist HR or People Advisor role, ideally within manufacturing, food production, or a fast-paced operational environment.
• A good working knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations.
• A people-first mindset, with the confidence to balance empathy and pragmatism.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships at all levels.
• A proactive, organised approach with great attention to detail.
• A genuine passion for creating brilliant places to work.

If you tick most of these boxes but not all—don’t stress. We’re all about potential.

Knowledge you’ll draw on‿

L5 CIPD desirable or L3 CIPD working towards, or happy to train.

Excellent Benefits including

• Paid leave on your birthdays, moving house, become grandparent or your child starts school for the first time
• Staff profit share
• Wellbeing program
• 30% staff discount
• Access to CookieJar Smart Spending discounts and free food perks.
• Team meals , events & away days
• Be part of a B-Corp-certified business that values sustainability, people, and the community.

And many more ‿.

What Cook is About

We’re a proudly independent, family-owned B Corp, which basically means we care. A lot. About our food. About our people. And about doing the right thing—even when it’s not the easy thing.

Our vision for COOK has always been that we are a place where EVERYONE is welcome. We want everyone to feel like they belong at COOK. We all have different roles, different abilities and different personalities. By collaborating we can do remarkable things. Whatever your story, if you would like to grow with COOK please apply.