Overview of role

Location: Trafford (Manchester).

You will be at the heart of shaping Westmill’s future—attracting brilliant people, developing them into high‑performing leaders, and building a culture where talent thrives at every level, from our operational teams right through to the Board. This is your opportunity to design the strategies, programmes, and experiences that will position Westmill as the standout centre of excellence within the ABF Grocery Group.

This role gives you real autonomy and influence. You will collaborate closely with senior leaders, Heads of Function, and peers across ABF to drive continuous improvement and embed best practice. You will also partner with HR and Marketing to elevate our employer brand—crafting compelling campaigns and communication channels that showcase what makes Westmill a great place to grow a career.

You will take full ownership of recruitment excellence, shaping everything from attraction strategies and assessment methods to onboarding standards and external partnerships. Beyond hiring, you will unlock the full potential of the Apprenticeship Levy, build leadership and first line management programmes for our management teams, and deliver development initiatives that genuinely move the dial on performance and ROI.

Key Accountabilities

Recruitment Excellence:

• Design and implement a best‑in‑class recruitment process—from attraction and assessment to induction and onboarding—across the UK and Europe.
• Build cost‑effective attraction strategies using data such as reach, time‑to‑hire, and cost‑per‑hire to drive smarter decisions.
• Enhance ATS capability and efficiency, collaborating with the wider Group to shape system improvements and best practice.
• Implement and manage a high‑quality PSL, negotiating competitive rates and terms.
• Strengthen management capability so leaders can attract, select, and retain the right talent first time.

Development:

• Maximise the Apprenticeship Levy by creating programmes aligned to business needs, partnering with providers, and supporting participants to successful completion.
• Deliver & co-ordinate leadership development and first line management programmes across the business
• Establish clear KPIs and feedback loops to measure training programme effectiveness and ensure strong ROI.
• Work with HR Business Partners to run annual succession plans to help support internal career development.

General:

• Position Westmill as a talent centre of excellence across the Group, developing and attracting high‑potential individuals and future leaders.
• Partner with HR and Marketing to strengthen our employer brand through targeted social media activity and engaging communication channels.

The Right Person

You will bring deep recruitment expertise, including hands‑on internal hiring experience and strong technical knowledge of ATS platforms, attraction strategies, and assessment methodologies. You will understand how to tailor selection techniques to various levels and functions, and you will be confident advising leaders on the right approach.

While L&D experience is a bonus rather than a requirement, you will have a genuine passion for people development and the ambition to grow this part of the role. You will be excited by the opportunity to build apprenticeship pathways, shape leadership programmes, and deliver training that drives real performance improvements.

You will be proactive, self‑driven, and solutions‑focused, with exceptional communication skills and the credibility to influence at every level. You will combine resilience with strong listening and problem‑solving abilities, and you will be motivated by continuous improvement and meaningful business impact.

This role is based in Trafford, Manchester, with 2–3 days per week on site. A full driving licence and flexibility to travel across multiple sites are essential.

If you are passionate about shaping the future of talent and want to make a measurable impact, we would love to hear from you.