New Starter Champion

New Starter Champion: Empowering Talent and Driving Retention at Bakkavor

Are you a proactive individual with a passion for fostering positive beginnings? Bakkavor, a leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry, is seeking a dedicated New Starter Champion to join their Spalding site. This permanent, site-based role offers a competitive salary of £28,000 - £30,000 per annum, commensurate with experience, and a chance to make a significant impact on colleague experience and business success.

The Opportunity: Shaping New Beginnings

This role is more than just an onboarding function; it's about being the cornerstone of a welcoming and supportive environment for new employees. As the New Starter Champion, you will be instrumental in ensuring every new colleague feels valued, integrated, and equipped to thrive from day one. Your mission will be to:

• Champion the New Starter Experience: Act as a primary point of contact, guiding individuals through their initial three months and ensuring a smooth transition into the Bakkavor team.
• Facilitate Seamless Integration: Liaise with HR, Operations, Learning & Development, and Facilities to ensure all practical aspects of onboarding are prepared, from site access to necessary equipment.
• Build Strong Connections: Introduce new starters to their teams, managers, and the wider workplace, fostering a sense of belonging.
• Drive Retention and Engagement: Proactively identify and address barriers to retention through feedback mechanisms, listening groups, and by analysing turnover data.
• Influence Stakeholder Engagement: Work collaboratively with various departments and SEF representatives to advocate for the needs of new colleagues and implement improvements.
• Manage the Buddy System: Effectively coordinate and monitor the buddy program to provide ongoing peer support for new team members.

Why Bakkavor? A Career Fueled by Ambition

Bakkavor's ethos is deeply rooted in "driving our own success" and empowering their people to "evolve, progress, and diversify." This commitment translates into tangible career advantages:

• Career Progression: Bakkavor offers excellent career progression prospects across the wider Bakkavor group. This role provides a foundational stepping stone into a large, dynamic organization with diverse opportunities.
• Impactful Role: You'll have the autonomy and influence to shape a critical part of the employee lifecycle, directly contributing to a positive workplace culture and reduced employee turnover.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Beyond the competitive salary, Bakkavor provides a highly competitive rewards package including:
  • Life Assurance (1 x salary)
  • 25 days holiday
  • Staff Shop
  • Stakeholder Pension Scheme
  • MyBargains Discount Platform
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Free Independent Mortgage Advice
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • A Range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans)
  • Discounted tutoring for children
  • Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary
  • Private Medical Insurance (after 5 years service)
  • Free Car parking
• Wellbeing Focus: Bakkavor is committed to your wellbeing, offering emotional, physical, and financial support services through their dedicated wellbeing champions.
• Inclusive Culture: As an equal opportunity employer, Bakkavor is dedicated to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, welcoming applications from all backgrounds.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

To excel in this role and advance your career at Bakkavor, candidates should possess:

• Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: The ability to build rapport and strong relationships at all levels is paramount. You'll need to "win the hearts and minds" of stakeholders to influence positive change.
• Organizational Prowess: Strong organisational and prioritisation skills are essential to manage multiple new starters and their onboarding processes effectively.
• Problem-Solving Aptitude: A robust ability to identify issues, develop immediate solutions, and devise longer-term, sustainable options will be highly valued.
• Independence and Reporting: The capacity to work independently, reporting into a senior manager with minimal guidance, is crucial.
• Adaptability: While the core shift is 08:30-17:00, flexibility to cover other shifts when required is a necessity for this site-based role.
• Relevant Experience: Previous experience in a role that required similar relationship-building, organisational, and problem-solving skills will be highly advantageous.

This New Starter Champion position at Bakkavor Spalding presents an exciting opportunity for individuals looking to contribute meaningfully to a thriving organization, gain invaluable experience in talent management and employee engagement, and embark on a rewarding career path. If you are passionate about making a positive difference from the outset, this role could be the perfect launchpad for your future.