Halfords

About us

Halfords is on a journey - building the future of motoring and cycling and looking for people who want to help shape what comes next. We’re a place for co‑creators: people who want to make a real impact, take ownership and be part of something that’s still evolving.

As the UK’s leading retailer of motoring and cycling products, we’re supported by one of the country’s largest independent vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair networks through Halfords Autocentres. This breadth gives us a strong, stable foundation - and the freedom to keep innovating and growing.

That means real variety for our colleagues, along with the opportunity to learn, stretch and develop as the business moves forward. Whatever your role, you’ll be part of a team focused on delivering exceptional service - using your expertise to solve problems, guide customers and help keep the nation moving with confidence.

About the role

As a People Support Specialist, you'll play a key role in delivering a seamless and positive colleague experience across the employee lifecycle. From onboarding and employment changes to family-friendly leave and offboarding, you'll ensure People processes are delivered accurately, efficiently, and compliantly.

You'll act as a first point of contact for People-related queries, manage the people inbox and provide high-quality support to employees and managers. Working closely with the wider People team, you'll also help drive continuous improvement and contribute to the delivery of an exceptional People services across the business.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely People administration across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, family-friendly leave, flexible working requests, and offboarding.
• Manage and coordinate all pre-employment checks globally, ensuring right-to-work verification, references, and onboarding documentation are completed in line with legal and company requirements.
• Administer employee changes, including promotions, transfers, restructures, TUPE transfers, and contractual amendments, maintaining accurate records and service levels.
• Act as the first point of contact for People queries, providing professional, customer-focused support and guidance to employees, managers, and stakeholders.
• Maintain the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of employee data within Dayforce and other People systems, acting as a key system administrator.
• Ensure all People administration activities comply with employment legislation, GDPR, company policies, and regulatory requirements, including FCA accreditation
• Produce and maintain People reports, dashboards, and management information to support operational activities and business decision-making.
• Collaborate with People Business Partners and Centres of Excellence to continuously improve People processes, systems, and employee experience while supporting wider business priorities and initiatives.

About you

• Previous experience within an administrative support role is essential
• A strong understanding of employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, employment changes, family-friendly leave, flexible working, and offboarding
• Outstanding organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence to build positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels  
• A professional and discreet approach to handling sensitive and confidential information, with a strong understanding of GDPR requirements
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams
• A proactive and solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to identify issues and recommend appropriate solutions
• A positive, flexible and adaptable approach, with a commitment to delivering exceptional experience to all Halfords colleagues

Desirable

• Previous experience within a HR/People team within a share services environment
• CIPD Level 3 qualified or currently studying towards a professional HR qualification
• Experience working with HR systems such as Dayforce
• Knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice, particularly in relation to right-to-work requirements, family-friendly policies, GDPR and flexible working

Reward & benefits

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
• We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 2 days a week with an optional 3 days working from home.
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 2 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch.