HR Apprentice

Location: Peterborough/ Hybrid

Department: People

Contract type: Permanent / Full-time

Do you want a career in HR, not just a job? At Activate Group, our People team is looking for an HR Apprentice to join us in Peterborough, working towards a recognised HR qualification while getting real, hands-on experience across the full employee lifecycle.

You'll work alongside experienced People professionals from day one, with full study support to complete your apprenticeship and a clear route to build a genuine career in HR.

About the role

As HR Apprentice, you'll support the People team across recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, HR systems and reporting, gaining broad, practical exposure to every part of the employee journey. You'll report to the Head of People and work 37.5 hours a week, with core hours of 10am to 4pm and hybrid flexibility around that.

Activate Group is a growing UK business with 1,000+ team members nationwide. This is an exciting opportunity to build a long-term career with a company that values its people and offers genuine development and progression opportunities.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting the employee lifecycle, from new starter onboarding and pre-employment checks through to leavers and absence administration.
• Answering first-line HR and payroll queries, giving clear guidance and knowing when to bring in the wider People team.
• Keeping our HR system accurate and up to date.
• Helping with recruitment, including CV screening, scheduling interviews and assisting with interviewing.
• Taking notes in employee relations meetings, such as absence reviews, disciplinary and grievance cases.
• Preparing HR documents and correspondence, including offer letters and contracts.
• Producing HR reports and data for the People team and the wider business.
• Supporting team member events and engagement initiatives.
• Getting involved in wider People projects that improve how we work.

Skills and experience

• Confident with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• A positive, can-do attitude and a genuine interest in building a career in HR.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a sharp eye for detail.
• A problem-solver who uses initiative to get to the bottom of an issue.
• Willing to learn a new HR system, with full training provided.
• Able to handle sensitive employee information with discretion and integrity.
• Well organised, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks.
• Motivated to learn and grow through the apprenticeship programme.

Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for the great work they do. When you join Activate Group, you can expect:

• 33 days holiday, including bank holidays
• Personal health cash plan – claim back the cost of everyday healthcare such as dental and optical check-ups
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay
• Life assurance at three times your basic salary
• Free breakfasts and fresh fruit
• A birthday surprise for everyone

What you can expect from us

At Activate Group, we want everyone to have the tools and support they need to do their best work. We’re an innovative business that continuously reviews and improves our systems, processes and ways of working, making sure they support our teams to do their jobs effectively.

Every role at Activate Group is aligned to our wider business vision and purpose – making someone’s bad day better. You’ll understand how your role contributes to the bigger picture and how your work helps deliver excellent outcomes for customer and partners.

We believe work should be enjoyable. We make time to celebrate success, recognise achievements and bring people together at team events and company-wide celebrations. We’ll also support your ongoing development through regular feedback and career planning.

Whether you’re based in one of our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough or Huddersfield, working at an Activate Accident Repair (AAR) site, or working from home, you’ll be part of a supportive culture where people are encouraged to succeed.

A bit about us

Activate Group is a fast-growing business approaching 1,000 team members nationwide.

We work with some of the UK’s largest fleets and insurance companies, supporting drivers that have been involved in road incidents through our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough and Huddersfield.

We manage every step of the repair journey - repairing vehicles at our own Activate Accident Repair (AAR) body shops, as well as through a UK-wide network of trusted independent repair partners.

We also work with the UK’s largest vehicle manufacturers, supporting their approved repair programmes, and deliver innovative technology solutions to fleets, vehicle repair centres and dealerships.

Our purpose & values

Our purpose underpins everything we do: Make someone’s bad day better

Our values define how we work with our team members, customers and suppliers:

• Make it happen – Be accountable. Take the initiative, work fast, and do a great job.

• Strive for better – Be bold. Challenge the norm - make small improvements often.

• Win together – Be a team player. Win together, learn together, respect each other.