People Co-Ordinator

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth. That’s why our Marketing team is passionate about creating an environment where people can be creative and trailblazing in order to do their best work.

We are looking for a People Co-Ordinator to join our People team at our Head Office in Aldgate in London.

The main purpose of this role is to provide administrative support and innovation across our People function, and coordinate with internal stakeholders. The People Co-Ordinator will also support the International People team with key processes, including but not limited to salary reviews, tracker maintenance, etc. and triage the shared HR inboxes assigned to them.

What you will be doing:

• People Administration including the issuing of internal (and external for ROW) appointment letters & contracts, tracking of secondments/fixed term contracts, new colleagues probationary & induction management (UK International HO/ROW).
• Ensuring management of People/HR processes impacting payroll accuracy in a timely manner, working in conjunction with the payroll team in Swindon as required (UK International HO/ROW).
• Supporting the management of and compliance to People practices e.g. absence management, probationary periods, leavers, maternity leave etc.
• Note taking at People related meetings where applicable; provision of basic HR advice in employment matters.
• Ensuring People data is maintained accurately, and updates are obtained when required, to ensure compliance with current legislation.
• Supporting the International People team with key processes such as annual salary review, bonus activities, tracker maintenance.
• Support management and triaging of shared HR inboxes assigned; management of International People Teams/SharePoint.
• Collation and maintenance of International UK and in market colleague files.
• Support of RTW procedure for ROW colleagues.
• Involvement in ad-hoc projects/project support.

What we are looking for:

• A proactive and organised individual with a passion for supporting people and driving positive employee experiences.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple administrative tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence in liaising with a range of internal stakeholders.
• A collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can juggle priorities effectively.
• Someone who brings energy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and grow within a dynamic People function.
• A natural problem-solver who can think creatively and suggest process improvements.
• Experience in providing administrative or coordination support within an HR or People environment is desirable.
• Comfortable handling confidential information and always maintaining discretion.
• Confident using HR systems, spreadsheets, and trackers to ensure data is accurate and up to date.
• Someone who shares our values and is excited to be part of a creative, trailblazing team at the heart of WHSmith’s people agenda.

How we reward our teams:

• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus based on company and personal performance
• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 24 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Finish at 4pm on a Friday
• Competitive pension contribution
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us:

Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

For UK and International Travel our mission is simple - to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands responsible for essentials and technology in airports (including our InMotion stores), hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our office is based in a buzzing part of London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture at all levels. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!