Julie Stafford

Alongside my role as an HR Generalist, I deliver a full end-to-end recruitment service, from initial role conception through to induction, with a particular focus on technical and hard-to-fill positions. I partner closely with HR and senior leadership to anticipate hiring needs and fill vacancies proactively, using creative and innovative approaches to attract the right talent. I actively build and nurture talent pipelines through strategic headhunting on LinkedIn, recruitment platforms, and collaborations with universities and job centres. By sourcing, engaging, assessing, and onboarding high-quality candidates, I help reduce cost per hire while ensuring every step aligns with current employment legislation and Home Office guidelines. Enhancing the candidate experience is central to my approach. I streamline recruitment processes, refine policies, and update careers content to showcase the company’s culture and employer brand. In parallel, I maintain a large and diverse database of freelancers, including translators and digital specialists, and am always on the lookout for exceptional people who share our values and can support our teams.

A broad HR generalist role covering the full employee lifecycle, from pre-employment through to exit interviews. I ensure HR queries are resolved promptly, providing clear and practical advice while maintaining confidentiality and delivering a high standard of customer service. Resourcing is a key focus of the role, including advertising vacancies, CV sifting, interviewing, selection, and onboarding. I also lead on implementing effective HR processes, support continuous improvements to colleagues’ working lives, and enjoy developing engaging employee wellbeing activities, speakers, and events

Benenden Health - temporary role Provided general HR support to the HR and Organisational Development Team, including testing new HR policies, improving processes like induction, and assisting with recruitment administration. Also attended disciplinary hearings and took notes.

Managed a large-scale recruitment project - methodically organising/processing vacancy applications for shortlisting, responding to queries, interviews, tests, panel liaison and appointment letters.

Responsible for managing the office activities of an independent transport consultancy, the key duties were administrative - the typing of reports/presentations using word, excel and powerpoint, travel and accommodation bookings, procurement, diary management and expense processing, invoicing, banking.

Human Resources Advisor (York, Glasgow) Led a small HR team providing advice and guidance to managers, engineers and support staff on terms and conditions of employment, employee relations and training & development. Supported recruitment activities across the business overseeing induction/onboarding/offboarding and everything in between. Solely authored the Employee Handbook, consolidating and updating all relevant company procedures into a single, easy-to-reference document. This work involved extensive consultation and communication with managers and trade unions to agree on any changes.

Clerical Officer – HR Assistant Commenced employment within British Rail (in Nottingham) after leaving school, following a series of promotions and career path changes I progressed to a senior administration role within the HR team prior to the privatisation of British Rail (in 1993) and my subsequent employment by the newly created Westinghouse Signals.