Office Administrator and PA job at Haltwhistle Full Time

Office Administrator & PA – Northumberland Honey Co

About Us

Northumberland Honey Co is a family-run business established and operated by husband and wife team Luke and Suzie.

We collectively manage around 300 honey production colonies, producing approximately 20 tonnes of honey annually alongside a range of honey products, beeswax products, queen bees, and traditional method sparkling mead. All products are produced, packed, dispatched and distributed directly by our team on-site.

We are proud to be a friendly, supportive business with a strong team culture and excellent staff retention.

Salary & Hours

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Annual salary review
• Flexible working pattern available
• 5 days per week depending on candidate suitability and business needs
• Typical working hours are between 9am–4pm, Monday to Friday – also option for 9am-3pm.
• No bank holiday working
• Initial 12-month probationary period

This role is designed to work well around school hours and family life, making it ideal for someone seeking flexibility alongside a rewarding long-term role.

The Role

We are looking for a highly organised, confident and personable individual to help manage the day-to-day running of our office operations while also acting as PA support to the company directors.

This is a varied role where no two days are the same, offering a mix of administration, customer service, diary management, invoicing, trade customer support and general office coordination.

The successful candidate will become an important part of a close-knit team and play a key role in supporting the continued growth of the business.

Typical Responsibilities

• Managing incoming customer enquiries via phone and email
• Creating and issuing invoices
• Organising diaries, appointments and schedules
• Supporting trade customer relationships and processing trade orders
• Maintaining office systems and customer databases
• Assisting with order processing and dispatch coordination
• Welcoming visitors to our on-site shop
• Providing PA support to the company directors
• Helping maintain a clean, organised and efficient office environment

You will quickly become familiar with our product range and pricing structure, confidently communicating with both retail and trade customers in a professional and friendly manner.

Training & Development

Full training and induction will be provided.

You will work directly alongside the company directors, receiving ongoing support and guidance to develop within the role. We believe in investing in our team and creating a supportive working environment where expectations and progression are clear on both sides.

Benefits

• 6 weeks annual leave (pro rata)
• Company pension scheme
• Flexible working
• Staff discounts across our product range
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Family-friendly working hours
• A unique and enjoyable working environment surrounded by the aroma of honey and beeswax

Person Specification – Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is organised, dependable and genuinely enjoys being part of a small, hardworking team.

This role would suit somebody who takes pride in being helpful, proactive and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. In a small family business everybody supports one another, so we value people who naturally notice when something needs doing and are happy to step in and help.

You will be confident communicating with customers, suppliers and the company directors, and comfortable balancing a variety of tasks throughout the day. No two days are ever quite the same at Northumberland Honey Co, so being adaptable and able to prioritise workloads is important.

We are looking for somebody who enjoys learning new skills, takes initiative, and wants to become a long-term valued member of the business.

A positive attitude, good sense of humour and strong work ethic are every bit as important to us as previous experience.

Essential Skills & Experience

The successful applicant should be able to demonstrate:

• Previous office administration experience
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Confidence using computers, email systems, spreadsheets and office software
• Experience managing diaries, schedules or administrative support tasks
• Professional and friendly telephone manner
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Understanding of invoicing, VAT and general office procedures
• Experience of Xero / Accountancy / Invoicing software

You should also be comfortable working within a food production environment and able to comfortably fulfil the duties of the role.

Due to the nature of the business, applicants should not have a bee allergy.

Desirable (Not Essential)

• Sales, management or accountancy qualifications
• Previous experience in a small business environment
• Health & Safety training
• Personal Alcohol Licence
• Experience in both team-based and independent working roles

Necessary training and qualifications can be provided where appropriate for the successful applicant.

Annual Leave

We provide 6 weeks annual leave per year (pro rata) and aim to be flexible and accommodating wherever possible regarding annual leave requests.

Start Date

As soon as possible.

Video Introduction

As part of the application process, we ask all applicants to upload a short informal video introduction (approximately 1 minute).

Please don’t worry about making this professional or perfect — a simple selfie video recorded on your phone is absolutely fine.

We’re simply looking forward to getting to know the person behind the application a little better and hearing why the role interests you.

You may wish to tell us:

• a little about yourself
• why the role appeals to you
• any relevant experience you may have
• what interests you about Northumberland Honey Co

We are not looking for polished interview answers or professionally edited videos. Friendly, genuine and authentic is far more important to us.

As communication, organisation and confidence using online systems form an important part of the role, completion of the short video introduction forms part of the application process.

Application Process

Please complete the application form on our website:
https://www.northumberlandhoney.co.uk/job-opportunity

Due to application volumes, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before any formal closing date.

We have very low staff turnover and opportunities within our business are rare, so we would encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the role.

Closing Date

The vacancy will remain open until a suitable applicant has been appointed.

Pay: £24,420.00-£39,353.23 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person