WE'RE SLEEK. IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU
Founded in 2013 by Jennifer Davidson, we're an independently owned experience partner delivering world class events and experiences for some of the biggest brands, across the globe.
We partner with forward-thinking, ambitious clients to create impact - whether for a product roadshow, a reimagined B2B conference, a global car launch, or a major industry exhibition. Our ambition is simple: to create human-first experiences that build communities, fuel innovation, spark collaboration, and unlock new opportunities for our clients.
Our approach has earned us places on both The Sunday Times 100 Fastest Growing Company List (#21) and the Business Leader Growth 500 list in 2025. We're also proud to be recognised as a 2025 Sunday Times and Campaign "Best Place to Work". These accolades reflect something we nurture; building success without compromising on people, purpose or standards. We call it ‘growth without compromise'.
Who We Are
Sleek is defined by a people-before-profit mindset. We celebrate individuality, set high standards and believe purposeful leadership and exceptional work go hand in hand. Everyone here is self-motivated, curious and committed to growing, regardless of seniority. We value people who take ownership, solve problems willingly, act on feedback, and are comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-standards environment.
Based in Wimbledon, our HQ is a bright, modern and collaborative space where people genuinely enjoy spending time sharing ideas, playlists, lunch breaks and visits from the office dogs. Being proudly Office By Design, we work from our HQ four days a week with one work-from-home day, plus flexible core hours. This pattern is central to how we work. We know we learn and perform better when we're together - after all, our business is about bringing people together.
Our structure has been consciously designed to enable growth and invest heavily in team development. You'll find Sleek a welcoming place for everyone, from those starting their careers to experienced specialists. We're committed to creating a community where you can do your best work and realise your potential.
We also expect and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and are here to make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process wherever needed - just let us know.
Role Overview
As Sleek's Head of People & Culture, you will shape and champion the colleague experience across the entire colleague lifecycle. This is a strategic, senior role at the heart of an ambitious, values‑led agency, where you'll sit on the Operating Board with other Heads of Department and design the people vision, ensuring Sleek remains a place where high performance, creativity, and commercial success thrive.
Reporting into our COO, you'll lead on recruitment, talent development, colleague engagement, and HR-related operations and processes - balancing long‑term strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery. You'll be the custodian of culture and a trusted advisor to senior leaders, enabling them to do their best work.
Working closely with the Founder, Managing Director, Finance Director, and Heads of Department, you'll bring a combination of data‑led insight, modern people practice, and a passion for building a sustainable, equitable working ecosystem. This role is ideal for someone who blends strategic influence with operational excellence, cares deeply about people, and wants to leave a meaningful, measurable impact on how Sleek grows.
Responsibilities
STRATEGY:
- Design and deliver the people strategy, aligned to Sleek's priorities and long‑term goals
- Own strategic organisational development and design, ensuring structures support clarity and future success
- Influence at Operating Board level, preparing clear, data‑led board packs
- Co‑own Sleek's compensation philosophy and reward strategy, including twice‑yearly remuneration reporting
- Contribute to company sustainability goals, leading the people pillar
RECRUITMENT:
- Bring best‑in‑class recruitment experience to lead end‑to‑end hiring in a truly agile way
- Collaborate on headcount forecasting and set the recruitment strategy, including optimising the permanent and freelance mix
- Build talent pipelines for current and future roles
- Negotiate and issue offers for permanent and temporary hires
- Maintain commercial, long‑term relationships with external recruitment partners
- Partner with marketing to strengthen Sleek's employer brand and employee value proposition.
- Oversee onboarding, ensuring structured plans, buddying, check‑ins, and meaningful probation evaluation
TALENT AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT:
- Own succession planning to identify and develop key talent continuity in critical roles
- Evolve Sleek's progression and performance frameworks, ensuring alignment with company values
- Partner with line managers to optimise productivity and team performance, holding them accountable for expectations and outcomes
- Identify and actively address underperformance issues across teams
- Identify skills gaps and influence company‑wide training needs
- Co‑design and deliver learning and development initiatives (e.g., Sleek Academy, coaching programmes) and determine how L&D budget is used
- Specify and implement a new AI-driven HRIS to manage and enhance performance management
- Personally line manage the People & Culture Exec and Office Manager to optimise their performance
ENGAGEMENT:
- Lead the colleague engagement survey process, analyse insights, and work with senior stakeholders on action plans with measurable outcomes
- Craft clear and compelling colleague communications that drive understanding and action
- Ensure diversity and inclusion principles are embedded throughout people operations
- Support company culture through involvement in team and social initiatives
- Stay informed on emerging people trends and bring relevant, modern practices to Sleek
PEOPLE OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE:
- Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation for permanent and temporary workers, designing clear cross‑functional workflows
- Understand the nuances of employment legislation wherever Sleek works (mostly EMEA and US)
- Lead research and recommendations relating to work visas
- Review and evolve Sleek's conduct principles and people policies as required (in partnership with the Founder).
- Lead offboarding processes, including exit interviews, insight analysis, and recommendations for continuous improvement
- Triage any employee relations issues and work to resolve them informally or formally when required
- Generally, streamline processes to improve efficiency and the colleague experience
- Oversee day‑to‑day HR operations (approx. 20%), ensuring accurate and compliant HR records
FINANCE:
- Work with the Finance Director on people budget setting, monitoring, and optimisation
- Conduct twice‑annual salary benchmarking, define salary bands, and advise on reward packages.
- Partner with Finance to ensure accurate monthly payroll delivery
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:
- Collaborate with PR on culture-related thought leadership content
- Represent Sleek and our culture through public speaking and panel engagements
MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
- A stable, high‑performing, and engaged workforce
- Strong hiring outcomes with a high ‘would hire again' success rate
- Innovation in people practice, introducing initiatives that result in measurable impact
- Streamlined, compliant, and effective people operations
- Skilled, confident, and capable line managers
- Commercial outcomes through commercially led forecasting and prudent budget management
Requirements
ABOUT YOU
- Proven senior‑level experience in an agency environment (events a strong advantage)
- Confident presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders up to C‑Suite/Board level
- Confident to challenge constructively and offer a clear people perspective
- Deep knowledge of recruitment best practice and a thirst for identifying and hiring the best possible talent
- Strong understanding of UK employment law (and how that translates to markets where Sleek works)
- Experienced in shaping and nurturing authentic, values‑led company culture
- Curious, informed, and committed to continuous improvement
- Motivated by empowering people to perform at their best
- Skilled in coaching or mentoring to help colleagues find their own solutions
- Diplomatic, with sound judgement and discretion
Benefits
- 27 days holiday (plus UK public holidays).
- Additional days holiday for each year of service (capped at 3)
- Week-day birthdays off
- Charity day
- Pay Day early finish Fridays (15:00)
- Standard Pension Plan
- Fitness membership or gym contribution
- Tech scheme, cycle to work scheme, EV scheme
- Private health care (after 1 years' service)
- Learning and development programmes, including the Sleek Academy, new joiner buddies, and external coaching programme
- Company social events inc. weekly office drinks and annual company offsite
- Opportunity to experience new destinations through Fam Trips
- Company social events inc. weekly office drinks, annual company offsite
- Additional Benefits after 1 years' service including Private Health Care
- Opportunity to attend overseas familiarisation trips on behalf of Sleek in luxury accommodation. Recent destinations include South Africa, Abu Dhabi and the South of France
