Let’s hear it for our HR Heroes

The champions of our culture

A strong workplace culture doesn’t just happen. It takes intention, care, and a team who truly believes in the power of people.

From making mental health a priority to driving DEI, our People & Culture team weave wellbeing and connection into everything we do. They make sure everyone feels safe, supported, and like they truly belong.

Here’s what some of the team had to say about the key role they play:

“Our vision is “Every Employee is Valued”.  This gives us a great opportunity to create a culture where our people can thrive and feel a sense of belonging. Our role is to listen to our people and ensure that our values, goals, and beliefs are shared by leaders, communicated, and reinforced across the business.”

Jennifer Healy, Chief People Officer

 

“To me, a great workplace culture is defined as an inclusive environment where people feel valued, heard, and motivated. It’s created by small actions, as well as working practices and clear communication from leadership, down.”

Ceara Dunnigan, People & Culture Partner

 

“Work takes up such a big part of our lives – it shouldn’t feel like something to endure. That’s what drew me to People & Culture: to help create workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and genuinely connected to what they’re doing.”

Ffion Frazher, Senior Talent Acquisition Executive

 

Supporting every step

From small wins to big moments, our People & Culture team are a constant source of support.

Whether it’s helping someone return after a long period of leave, settle into a new role, or navigate a big life change, they make sure every experience feels positive and people-first.

“Helping drive positive change – whether in relation to wellbeing, organisational performance, engagement, job satisfaction, development (and more!) – is so rewarding. To me, it means collaboration with our team, managers, leadership, and employees to achieve these things together.”

Ceara Dunnigan

 

When your workforce is diverse and spread out, inclusivity takes real thought and care. Safe to say, our People & Culture team are pros at it.

They listen to what different people need, embrace what makes us unique, and create experiences that reflect and respect that. As a result, we’ve got a culture that everyone feels part of – and no one’s left behind.

“We recently reviewed our benefits offering (because we have to be leading the way) to make sure they were inclusive.

Benefits often have a large focus on one demographic, but we wanted to offer something for everyone while keeping wellbeing front and centre. We’ve started rolling them out and so far, so positive!” 

Katie Hart, Talent Acquisition and Experience Lead

 

Boosting culture – and the bottom line

We believe that when people thrive, business does too. And our People & Culture team are right at the heart of making that happen.

They act as a sounding board, coach, and compass, giving our teams the tools and space to grow while making sure people stay top of the list in every decision.

“A big part of our role is empowering people – not doing everything for them. Every manager leads differently, and every person needs something unique to thrive. Our job is to help managers understand their teams and lead in a way that drives success, with culture and wellbeing always at the core.”

Katie Hart

 

“We launched a training programme earlier this year that puts those small, meaningful instances of human connection at the heart of our management approach.

Managers hold the key to employee engagement and wellbeing as that first point of contact, so our new approach puts timely topics front and centre, empowering managers with actionable tools, tips, and best practice, along with a safe space to connect, discuss, and apply.”   

Steph Palmer, Talent Development Lead

 

The hidden hard work

In any HR team, there’s a whole lot going on that isn’t always seen. Behind every initiative, every step forward, and every policy, there’s quiet work happening.

Our People & Culture team are the ultimate shapeshifters: juggling complexity, care, and confidentiality, often out of the spotlight.

“It takes a huge amount of expertise to work in People & Culture. You might start your day finalising a legal document, spend your lunch delivering a session on goal setting, then finish up by supporting a colleague who’s had a recent bereavement.

The work we deliver is not only complex, but highly varied. It's what makes a passion for people so key to the role, as everything we do is about putting the individual at the heart of the employee experience.”

Steph Palmer

 

“Working in HR doesn’t always come with recognition. We do a lot of sensitive and confidential work behind the scenes, which means team members don’t receive the recognition they deserve. I’m so proud of the P&C team – they’re superheroes, delivering incredible work every day.” 

Jennifer Healy

 

Advice for budding HR Heroes 

Thinking about a career in HR? Here’s what our People & Culture team want you to know:

“Keep an open mind and stay curious. People & Culture runs deeper than you might expect – it’s not just policies or team socials; it’s how people experience work every day, how decisions are made, and how connected people feel to the business.  

And no matter what you're working on, always come back to people. Keep them at the heart of your purpose.” 

Eilidh Kenyon, Talent Development Advisor

 

“My best advice for someone starting out would be to build genuine connections. You’re going to be working with people every day – helping them grow, supporting them through challenges, and creating a workplace where they feel valued.” 

Laith Jaafar, Junior People Advisor

 

Heroes? Us?

We asked our P&C team how they felt about being called HR Heroes. Let’s just say, they responded with classic superhero modesty!

 “When I think of a hero, I think of a feeling of uncertainty and needing a 'guiding light' or a 'hero' to help me along my journey. HR Hero means that my team and I are that guiding light.”

Georgina York, People & Culture Partner

 

“As a business, we’re proud of our culture and helping others celebrate and improve their employee experience. That starts at home for us. I also feel super lucky to work in a team of absolute HR Heroes whose work often goes unnoticed. They inspire me to do better for our employees, every day.”  

Katie Hart

 

 “I’ve been able to work with and learn from so many amazing HR Heroes throughout my career, and it’s great to have the language to recognise them for the incredible impact they’re making.”  

Steph Palmer

 

“Given the business we’re in, recognition goes a long way – and we can see the impact it has on our people. To be recognised by our team means the absolute world.”

Laura Lloyd, Employee Experience Lead

 

“So much of what we do is about making things run smoothly for others, often quietly in the background, so being recognised is a reminder that those efforts do land.

I wouldn’t say I feel like a “hero”, but I do care deeply about getting things right for people – and it’s nice to know that comes through."

Ffion Frazher

 

“I receive feedback from across the business about the incredible work done by our team, which makes me so proud. They all go above and beyond to support our people and create a brilliant workplace.

They work together, leaning in to support each other, looking for ways we can continue to improve what we offer our colleagues, and leaving everyone who connects with them feeling more valued.”   

Jennifer Healy

 

Every hero needs a little hype

HR heroes don’t wear capes (well, not usually). But they do show up day in, day out, making work better for everyone.

Becky Young, our Lead Contract Manager, sums up the difference they make:

“P&C should be very proud of the culture and environment they’ve created, especially combining two workforces together. Plus, their communication is always great!”

Take a moment to celebrate your own HR team and remind them how much they matter – not just today, but all year round.

After all, they’ve always got our backs. So let’s make sure we’ve always got theirs.