Heather Middlehurst: The Transformational Leader Behind Stateside Foods’ People Strategy

In the evolving landscape of human resources and organisational development, Heather Middlehurst stands out as a compelling example of how strategic leadership, cultural awareness and operational acumen come together. Serving as Head of People at Stateside Foods Limited, Heather’s journey from finance professional to HR visionary brings together her expertise in accounting, learning & development (L&D) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In this article, we explore how Heather’s story, leadership style and initiatives provide a blueprint for companies seeking to align people strategy with business performance — and how her contributions at Stateside Foods make her a key figure in modern workplace transformation.

Background & Early Career: Financial Foundations for a People-First Leader

Heather’s professional trajectory began in the finance world, where she honed her analytical and organisational skills. She earned her credentials as a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and began her career in roles such as administrative assistant at firms like Baker Tilly International and customer-service finance at Yorkshire Bank.

Joining Stateside Foods in 2006 as an Assistant Management Accountant, Heather leveraged her numerical mindset and business insight. This foundation allowed her to view HR not only as a support function but as a strategic investment — intertwining people, performance and profit.

Her financial background is significant: it enabled her to measure HR outcomes, align people-metrics with business results, and support change initiatives with data-driven insight. This cross-functional ability (finance + HR) has become a distinguishing trait in her leadership.

Transition into HR, Learning & Development and CSR

By 2015, Heather had made a pivotal transition: she assumed roles overseeing CSR and Learning & Development at Stateside Foods.

In this phase, Heather championed initiatives such as continuous learning programmes, employee development, inclusive policy frameworks, and community engagement via CSR. She recognized that employee capability and corporate responsibility are vital levers for organisational resilience and reputation. For example:

• She developed tailored L&D tracks rather than generic training courses.

• She advocated for inclusion and diversity efforts, supporting underrepresented groups and raising awareness of mental-health and wellbeing in the workplace.

• She embedded CSR into the company “why” — not merely as philanthropy, but as a strategic dimension of culture and brand.

This period marked Heather’s shift from back-office finance to front-line people leadership — and it is this intersection of analytics, empathy and strategic thinking that gives her approach its power.

As Head of People at Stateside Foods: Strategic Vision in Action

In March 2023 Heather was promoted to the role of Head of People at Stateside Foods.

From this vantage point, she now oversees recruitment, talent management, culture transformation, performance systems, L&D and CSR initiatives. Her leadership is characterised by several core priorities:

Building an Inclusive, High-Performing Culture

Heather emphasises that a company’s competitive advantage lies in its people. By cultivating a culture where employees feel valued, connected and empowered, she drives engagement and retention. She has implemented policies that promote flexible work, wellbeing support and open communication.

Aligning People Strategy with Business Outcomes

Drawing on her finance background, Heather ensures HR initiatives tie back to business metrics: productivity, retention, diversity, innovation. She uses HR analytics and digital tools to manage and forecast talent trends, making the people agenda integral to corporate strategy.

Championing Talent Development & Apprenticeships

Heather has expanded apprenticeship and early-career programmes, recognising the value of investing in younger talent and building a pipeline of future leaders. This not only addresses skill shortages but embeds loyalty and organisational memory.

Embedding CSR and Sustainability into the Heart of the Organisation

Under Heather’s leadership, Stateside Foods has scaled its CSR efforts — including environmental initiatives, community volunteering and charitable partnerships. By positioning CSR as a business imperative rather than an afterthought, she has enhanced both reputation and morale.

Leveraging Technology in HR

Heather drives forward the digital transformation of HR: automated onboarding, performance tracking, data-driven decision-making. Her view is that the HR of tomorrow must combine human insight with digital enablement.

Key Achievements & Impact

Under Heather’s leadership, several tangible outcomes stand out:

• Employee engagement programmes that improved wellbeing, reduced burnout and decreased turnover.

• Diversity, equity and inclusion policies that helped reshape recruitment, training and leadership pipelines.

• CSR initiatives that bolstered the company’s position as a responsible employer and community partner.

• Streamlined people processes and HR digital infrastructure, enabling scalability and agility in talent operations.

These achievements illustrate that leadership in people and culture is not a soft complement to business—they are central to delivering performance, innovation and sustainable growth.

Leadership Style & Personal Philosophy

Heather’s leadership style is defined by several characteristics: she is optimistic, approachable, data-informed, and empathy-driven. One of her mottos: “Don’t chase success — decide to make a difference and success will find you.”

Her ability to connect with employees at all levels, combined with her strategic mindset, sets her apart. Colleagues describe her as someone who lifts others up, encourages risk-taking within safe boundaries, and builds a culture of continuous improvement. She merges the analytical rigour of her finance roots with the human-centered orientation of modern HR.

Lessons for HR Professionals & Organisational Leaders

From Heather’s journey and practice, we draw several lessons that are broadly applicable:

• Cross-functional expertise matters. Having a background in finance gave Heather credibility and strategic insight in HR.

• People strategy must align with business strategy. HR is not separate; it must advance organisational goals.

• Culture and wellbeing are business imperatives. Investing in employee experience drives performance.

• Technology is an enabler, not a replacement. Use analytics, automation and digital tools to support human decisions, not replace them.

• CSR and talent development go hand-in-hand. When organisations commit to more than profit, they attract and retain high-calibre people.

• Leadership is service. A successful Head of People leads by enabling others, not by command and control.

Conclusion

Heather Middlehurst’s career is an exemplar of how multidisciplinary expertise, strategic vision and human-centric leadership converge to drive organisational transformation. As Head of People at Stateside Foods, she has demonstrated that when companies invest in their people, culture and community, they position themselves for sustainable success. Her journey from finance professional to HR trailblazer offers valuable lessons for any organisation seeking to thrive in today’s competitive, values-driven marketplace.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Who is Heather Middlehurst?
Heather Middlehurst is the Head of People at Stateside Foods Limited, with a background in finance (FCCA) and extensive experience in HR, CSR and learning & development.

Q2: What is her role at Stateside Foods?
In her capacity as Head of People, Heather oversees talent acquisition, employee engagement, learning and development, culture transformation, HR analytics and CSR initiatives across the organisation.

Q3: What makes her leadership approach unique?
Her leadership is unique because she blends a strong analytical foundation (from finance) with a deep commitment to people-centred strategies. She drives HR decisions with data and aligns them with culture, wellbeing and business goals.

Q4: Why is CSR important in her role?
CSR is integral to her vision because she believes companies must operate responsibly to attract and retain talent, drive engagement and maintain their reputation in the community. It is not a side-project but core to business.

Q5: What advice does Heather offer for emerging HR leaders?
Her advice is to seek cross-functional experience, invest in people development, embrace data and technology, prioritise culture and wellbeing, and lead with purpose rather than simply aiming for traditional “success”.