We are pleased to present an in-depth profile of Heather Middlehurst, a distinguished senior executive recognised for her strategic impact in human resources and organisational culture at Stateside Foods Limited. Over the span of more than a decade, Heather has evolved from a finance-oriented background into a people-focused leadership role, exemplifying how modern organisations can integrate human-capital strategy, sustainability and growth.
Early Career and Foundational Expertise in Finance & Accounting
Heather’s professional journey began with solid credentials in financial management. Having attained the FCCA qualification, she worked in accounting and administrative capacities where she developed not only technical expertise in numbers but a deeper sense of organisational operations.
In 2006, she joined Stateside Foods as an Assistant Management Accountant, marking her entry into the business operations of the food manufacturing sector. Her background in finance gave Heather a unique vantage point: an ability to read organisational performance, cost structures and change-drivers — which would later inform her transition into people-centred leadership.
Transitioning to HR, Learning & Development and CSR
In a strategic career pivot, Heather moved into roles characterised by Learning & Development (L&D) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Around 2015, she officially took on responsibilities for CSR and L&D at Stateside Foods, signalling a shift from pure finance to the human side of the business.
Here, she developed employee-engagement programmes, structured learning pathways, and initiatives aimed at enhancing both performance and culture. At the same time, the CSR component involved building socially responsible practices, community outreach and embedding sustainability into organisational DNA.
Appointment as Head of People & Strategic Impact
In March 2023, Heather was promoted to the position of Head of People at Stateside Foods. In this capacity, she oversees the full spectrum of HR functions, talent strategy, performance management, organisational culture, DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) and increasingly digital-enabled HR operations.
Under her leadership:
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Employee engagement, well-being and retention have become central priorities, recognising that a motivated workforce drives business success. Diversity and inclusion initiatives are actively advanced through training, policy and culture-change efforts, yielding a more inclusive environment that supports innovation and broad representation.
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Apprenticeship and early-career programmes are expanded, aligning organisational growth ambitions with workforce development and community impact.
Building a Culture of Excellence: People-First Strategy
A key hallmark of Heather’s leadership is her emphasis on putting people at the heart of strategy. Rather than considering employees purely as cost lines, her philosophy recognises them as core assets whose development, well-being and engagement determine long-term organisational performance.
Here are some of the initiatives that illustrate this culture of excellence:
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Tailored learning journeys for employees at all levels, moving beyond generic training into role-specific development, cross-functional exposure and leadership readiness programmes.
- Open communication channels and inclusive leadership practices that encourage feedback, collaboration and shared ownership of culture.
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Integrated CSR programmes that link community engagement to employee identity and organisational reputation — thus creating purpose beyond the factory floor.
Heather’s ability to blend strategic rigour (from her finance heritage) with empathetic leadership enables a balanced approach: metrics and analytics inform decisions, but the human element ensures relevance, connection and real-world impact.
Driving Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Sustainability
Heather’s work in DEI is particularly noteworthy. Her approach includes training on unconscious bias, support for employee-resource groups and inclusive recruitment practices.
Likewise, in sustainability and CSR, Heather has embedded social responsibility into business strategy rather than treating it as an add-on. Initiatives under her stewardship include community volunteering, environmental awareness programmes and partnerships with regional organisations. Through this, the company not only strengthens its external reputation but reinforces internal culture of pride, engagement and purpose.
Leveraging Technology and Analytics in HR
She understands that the workforce of tomorrow expects seamless onboarding, mobile-friendly learning, transparent performance tracking and insights from people-data.
By introducing digital platforms, performance dashboards and analytics, the HR function at Stateside Foods is better positioned to anticipate talent needs, identify retention risk, measure learning outcomes and align workforce strategy with business objectives. This tech-enabled model marks a departure from the traditional HR admin role into a strategic business partner domain.
Mentorship, Leadership Philosophy and Personal Profile
Heather is often described as an “opportunity seeker and sharer”. Her leadership style is characterised by approachability, optimism and strategic vision. She balances the technical exactitude of her finance background with the relational dynamics necessary for people leadership.
Beyond work, Heather is known to be a dog-lover and maintains interests that ground her professional life in everyday reality.
For those aspiring to a career in HR or organisational leadership, Heather’s pathway offers several take-aways:
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Cross-functional agility: Her move from finance to HR underscores the value of combining technical knowledge with people skills.
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Continuous learning: She emphasises L&D not just for others, but for herself, evolving her expertise and role.
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Culture as competitive advantage: By emphasising people-centric strategy, Heather demonstrates that culture and engagement drive performance.
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Purpose-driven leadership: Her integration of CSR, DEI and well-being shows that modern leadership encompasses broader societal impact.
Conclusion: The Modern Blueprint for People Leadership
Leaders like Heather Middlehurst demonstrate that HR must be strategic, data-driven, inclusive and deeply connected to organisational outcomes.
As Head of People at Stateside Foods, Heather has shown how a professional with a background in finance can pivot into transformational HR leadership — building culture, driving learning, enabling talent and aligning business purpose with human purpose. Her journey reminds us that investing in people is not a discretionary expense but a strategic imperative.
FAQ
Q: What is Heather Middlehurst’s current role?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>A: Heather Middlehurst currently serves as the Head of People at Stateside Foods Limited, overseeing HR, talent, culture, L&D and CSR functions.
Q: How did her career evolve?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>A: She began in finance and accounting (FCCA qualified), served as Assistant Management Accountant at Stateside Foods, then transitioned into roles in Learning & Development and Corporate Social Responsibility, before being promoted to Head of People.
Q: What are some of her key focus areas?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>A: Heather focuses on employee engagement and well-being, diversity & inclusion, digital HR transformation, tailored learning & development programmes, apprenticeships and embedding social responsibility into organisational culture.
Q: What leadership style does she embody?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>nd=”10905″ />>>>>>>A: She balances analytical rigour from her finance background with empathy and a strong focus on culture, values and long-term impact.
Q: Why is her journey relevant for modern businesses?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ta-end=”11215″ />>>>>>>A: Because it highlights how HR and people leadership must evolve: from administrative to strategic; from siloed to integrated; from transaction-based to transformational. Her path shows that aligning business strategy with people strategy drives sustainable success.
