Spotlight on…Katie Cassidy, People Advisor at Great Places Housing

In the latest instalment of our FuturExec: The Academy - Spotlight on... series, we feature Katie Cassidy, People Advisor at Great Places Housing. Katie recently joined the Manchester cohort of our FuturExec: The Academy programme. In this interview, Amy Mottershead speaks with Katie about what inspired her to pursue a career in HR, the essential skills needed to succeed in the field, and how she hopes the Academy will support her in achieving her future ambitions.

What inspired you to work within HR in particular?

Fifteen years ago, I completed an internship with an international hotel chain, Marriott, in the United States as part of my university degree. This experience was both transformative and inspiring, offering me numerous opportunities in a relatively short period. While the internship wasn’t directly focused on HR, many aspects of the experience, such as the induction process, the supportive working culture, and the abundant development opportunities, left a lasting impression on me. These elements highlighted the critical role HR plays in shaping a positive workplace environment.

Reflecting on that 12-month internship, I realised HR was the field I wanted to pursue. This realisation motivated me to return to the UK, complete my degree, and earn my CIPD Level 3 qualification. My goal was clear: to replicate the inspiring cultural environment and growth opportunities I experienced, creating workplaces where colleagues feel supported, valued, and genuinely enjoy coming to work.

Tell me about your career to date and how you got into the HR function.

After completing my internship, I returned home, finished my degree, and continued working in the hospitality sector in several different functions. These types of roles were very customer-focused and involved working with people all day every day. I loved the people aspect of it, however, I realised that my long-term career aspirations lay behind the scenes, working directly with colleagues rather than customers.

After my time in hospitality, I transitioned to an energy company as a Customer Service Advisor whilst also pursuing my CIPD Level 3 qualification. As the company grew, so did its recruitment and HR teams, presenting new opportunities. I proactively approached the Recruitment Business Partner to express my interest in HR and recruitment and offered to support the team in any capacity that would help with my development. Shortly thereafter, when a Recruitment Assistant position became available, the Business Partner encouraged me to apply. I was successful and began my formal HR journey.

I later joined a mental health organisation as an MDT HR Administrator. Unfortunately, I was made redundant, but this led me to an opportunity with Great Places, where I worked as an HR Administrator. From there, I advanced to my current role as an HR Advisor.

What are some of the core skills you feel HR professionals need in order to really help organisations progress?

To be an effective HR professional, I feel you need a combination of soft and hard skills. While it is important to protect the organisation from harm, you are also there to create and foster a culture in which colleagues can thrive, enabling them to perform at their best.

Becoming a well-rounded HR professional requires a balance of strong communication and leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, and a thorough understanding of HR practices and employment law. Striking this balance also means having the ability to view situations from multiple perspectives. By engaging with colleagues and earning their trust and buy-in from the outset, HR can create an environment where employees feel valued and prioritised. After all, without placing colleagues at the heart of the organisation’s focus, achieving meaningful progress becomes challenging.

How do you feel being a participant in Macmillan Davies’ FuturExec: The Academy has helped your career over the last 12 months?

As a working mum returning from my second maternity leave, the Academy has given me the confidence I needed to re-enter the working world and connect with like-minded professionals. It has provided me with valuable direction and clarity about the path I want my career to take. Having participated for just the past four months, I’m already excited to see how the Academy can continue to support my growth and development moving forward.

What are your career ambitions?

Right now, I am where I want to be in my career. Having a young family and a very supportive employer, I feel I am learning and developing as much as possible. Eventually, with the continued support of my team, I would liketo  branch out in HR and delve into areas of HR such as coaching, mentoring, or mediation. I would also like to focus on the well-being side of HR and learn how best to support colleagues with the challenges we face today.

What is the best piece of career advice you have received?

Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back. As someone who often doubts themselves, I find this advice especially powerful during moments when I feel like I’m failing.

My previous manager also shared another piece of wisdom that has stayed with me: ‘Put yourself in their shoes.’ This simple yet profound perspective has helped me navigate challenging cases at work, allowing me to approach situations with empathy and see things from others’ points of view.

Find out more

To find out more about our programme, please click here.

If you would like to nominate anyone from your HR team to join The Academy or find out how you can support the programme by speaking at future events, please get in touch using the details below:
Amy Mottershead
07946 173359
amottershead@mdhr.co.uk