'I’ve been fortunate to grow alongside the business,' Pallet-Track's new HR director says of her promotion

Fast-growing Wolverhampton pallet network Pallet-Track has promoted Sarah Hayes to the newly created role of HR director, recognising her development over more than 15 years with the business.

Sarah, whose first position in 2009 was as a part-time HR assistant, takes up the role at Pallet-Track’s new headquarters at Waterway Business Park in Spring Road, Ettingshall.

It marks a remarkable growth trajectory for Sarah, who joined the business just five years after its foundation in 2004, when it didn’t have a formal HR department.

Fast-forward to today and she now has a role at the top table, reporting directly to group CEO Stuart Godman.

The firm said the role reflects the increasing importance of “colleague centricity” within the business, with Sarah now the crucial point of contact for the people-related strategy.

She said: “When Stuart joined the business, he empowered both me and other leaders, reinforcing the belief that people are our greatest asset.

“We demonstrate this clearly through tangible actions, including the introduction of enhanced colleague benefits.

“I’ve been fortunate to grow alongside the business, developing into my role in a way that suited my personal circumstances. I worked part-time for many years before transitioning to a full-time position as my family commitments changed, allowing me to dedicate more time and focus to the company.

“Over the past 12 months, Pallet-Track has experienced fantastic growth. I was integrally involved with our Hub and HQ relocation and looking back now, nobody could have predicted three years ago that we would be moving into a beautiful new site and significantly increasing headcount.”

Sarah said a big part of her role is working with the Pallet-Track leadership team to nurture the future leaders of the business, developing the talent within.

She has benefited from this herself, becoming CIPD accredited in 2019 – a qualification funded by Pallet-Track.

“We’ve placed a strong emphasis on learning and development, ensuring that we invest in our people and build capability across the organisation”, she added.

“We know the more we invest in our people, the more they give back to the business.

“My progression has shown others that career development is achievable here. Colleagues often approach me to discuss their ambitions and progression, which is something I’m passionate about supporting.”

Sarah’s favourite part of the job is how diverse it is, from board meetings to ‘brew with the crew’ catchups on the warehouse floor.

She added: “The most exciting part of the job is you get to do lots of different things at diverse levels – from sitting in important meetings to putting on a hard hat and hi-vis and heading out to the warehouse.

“I think it’s so important to engage with people at various levels across the group. Along with governance it's about being there for our colleagues, so they are comfortable and feel valued.”

This chimes with the company’s drive to place a greater emphasis on inclusion and diversity – with Sarah’s appointment meaning it has hit a key ESG strategy target to appoint a female board member by 2028.

Stuart Godman, CEO of Pallet-Track, said: “Sarah joined the Pallet-Track team 16 years ago and since then has built her career through her dedication to the network and commitment to the team.

“She’s been doing a wonderful job in leading our HR, helping our team grow and develop, and we’re excited to see her build on this in her new role. Her career matches the growth of the business, and she has played a key role in our move to our fantastic new headquarters on Waterway Business Park. “

The Pallet-Track network is made up of more than 90 independent logistics companies, who work collectively to collect and deliver palletised freight throughout the UK.