This activity has highlighted the need to continue and grow our focus on our people, and to look ahead in terms of the changing nature of the workplace and our response to it. 

To achieve this, work has started on the development of the Loughborough University People & Culture Strategy, and the establishment of a People & Culture Board has been approved.    

To date, in her capacity as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and the University Lead for People & Culture, Ffyona Baker has been instrumental in overseeing the development of this work. To reflect Ffyona’s leadership responsibilities more formally for People & Culture, we will be adding the title of Chief People Officer to Ffyona’s role, to ensure parity with the sector and to provide clarity of leadership for this activity.  

The Human Resources, Organisational Development & Change, Health, Safety & Wellbeing, and Technician Commitment services already report through to Ffyona and will continue to progress this important work. Ffyona will also retain line management for the University Library, Legal Services and dotted line management for the nine Heads of Operations.  

Ffyona will continue to be the Deputy Chief Operating Officer but will increase her focus on some of the more formal responsibilities associated with a Chief People Officer role, including working closely with the Vice-Chancellor to shape and drive forward our People & Culture Strategy. Ffyona previously went through an external recruitment process to become the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and provision was made within that role for the strategic leadership of our People & Culture activity.