November 2014
Story Homes has recruited two HR professionals to create its own dedicated HR function to assist with the ambitious growth and development plans of the business and workforce.
It is the first time that Story Homes has had a dedicated HR team following the legal separation of Story Homes from its sister company Story Contracting, with whom HR was previously shared.
Francesca Stott has joined as Head of HR, bringing with her considerable experience gained from previous employers including Nestle, npower and Vodafone.
Francesca Stott and Helen McGuinness
HR Advisor Helen McGuinness joins from Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and has sector-specific experience of the construction industry, having previously worked for major contracting firm Hertel in Sellafield.
Francesca said: “I am delighted to join Story Homes. It’s so rare to get the opportunity to set up a department from scratch within such a successful and admired business. Story Homes has an ambitious business plan which will see us continuing to make significant investments in our people who are genuinely at the heart of everything we do.”
The key areas of focus for the HR team to support the business’s ambitious growth plans will be recruiting new colleagues, the development and progression of existing colleagues and the launch of an Apprentice and Graduate programme during the autumn of 2015.
Story Homes currently employs the equivalent of 110 full time staff within a range of areas including, Land, Technical, Commercial, Production, Sales and Central Support with a further 50 directly employed staff on sites across Cumbria, South Scotland, the North East and Lancashire. These numbers are expected to double over the next three years.
Francesca said: “Focussing on how we develop and progress our existing colleagues is a significant priority for us over the next three years along with attracting new talent to Story Homes. The current national and local skills shortage within the house building and construction sector presents us with a really great opportunity to develop a clear people strategy aligned to our business plans paying particular attention to our growth in Cumbria, the North East and the North West.
“At Story Homes our focus genuinely is on quality people, quality product, and it’s fantastic to be able to contribute to the growth of such a well respected, successful organisation.”
To see current vacancies at Story Homes click here.
