Description
Becky Hardman – Head of Operations and People, Booths
As a Northerner I have an affinity with Booths. Do not call them the ‘Waitrose of the North’ but consider it the other way round. Think of family values as well as commercial values and in essence you have a singular retail experience.
You may recall that in October last year we enjoyed a presentation from Edwin Booth 5th Generation Chairman of the family owned business then in their 175th year. Now in year 176, I wanted to turn to their top female executive – Rebecca (Becky) Hardman, Head of Op[erations and People. But her story is a really interesting and excellent one so let’s learn more about her, the role and her aspirations.
Becky Hardman Biography
I have worked in Retail since I was 19, I love the pace, the people and enjoy the fact that no day is the same.
Retail is all I have known, after making the gut decision to leave university after 6 months. At the time, I really worried about what people would think, I’d been Head girl in my final year and attended a school where everyone went to University as the natural next step. I channelled my worry and concern into finding the work experience I craved, and commenced my career on the Management training scheme with Debenhams. From there, I sought out all the opportunity I could which included involvement in new store projects in India and Indonesia as well as completing a degree. I also took 7 months out to travel with a school friend to China (where I taught English) Australia and New Zealand (where we did nothing but enjoy ourselves) and South America (where we enjoyed ourselves again but also completed the Inca Trail.) On my return, I knew I wanted to do something more people related, I’d enjoyed the teaching, but didn’t want to be a teacher, so I moved into L&D. I completed various CIPD qualifications and then moved into HR and down to London. Debenhams had been really good to me and had provided me with a broad range of experience that meant I never regretted my decision to leave university, and had an appetite to learn. It was therefore a difficult decision to leave but I was ready for my next challenge.
I applied for an L&D role at Booths in 2013 and since that time, have worked in various roles within the HR function, where I became Head of in 2017. In 2022, I took on my current role which was the combined role of Head of Operations and People, bringing my two favourite departments together! I’m very proud to be the first female to lead the Retail team and very grateful for the opportunity the business provided with this new role. I work with an incredible team and everyday we are faced with new and varying challenges, some unique to us, and others generic to the retail industry. My role means I have the privilege of being able to spend time in our beautiful stores across Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria. As a mum to a toddler, I currently work 4 days, but more often than not, spend my day off visiting various Booths stores to shop with my daughter who, when asked what she would like to do today, genuinely replies ‘can we go to Booths?!’….I think I may have passed on the retail gene!
