As part of HR Day on 20th May, we’re recognising the important role People & Talent professionals play in supporting businesses, employees, and workplace culture.
We spoke to Carol Taylor, Senior People Partner at BJF Group, about her journey into HR, how the profession has evolved over the years, and the changes she has seen during her time with the business.
A career in HR wasn’t originally part of Carol’s plan. While managing company payroll and preparing management accounts, she worked closely alongside a HR Manager who encouraged her to move into the profession and study for her CIPD qualification, which she achieved in 2007. Since then, she has built extensive experience within the industry and has seen the profession evolve significantly over the years.
Reflecting on those changes, Carol explained that HR has developed from being viewed primarily as an administrative function to becoming a recognised strategic partner within businesses. Today, People & Talent teams play a much wider role in supporting organisational growth, employee wellbeing, workplace culture, and helping businesses navigate change and development.
Joining BJF Group in 2016 during a period of rapid expansion, Carol became part of a growing HR team focused on ensuring the business remained compliant while continuing to support operational growth. Over the past decade, both the business and the wider HR landscape have continued to evolve, with changing legislation, employee expectations, and market pressures all shaping the role of People & Talent professionals.
Technology has also transformed many aspects of the profession. From recruitment and onboarding through to employee lifecycle management and reporting, systems and digital tools now provide greater efficiencies and more accurate real-time data to support business decision-making. Carol highlighted the positive progress made internally within BJF’s People & Talent function, particularly through the introduction of new systems, policies, and employee benefits that support both the business and its people.
“Our HR Director, Julia Rutledge, has driven the introduction of our new system, CezanneHR, along with policies and benefits that not only support the business, but also support our people in managing their health, wellbeing, and overall experience.”
She also reflected on the continued development of the People & Talent function within BJF and the growing recognition of the support the team provides in helping both employees and the wider business succeed.
Looking ahead, Carol believes AI will continue to influence the profession, particularly in supporting administration and research tasks. However, she emphasised that the human element of People & Talent will always remain essential.
“AI will be a helpful tool in regards to administration and research, but it is no replacement for the empathy and understanding that people provide and people need.”
For Carol, successful People & Talent professionals require strong listening and communication skills, resilience, and a commitment to ensuring fairness and respect for both internal and external stakeholders.
Thank you, Carol, for your dedication, support, and contribution to both our people and the wider business over the past 10 years.