Sarah Hayes is an award-winning HR leader and Fellow of the CIPD with over 25 years of experience. She has held senior roles across multiple sectors, including protective services, retail, financial services, and rail.

For the past decade, Sarah has been an integral part of Securitas UK, serving as HR Director for the last five years. Under her leadership, the Securitas Employee Experience has become industry-leading, with record-high engagement and retention. She has championed initiatives that make learning and development accessible to all, provide leadership development for all people managers, and embed a comprehensive well-being strategy—supporting employees’ financial, physical, and emotional health. She also spearheaded the company’s first Diversity & Inclusion strategy, introducing employee networks and a pioneering development program for underrepresented talent. These efforts have led to Securitas UK being shortlisted for multiple industry awards.

Beyond her corporate role, Sarah is the Co-Founder of Running on Empty, demonstrating her deep commitment to employee well-being and resilience.
A passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, belonging, learning, and well-being, Sarah combines strategic HR expertise with a people-first approach, ensuring that workplaces empower every individual to thrive.