Our ‘Powered by People’ series launches with our Group HR Director, Leigh Freeman. We sat down with Leigh to discuss the experiences that have shaped her people-centered approach and that have developed her instinctive understanding that every individual has different needs, motivations and strengths. And how she’s bringing that approach to her role here at Cochran to develop our people and culture.
Can you start by sharing your experience and what your role at Cochran involves?
I have more than 30 years’ experience in HR. My most recent position, which I held for 13 years, was as Senior HR consultant at Make UK where I partnered predominantly with manufacturing organisations – a sector I’m deeply passionate about. Alongside consultancy, I have held senior in-house roles including Head of People and HR Manager within manufacturing and construction environments. Earlier in my career, I worked with organisations such as npower, TNT Express, Post Office Counters Ltd and Jennings Brewery.
However, my career didn’t start in HR. Interestingly, I originally trained as a Nursery Nurse and spent several years working as a nanny in Leeds, where I travelled with a family and cared for their four children. It was a fantastic experience and I attribute a lot of what I learnt from my time in this role to the people-centred approach I have now, as well as my ability to understand that every individual has different needs, motivations and strengths. It is something that continues to inform my leadership style today.
I’m lucky to have had exposure to an incredibly broad range of businesses from my time as a consultant, supporting clients across the full spectrum of HR activity, and I bring that experience to my role at Cochran. From delivering targeted leadership training to guiding businesses through complex organisational change, including strategic company re-organisation projects. That breadth of experience has strengthened my ability to balance commercial objectives with sound people practices and robust legal compliance.
I also hold an MA in Human Resource Management and a BA (Hons) in Social Sciences. I am a Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), hold the NEBOSH General Certificate, and I am a qualified Workplace Mediator. These qualifications underpin my commitment to combining strategic people leadership with strong governance, safety awareness and effective conflict resolution.
Day-to-day at Cochran, I am responsible for the full employee lifecycle and work to ensure the company’s people practices are both commercially and strategically aligned and legally compliant.
Therefore, I work closely with the Board, Directors, Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team to shape workforce planning, leadership capability, organisational development and cultural initiatives that support sustainable growth. At the same time, in a lean HR team, I remain connected to the day-to-day operational aspects of HR. That balance allows me to stay close to the realities of the workforce while maintaining a strategic lens.
Ultimately, my role is about creating an environment where people can perform at their best, feel valued, and contribute to the long-term success of the business.
Prior to joining Cochran, you had worked with the company as a consultant, so what was it that attracted you to the position at Cochran?
Having worked with Cochran as a consultant for over two years, I already had a clear insight into the business, its culture, and its ambitions. I was therefore fully aware that it was a strong employer with significant potential.
The company was preparing for a period of growth, and I had supported the leadership team in recognising that a strong, strategic HR function would be critical to delivering that successfully.
When the opportunity arose to step into the role myself, it wasn’t something I had initially planned for, but the more I reflected the more I felt invested in the organisation’s journey.
I chose to move from consultancy back into an in-house leadership role because I believed in the vision for the company and the genuine commitment to doing the right thing for its people. I wanted to play a direct role in shaping that next phase of growth and ensuring the people strategy was aligned to the business strategy.
Since joining Cochran, I’ve really valued the opportunity to immerse myself fully in the business and build relationships across different functions. There is a clear sense of pride in the company’s engineering heritage and in the quality of its customer relationships.
What excites me most is the opportunity to build on those strong foundations – strengthening leadership capability, supporting organisational growth and ensuring the people strategy enables the business to achieve its ambitions while remaining a great place to work.
What are you looking to deliver within your role in the near future?
My ambition is to help create an organisation where people feel genuinely valued, supported, and proud to belong. Be an employer of choice not just for what we do, but for how we treat our people.
A key focus will be introducing a clear and meaningful set of company values that reflect who we are at our best. These values will help shape a more people-centred culture – one where respect, inclusion and collaboration are part of everyday experiences and where our people are at the heart of every decision we make.
Listening will play a vital role in this journey. I care deeply about creating space for the employee voice – making sure colleagues feel heard, understood and able to influence the future of our organisation. By encouraging open, honest conversations and truly acting on feedback, we can build a culture of trust where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.
I am also passionate about nurturing talent and supporting people to grow. We will be introducing a leadership development programme designed to support career journeys and empower our future leaders. Over time, my goal is to build on this and create development opportunities for all employees, ensuring everyone has access to learning, growth and the chance to reach their full potential.
Ultimately, I want to help shape an environment where people feel inspired, included and able to be themselves at work. Because, when our people feel their best they do their best and that’s what will truly set us apart as an employer of choice.
What is the culture at Cochran and how is this embedded in the company?
Our culture is often described as a family feel - and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. There’s a genuine sense that people look out for one another, support each other and celebrate success together. We are united by a shared motivation to do the right thing for our people, creating an environment where individuals feel valued and part of something meaningful.
It’s also a culture built on innovation and action. We encourage our people to bring ideas forward, take ownership and make a difference. Accountability and collaboration go hand in hand here. People are trusted to step up, work together and contribute to the wider success of the business.
Importantly, we recognise that like any organisation, we are not perfect. What defines us is our commitment to continually improving. We are open to learning from each other and from the moments that don’t go as planned and we use those experiences to grow stronger as a team.
We embed this culture through how we lead, how we communicate and how we support our people every day. It’s reflected in the opportunities we create, the way we listen to our colleagues and the environment we foster – one where everyone is encouraged to contribute, develop and thrive.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I love being with my family.
I have three older children and two very energetic cocker spaniels, so life outside of work is always busy and full of activity. So, a lot of my time spent outdoors; walking the dogs, running and generally keeping active.
I’m passionate about fitness and enjoy CrossFit and HYROX-style training, alongside running, as it helps me stay focused and energised.
At the weekend, my husband and I enjoy getting away when we can. Usually somewhere we can explore on foot with the dogs. It’s a great way to switch off, recharge and spend quality time together.
Thank you to Leigh for sharing her experience and ambitions. Keep up to date with our news, views and vacancies connect with us on LinkedIn.