Five minutes with: Kerry Smith, Director of People & Organisational Development at the British Heart Foundation

Kerry Smith, Director of People & Organisational Development at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), reveals how HR keeps the heart of the business running.    

What sets HR apart at the BHF? 

We are new. We have established ourselves with the skills and capabilities to provide outstanding people support to the BHF. As the organisation grows its research programme, we strategically align ourselves to support its delivery; whether through strong people operations and shared services, recruitment practices aligned to our values, talent development for leaders of the future or targeted organisational development and internal communications that demonstrate how each and every one of us can support our medical research programme.                                                          

All this with a strong connection to the cause! People don’t just come to the BHF for a job; they come with an emotional connection and a desire to be a part of something bigger. Many of my team have a family member, friend, or partner with a heart condition and they have a story to tell about the impact their working at the BHF is having for them or their family and friends.