Over the past 24–36 months, one of the most notable shifts in the Northern Ireland business landscape has been the growing demand among scaling SMEs for senior HR leadership, specifically, People Directors and Chief People Officers.
Traditionally, when local business owners talked about growth, the conversation centred on revenue, margin, and market share. But as the region’s SME sector continues to mature, particularly among founder-led and PE-backed companies, we’re seeing a clear realisation that sustainable growth is as much about people as it is about profit.
A Strategic Shift in Thinking
CEOs and founders are increasingly recognising that scaling a business from £10m to £50m+ turnover demands more than a sharper financial strategy. It requires a deliberate focus on:
- Recruitment strategy – attracting the right calibre of talent to fuel expansion.
- Learning & Development (L&D) – creating structured pathways to grow and retain existing talent.
- Culture and core values – ensuring that the spirit which built the business continues as it scales.
This shift has made the People Director one of the most strategic hires in the Northern Ireland market today.
What a People Director Really Delivers
The modern People Director goes far beyond traditional HR operations. They play a transformative role in shaping how a business performs and evolves. The best People Leaders deliver on multiple fronts:
- Building L&D Strategies – ensuring that the workforce grows in capability and confidence as the business scales.
- Organisational Development – designing structures that align people, purpose, and performance.
- Succession Planning – identifying and developing future leaders from within, safeguarding continuity.
- Future-Proofing the Business – aligning people strategy with long-term commercial goals, making sure the business can adapt to changing market conditions.
A Catalyst for Sustainable Growth
As more Northern Ireland SMEs look to 2x–5x their business, many are realising that this kind of scaling cannot be achieved on operational grit alone. It requires leadership depth, talent retention, and a clearly defined culture that supports change.
A strong People Director acts as both a strategic advisor and cultural guardian, ensuring the organisation grows with purpose and resilience, not just speed.
And while we’ve seen some brilliant CEO & CPO partnerships blossom, hopefully they don’t get too close, we’re all still recovering from that Coldplay kiss cam moment!
Looking Ahead
At Artemis Executive Search, we’ve seen first-hand the surge in demand for People Directors and senior HR talent across the region. Businesses that once viewed HR as a support function now see it as a core strategic driver.
As Northern Ireland’s economy continues to diversify and mature, that trend is only set to continue.
Growth is no longer just financial…….it’s human.