Turning ‘Saturday Jobs’ into lifelong careers: A conversation with Linda Sleath
We sit down for a candid chat with Linda Sleath, Chief People Officer at Bensons for Beds, who transformed her career from operations and production management into a passionate HR leader.
In this conversation, Linda reveals how she’s turning the ‘Saturday job’ stereotype on its head at Bensons for Beds, where every colleague is celebrated, every milestone matters, and retail is truly a career. Enjoy her genuine insights on everything from innovative induction programmes to the unique initiatives that make her team, and the company, so special.
Can you share a bit about your background and role at Bensons for Beds?
I started in operations at 3M Pharmaceuticals straight after uni – and as a true winter girl who loves the cold, I even enjoyed a blissful winter in St Paul, Minnesota! As a production manager, I found my passion for people when a mentor said, “you’d be brilliant in HR.” I really cut my teeth at United Biscuits, built on experience at Walgreen Boots and Brakes Group, and then served as Group HR Director at Topps Tiles. A serendipitous call – partly thanks to a memorable trip to Alaska – led me to join Bensons for Beds as Chief People Officer in January 2024. Now, I’m dedicated to putting people at the heart of everything we do.
There’s a common belief that retail is just a “Saturday job” and not a serious long-term career. What’s your perspective?
That’s true, in a way – many people do stumble into retail only to later discover the incredible growth opportunities available. Just look at Simon Roberts – he started on the M&S shop floor with no formal qualifications and went on to become a major leader at Sainsbury’s. It really shows that, with the right environment, retail is a bona fide career.
The turnaround at Bensons has been described as “people-powered.” What does that mean?
For me, it means that every part of our business is driven by our people’s passion and commitment. Even during tough times and significant change, I’ve been incredibly inspired by our colleagues’ resilience and loyalty. We invest in them right from the candidate experience through induction, ongoing development and by genuinely listening to their feedback. It’s all about creating an environment where every contribution counts.
Let’s get into Bensons – how are you attracting young talent?
Never Miss a Retail Update!Well, we’re all about unlocking the power of our people from day one! We’ve launched Our ‘Great Start’ induction programme so we can make sure new colleagues immediately feel like part of the family. Last year we launched our innovative new service and sales programme, Retail Experience Model, a play on REM and we are also focusing on investing in apprenticeships, especially in bed manufacturing. This shows young talent that retail isn’t just a job; it’s a real career with plenty of opportunities to grow.
How are you ensuring your people strategy remains future-proof?
Our Executive team is really focused on ensuring we listening to our colleagues with listening sessions and surveys (like our recent Great Place to Work survey) to make sure every voice is heard. I love being out meeting our colleagues whether in our stores, Huntingdon, our Distribution Centres – that’s where the real personalities shine, and my small but fantastic People team is right there with me.
We’re also very proactive about continuous learning and development; for example, our REM-inspired training is evolving to include sleep expertise, which is vital when advising customers on quality sleep. We’re extending tailored training to our logistics teams too, with special focus on our drivers, who are key to delivering a cracking customer experience. We create clear career pathways whether someone starts on the shop floor, in manufacturing, or in warehousing – and on the manufacturing side. Fun fact: we make our own beds here in the UK. Finally, our ‘moments that matter’ celebrations ensure every milestone is marked in a very personal way.
Moments that matter? What’s that about?
“Moments that matter” is our way of celebrating the key milestones in a colleague’s journey at Bensons for Beds. Whether it’s the day someone joins our family, a promotion, or a long service anniversary, we make sure to mark that moment in a personal and meaningful way. For instance, rather than just sending a voucher, we sign personalised cards and organise small celebrations. It’s all about treating people as you’d like to be treated and ensuring everyone feels genuinely valued. And we already have one colleague who is about to celebrate 50 years with us!
The latest campaigns focus on promoting a good night’s sleep and even involve sleep experts. How does this well-being focus translate internally?
Our campaigns aren’t just for our customers; they reflect our commitment to our team’s well-being too. The principles behind our REM-based training help colleagues understand how quality sleep boosts learning and performance. Internally, this focus is supported by our Wellbeing Champions and our broader culture of belonging. I know it might sound a bit cheesy, but when employees feel genuinely cared for, they’re able to bring their whole selves to work. This enhances both work-life balance and overall wellness.
Reflecting on the last year, what’s been the most rewarding part of your role?
Initiatives like our REM programme and ‘moments that matter’ celebrations have really made every contribution count. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these efforts translate into a genuine sense of belonging and loyalty among our colleagues. Even during challenging times, watching our people invest their passion in the business reaffirms our commitment to treating people as you’d like to be treated. I love the idea that if I ever leave, I could just pop back in – maybe to buy a bed – and be greeted with that warm, familiar welcome.
