- 13 Oct 2025
At M Group, we believe that ambition, dedication, and living our values open the door to incredible career opportunities, and Ellie’s journey is a perfect example.
Since joining People Services in 2021, she has progressed from HR Administrator to HR Business Partner in our Highways division — taking bold steps, embracing new challenges, and driving wellbeing initiatives that make a real difference.
Follow Ellie’s story and discover how determination, continuous learning, and the support of a great team can help our people thrive both personally and professionally.
How have you shown those around you being ambitious can help progress your career with us?
I began my journey with M Group in People Services in 2021, initially joining as an HR Administrator on a fixed-term contract. Shortly after, I transitioned into a permanent position as Senior HR Coordinator in People Services. By August 2023, I successfully applied for the HR Business Partner role, marking a new chapter in my career as I moved into the Highways division.
I’ve been in this role for just under two years. Starting my current role was a big jump in my career, and it felt like a huge step up. I was moving into a whole new environment with higher expectations and responsibilities, which was both exciting and a bit nerve-racking. I had to quickly get used to the new demands.
Honestly, the support from the People team at Highways has been amazing. They've been there with guidance and mentorship that really helped me find my footing. The onboarding process was so helpful in getting me up to speed. Plus, having regular check-ins always kept me on track with our goals. The team ‘vibe’ is great too—everyone's so supportive and willing to share their experiences.
During my time with People Services, I completed a Level 5 CIPD in People Management and have since completed Level 4 Data Fellowship so I can now better analyse and understand trends within Highways.
What keeps you motivated in your role?
A lot of my work involves "working in the grey" or staying "behind the scenes," which means that while the tasks may not always be visible, they are crucial to the overall success of the team. Knowing that my efforts contribute to the bigger picture is incredibly rewarding.
What really keeps me going in my role is knowing that I'm in a position where I can make a real difference in people's lives - I enjoy breaking down those barriers with the work I do.
One of the things I'm really proud of is creating the Highways Wellbeing Hub. It's packed with resources for self-help, guidance for line managers, and signposting as well as a whole host of calendar resources to help with engagement. We're always keeping it fresh, and we've just launched our mental health first aid forum. I took full ownership of the learnings and was committed to planning and executing the hub effectively - it was important to me that every step was handled with appropriate care.
Last year, I was nominated and received a Highly Commended for Health & Wellbeing Champion Award at the Beyond Expectations Awards in 2024.Getting recognised for this work was such a great achievement and I can’t wait for what the future holds.
Which of our four values (Responsibility, Open, Together, Ambitious) do you most closely relate to?
Among the four ‘new’ values, I most closely relate to responsibility – I am committed to progressing our safety and wellbeing initiatives. I consistently hold myself accountable for my decisions – whether it's making strategic decisions or supporting colleagues. I strive to embody the value of Responsibility in every aspect of my work.
I’m also part of our social value focus group on the Central Bedfordshire Highways contract, currently liaising with local councils to create volunteering opportunities. My next goal is to create a Neurodiversity and Disability Network so that our people have a safe space to be ‘open’ and ‘together’ to find support from like-minded people.
Outside of work, what are you most passionate about?
My family is the most important thing to me, I have a big family so spend most of my spare time with them. I am a big homebody and am living with my fiancée of nine years while we renovate our first home together.
If you spoke to my family and friends, they would say I am the life and soul of the party, always the first one up dancing at any family party and a bit of the family joker!
Thank you, Ellie, for sharing your experiences with us and for the fantastic work you’ve done promoting wellbeing initiatives within Highways. Welcome to our M Group Hall of Fame!
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