James Hall & Co. Ltd won one accolade and was a finalist in another category at the inaugural HR Director of the Year Awards 2026.
HR Director Lee Smith was there on the night to collect the Lancashire regional award for the company which recognised her leadership, the company’s people strategy, and its depth of HR talent.
The awards saw Adaptable Recruitment, Brabners, and Rathbones collaborate to host the event at Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa on the Wirral. It brought together outstanding HR leaders from business and organisations large and small across the North West of England.
As well as winning the Lancashire regional award, James Hall & Co. Ltd was a runner-up in the £500m-£1bn business turnover category to Liverpool Football Club capping off a successful evening celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact across the people profession.
Operating as Spar UK’s primary retailer, wholesaler, and distributor for the North of England, James Hall & Co. Ltd is fifth-generation family-owned business and one of Lancashire’s largest private employers.
The company is also a manufacturer, with its family of brands including Cheeky Coffee, Clayton Park Bakery, Fazila Foods, Ann Forshaw’s Alston Dairy, Graham Eyes High Quality Butchers, and the Great Northern Sandwich Company.
Its HR function is multi-site, split between its main Spar Distribution Centre head office at Bowland View in Preston, and a satellite at its Blyth office in Northumberland to support a significant retail operation in the North East of England.
Lee Smith said: “I am so proud of the award, and this would not be achievable without the dedication of the entire HR team. It is humbling to be recognised for the positive impact the company’s strategy has had on the communities in which it operates – providing jobs, prosperity and wider opportunities and supporting growth in those areas.
“We have achieved this through our four-pillar strategy which is embedded across more than 4,000 colleagues within the group of companies, with a simple vision to be here as a family-owned business in another 50 years’ time.
“Three values – passion, enterprise, and family – sit above the pillars and at the heart of the company’s people strategy, and we are committed to attracting and developing talented people while delivering a great experience and reward and recognition process for colleagues within the business.”
Gráinne Massey, Director at Adaptable Recruitment, was on the judging panel for the awards. She said: “Congratulations to Lee and to the HR team at James Hall & Co. Ltd for a richly deserved award. The company’s approach is so effective because it is simple and relatable – especially in such a fast paced, challenging industry.
“The energy, passion, and genuine care Lee showed for the people, the Board and the future of James Hall as a business was impressive during the rigorous interview process.
“She spoke with such clarity, empathy and eloquence about the make-up of the company’s people and their development. Lee is a winner on so many fronts and is a shining example for Lancashire.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned Spar stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
