Brentford, England, United Kingdom, June 2025 – Sarah Atkinson has started a new role as Head of People at Brentford Football Club, a Premier League team celebrated for its unique, community-first culture and progressive values. In her new position, Sarah will lead the Club’s people strategy, fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and development-focused environment to support both on- and off-pitch success.
Before joining Brentford FC, Sarah spent nearly six years at Chelsea Football Club, most recently as Head of HR. In this high-profile role, she oversaw the HR function for one of football’s most recognized brands, guiding strategic initiatives, talent management, and organizational development. She previously held the roles of Senior HR Business Partner and HR Business Partner at Chelsea, driving employee engagement, leadership coaching, and HR operations for staff across various club locations.
Prior to her time at Chelsea, Sarah was an HR Business Partner at Wyevale Garden Centres, the UK’s largest garden centre retailer. There, she played a critical role in managing large-scale change and restructuring projects, including the sale of 145 centres, leading TUPE consultations, redundancy processes, policy development, and employee engagement initiatives during significant transformation.
Earlier in her career, Sarah gained valuable experience as an HR Advisor at Wyevale Garden Centres, handling high-volume employee relations casework, supporting recruitment, and coaching managers on employment policies and best practices. She also worked as an HR Assistant at Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), supporting employee relations, benefits administration, recruitment, and HRIS management in a complex, multi-location environment.
Sarah’s HR career began in operations and administration roles at Odeon & UCI Cinemas, where she progressed from Team Member to Operations Manager/HR Administrator, and included an early stint as a Freelance Runner at Sky.
About Brentford Football Club:
Brentford Football Club stands apart as a progressive, community-driven organization in the Premier League. With a strong focus on development, inclusion, and calculated risk-taking, Brentford FC prioritizes its fans and fosters a distinctive environment built on humility, teamwork, and respect. Based in the Gtech Community Stadium in vibrant west London, Brentford’s commitment to diversity and innovation continues to shape its future as a leading club in English football.
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