Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom, February 2026 — NCFE has appointed Katie Newton as Head of People Operations, marking a significant internal elevation within the organisation’s People Leadership team.
Katie steps into the role following her tenure as Senior People Engagement Manager at NCFE, where she led the People Engagement teams spanning Talent Acquisition, People Engagement & Reward, and the Flexible Workforce. In that capacity, she worked closely with leadership to deliver engagement initiatives aligned to NCFE’s strategic objectives, ensuring compliance and supporting the delivery of the People function’s business plan.
Prior to this, Katie served as Senior Product Manager – People Services, contributing to the development and optimisation of internal people systems and services. She also held roles as Talent Acquisition Partner and Talent Resourcer, playing a pivotal role in strengthening hiring strategies and workforce capability across the organisation.
Before joining NCFE, Katie built strong recruitment and people advisory expertise at Westray Recruitment Consultants, where she managed the Commercial Division and delivered consultative, relationship-led recruitment services across professional and support functions. Her earlier experience includes roles with Emmanuel College, Gateshead, Mammoet, Post Office Ltd, and Nigel Wright Consultancy, establishing a broad foundation in HR operations, talent sourcing, and organisational support.
In her new position as Head of People Operations, Katie will lead the operational delivery of NCFE’s people strategy, focusing on engagement, talent capability, reward, workforce planning, and ensuring operational excellence across the People function as the organisation continues its mission to shape smarter learning and empower a fairer society.
About NCFE
NCFE is an educational charity committed to shaping smarter learning and empowering a fairer society. The organisation works to ensure no learner is left behind, helping individuals realise their potential and supporting the development of sustainable communities across the UK.
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