Horizon’s Learning and Development Manager: A Champion of Culture and Growth
Sophie Muirhead from the People and Culture department has been honoured with the Cultural Ambassador Award at Horizon Leisure’s first-ever staff awards. Having worked with Horizon Leisure for two years, Sophie, 39, has made a significant impact on Horizon Leisure’s workplace culture.
“I’m thrilled to be recognised and proud of the People and Culture team’s efforts in making Horizon Leisure a fantastic workplace,” Sophie shares. “This award reflects not just my contribution but our collective dedication to inspiring others, staying positive and developing an exceptional work environment.”
Horizon Leisure employs more than 220 people across its sites, with 75% of employees living locally. The organisation strives to be the employer of choice by prioritising career development, wellbeing and workplace culture.
Sophie explains: “I’m passionate about cultivating a culture where our people are inspired to grow and improve every day. To achieve this, we create diverse career pathways that encourage both lateral moves and upward progression, while focusing on upskilling, qualifications and providing a seamless onboarding experience for new starters.”
Horizon Leisure’s commitment to development was further recognised at the nationalLearning at Work Week Awards 2024, where it received a Highly Commended Award for promoting lifelong learning. “This award celebrates our learning and development initiatives during Learning at Work Weeks in 2023 and 2024,” Sophie notes. “It’s a testament to our dedication to fostering continuous growth across the team.”
Sophie is also particularly proud of Horizon’s refreshed PRIDE company values Passion, Respectful, Innovation, Dynamic and Empowering. “A great culture is built by celebrating the contributions of every individual,” she says.
As a wellbeing provider, Horizon Leisure emphasises employee health and happiness, integrating proactive wellbeing initiatives into daily operations. Sophie says: “Our wellbeing benefits include additional leave for birthdays and service milestones, a healthcare cash plan for routine health expenses, a 24-hour online GP service, hybrid working options, and free Horizon Leisure membership. We also offer an employee assistance programme with round-the-clock support for financial, mental health, family and legal concerns.”
Sophie concludes: “The hard work and talent of the entire Horizon team across all departments is essential to delivering exceptional service to our customers and the community. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees on the night let’s continue to uplift each other and create an inspiring workplace together!”
