Simon Drinkwater

Simon Drinkwater is a seasoned, values-driven HR leader with over two decades of hands-on, strategic, and operational experience across diverse sectors including technology, healthcare, education, financial services, and professional services. A Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIPD), Simon combines academic grounding in Business Administration and Human Resource Management with professional accreditations in NLP Coaching, emotional intelligence assessments, and psychometric profiling tools (OPQ32, SHL).

His career has seen him successfully shape and execute HR strategies in both high-growth and transformational environments. He has a proven track record of delivering impactful initiatives such as cultural change programs, talent development frameworks, performance management systems, and digital HR innovations. Notable achievements include significant cost savings through direct recruitment models, the implementation of agile learning and development platforms, and leading strategic restructures.

Simon’s core strengths lie in influencing and coaching senior stakeholders, leading organisational change, and building high-performance cultures. His style is both commercially astute and deeply people-focused—bringing calm, perspective, and a touch of humour to often complex and challenging scenarios.
For a mentoring relationship, Simon offers deep HR and leadership expertise, a pragmatic mindset, and a supportive, yet honest, approach. His personal values—trustworthiness, resilience, and continuous growth—are evident in how he supports others, fostering environments where learning and performance thrive. His experience across multiple industries and business stages makes him an adaptable, empathetic guide with insights that are both strategic and real-world.