Mark Butterick MA, CFCIPD, CMgr FCMI, FHEA, FRSA, CMBE

Profile

Mark Butterick brings over two decades of distinguished leadership experience spanning operational management, senior human resources strategy, and academic excellence. His career reflects a consistent trajectory of influence, innovation, and high-impact delivery across complex commercial and academic environments in the UK and internationally.

Strategic Business Leadership

Throughout his executive career, Mark has held pivotal roles including HR Director, Head of HR, and Senior HR Business Partner for major organisations such as Royal Mail Group, Communisis, Veolia, and Xchanging. His leadership in human capital strategy has influenced workforces numbering in the thousands and budgets exceeding £14 million. Notably, at Royal Mail Group, he successfully led all strategic HR operations for the organisation’s largest-ever IT outsourcing programme—a project of national significance.

Mark’s consultancy engagements have encompassed transformational change, employment law, organisational development, and performance management. As Founder and Project Director of Reach Higher Human Resources™, he has built a consultancy business with a proven record of success across private sector clients, non-profit organisations, and pro bono partnerships. His work has consistently delivered measurable commercial outcomes while upholding the highest standards of governance and compliance.

He has received multiple accolades for leadership and performance excellence, including the Interserve Divisional People Development Award (2011) and a Certificate of Individual Achievement (2006) presented by Henri Proglio, then Chairman and CEO of Veolia, at The Law Society.

Academic Leadership and Pedagogical Innovation

Since 2015, Mark has cultivated a complementary academic career, marked by innovation in curriculum design, student development, and cross-sector knowledge transfer. He has served as Course Leader and Lecturer at several leading UK institutions including Bradford University School of Management, Loughborough University, and Leeds University Business School (LUBS).

At Loughborough, he designed and launched a fully CIPD-accredited MSc Employment Law course, growing its postgraduate cohort threefold in three years. At Leeds, he teaches core modules in Human Resource Management and Management Consulting at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with accreditation from both CIPD and CMI. He is also a member of the Centre for Employment Relations Innovation and Change (CERIC).

Mark’s academic influence is underpinned by his award-winning dissertation supervision, with students under his guidance winning the CMI Prize for Best Dissertation three years consecutively. His evidence-based approach is exemplified by a bespoke performance impact analysis tool he developed in 2024 to measure supervision effectiveness—achieving a 93% response rate and a supervisor satisfaction rating of 9.64/10. To view the full survey results, click here

Recognised Thought Leadership

Mark is widely acknowledged as a subject matter expert in Human Resource Management, Employment Law, and Management Consulting. His recent co-authored article, "HRM and the Covid-19 Pandemic: How Can We Stop Making a Bad Situation Worse?", was among the most cited and downloaded pieces in the Human Resource Management Journal (2021–2022), and earned a certificate of personal achievement from Wiley.

He has contributed thought leadership to Times Higher Education, Ashley Kate HR, and the Chartered Management Institute, and is regularly invited to comment on strategic workforce issues. He continues to shape management thinking through both practice and research.

Credentials and Professional Standing

Mark holds a BA (Hons) in History, MA in HR and Employment Law, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, the latter earned with outstanding rating at Loughborough University. He is a:

Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD)

Chartered Manager Fellow (CMgr FCMI)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE)

He is also qualified in PRINCE2 project management (foundation and practitioner), NEBOSH Level 3, and as a DISC psychometric practitioner, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary skill integration. Mark continues to invest in professional development through executive programmes at Oxford Saïd Business School and the University of Cambridge.
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Contact
For media, consultancy, or academic engagement, Mark can be contacted at: m.c.butterick@leeds.ac.uk

Responsibilities

• Course Leader and undergraduate, MA & MSc postgraduate lecturing and teaching
• Dissertation supervisor (under and postgraduate)
• Personal and pastoral tutor, FPEG departmental representative

Research interests

Mark’s scholarly and teaching interests lie at the intersection of organisational performance, employee experience, and the wider socio-economic context of work. His work explores both the theoretical and applied dimensions of management and employment relations, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges facing organisations and the workforce.

His areas of expertise include:
Economic Democracy
Investigating participatory models of governance in the workplace and their implications for organisational decision-making, accountability, and employee empowerment.

Communication Strategies and Organisational Effectiveness
Analysing the role of strategic communication in shaping culture, enhancing coordination, and improving decision-making across complex organisational structures.

Employee Engagement, Motivation and Productivity
Exploring evidence-based approaches to sustaining high levels of employee engagement and motivation, and their measurable impact on individual and organisational performance.

Employment Law
Delivering critical insight into the regulatory framework governing employment relationships, including contract law, workplace rights, dispute resolution, and compliance.

Workplace Ethics and Equality
Examining ethical dilemmas in HR and management practice, including issues of fairness, transparency, and the ethical implications of strategic decision-making.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Investigating structural and cultural barriers to inclusion, and developing strategies that promote equity, representation, and belonging in diverse organisational contexts.

Social Mobility
Engaging with the role of education, employment, and policy in enhancing upward mobility, and addressing systemic barriers to access and progression within the labour market.

Mark integrates these themes into his research, teaching, and consultancy, supporting both academic inquiry and the practical advancement of inclusive and effective organisational practice.

Publications

• Human Resource Management Journal
• Times Higher Education
• Chartered Management Institute
• Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation & Change
• Reach Higher Human Resources™ Blog

Unpublished Research

• Racism and the Social and Cultural Impact of Black Footballers (BA (Hons) History, UCLan, 1999)
• Communication and Workers’ Cooperatives: A Case Study of Suma Wholefoods (MA HRM, University of Leeds, 2005)

Qualifications

• Strategic Management Executive Programme, University of Oxford
• Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Loughborough
• Certified Chartered MCIPD, University of Huddersfield
• MA Human Resource Management, University of Leeds
• BA (Hons) History, University of Central Lancashire

Professional memberships

• Certified Management and Business Educator of the Chartered Association of Business Schools
• Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Chartered Manager Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute
• Fellow Royal Society of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
• Associate Member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
• Technician Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• Certified NEBOSH Practitioner
• Certified PRINCE2 Practitioner, Axelos
• Certified DISC Psychometric Personal Profile Assesement Practitioner, Thomas International

Student education

Teaching Expertise and Academic Contributions

Mark Butterick specialises in Human Resource Management (HRM) and Management Consulting, with his teaching spanning both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. These subject areas are central to the BA and MA in Human Resource Management and the MSc in Management Consulting, where Mark plays a leading role in curriculum delivery and development.

In addition to his lecturing responsibilities, Mark is a personal tutor, dissertation supervisor, and an active member of the People, Work and Employment academic group at Leeds University Business School.

Undergraduate Modules Taught or Led:

LUBS0060 – Introduction to Human Resource Management (Module Leader)
LUBS1125 – Economic Institutions (Labour) (Module Leader)
LUBS1760 – Business and Society: Organisation Theory
LUBS1765 – Business and Society: Social Theory
LUBS2060 – Contemporary Industrial Relations
LUBS2810 – Business and the Legal Environment
LUBS2885 – HRM Research Practice and Personal Tutorials
LUBS3311 – Human Resource Management Dissertation Supervision
LUBS3850 – Contemporary Management Consulting
LUBS3915 – Employment Law

Postgraduate Modules Taught or Led:

LUBS5324M – People Analytics: Strategy and Practice
LUBS5325M – Employment Law
LUBS5334M – Employment Relations
LUBS5588M – Management Consulting: Facts, Theories and Issues (Module Leader)
LUBS5590M – Management Consulting: The Consulting Life Cycle
LUBS5592M – Research Methods and Practice for Consultants
LUBS5594M – Management Consulting Project Supervision

Mark’s approach is grounded in evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary theory, and industry relevance, ensuring students benefit from both academic rigour and practical insight. He is consistently recognised for his pedagogical impact through module feedback, supervision outcomes, and faculty engagement.

Selected Student Feedback

“I had the pleasure of being taught by Mark in a Facts, Theories, and Issues of Management Consulting module during my Management Consulting MSc at the University of Leeds. Mark always encouraged engagement through the module, by voicing and positively challenging opinions everyone was able to build a deeper understanding of what we could expect from future employment and how to approach the challenges that the industry faces. Mark has an ability to clarify the most complex theory by providing real world examples, explaining the theory and outcomes of its application. I was also extremely fortunate to have Mark as my personal tutor, who not only supported me through academic work, but was available for personal support in the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies. Mark goes above and beyond for his students and cares about their successes through their studies, but most importantly beyond their studies as well. Mark is an exceptional tutor and mentor.” -Postgraduate Student in MSc Management Consulting, University of Leeds

“Mark lectured me in Contemporary Management Consulting in my final year at University of Leeds.Mark is an exceptional lecturer who managed to engage with the cohort despite challenging COVID-19 difficulties. His clarity of communication and explanation of concepts were some of his finest feats, only being surpassed by his willingness to help over and above what is required. He assisted me on multiple occasions with extremely detailed career advice and took time out of his day to assist in any way he could, both on the module and extracurricularly. It has been a pleasure engaging with Mark and I hope our working paths cross again.” -Postgraduate Student in MSc Management Consulting, University of Leeds

“I had the privilege of having Mark as one of my academic tutors for my MSc degree in Management Consulting. His consulting expertise and excellent teaching skills enabled me to deepen my understanding of management consulting and it's related issues. Mark's willingness to further engage with students beyond class periods to share his experiences as a consultant and to offer valuable career advice to students looking to enter the field was very admirable, to say the least. There is certainly no doubt about his expertise and commitment to his work.” -Postgraduate Student in MSc Management Consulting, University of Leeds

“Mark is approachable and reliable teacher specialized in human resource management and consulting. It is my pleasure to have him being my lecturer and supervisor in this academic year. I am so touched by Mark for his continuous update during the lockdown and keeping touch with students. I believe students would enjoy working with him.” -Postgraduate Student in MSc Management Consulting, University of Leeds

“I was a student of Mark at one of his modules on Employment Law. Mark is a gifted teacher who made us all awe with his skills and knowledge in law. He made us so involved by listing different cases with examples to make us understand the concept of law. Most of us were new to Law and he was quite patient in clearing it up. He even made us regret not taking up Law as a module. His teaching was so powerful, I am sure it made a mark on everyone's lives. I am happy I got a chance to listen to him. I recommend Mark for all Employment Law and consultancy related training work. I am sure you cannot go wrong there.” -Postgraduate Student in MSc HRM & Employment Law, Loughborough University

“Mark taught our postgraduate employment law module at Loughborough University. He made a very technical and content heavy course exciting to learn but also easy to understand by applying it to practical situations! His teaching methods of class reviews at the beginning of each day allowed for engagement and thorough understanding. Furthermore case studies throughout each class allowed us for case analysis alongside understanding employment law. This helped us understand the way employment law works in real work scenarios and how it can be applied to our human resource degree. A massive thank you to Mark for making a very intensive course so interesting and fun to learn, it would be an absolute pleasure to meet Mark again in the future!” Postgraduate Student in MSc HRM & Employment Law, Loughborough University

I am glad to write this recommendation about Mark. Although Mark is a hard worker and was able to run long hours of lectures, literally, each lecture exceeded continuous seven hours per day, his enthusiastic and welcoming character encouraged all student to ask and participate actively in the classes. On top of that, his wise knowledge and extensive experience strengthened his skills in transferring knowledge clearly and confidently. He was structured and never hesitated to provide guidance or support to all students. I really enjoyed his classes and looking to meet with him in other occasions. I wish him all the best of luck in life and career. Postgraduate Student in MSc HRM & Employment Law, Loughborough University

“Mark is a very pragmatic lecturer and a very likeable professional with a broad knowledge of HR and Employment Law. I was fortunate to have had him as my lecturer during my Masters programme at Loughborough University. Unlike the many lecturers I have had to work with, Mark has a unique style of engaging with his student and challenging them to think sequentially and analytically when it comes to the interpretation and application of the Employment Law. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from this gentleman and I am happy to recommend him to anyone or organisations that with to employ his expertise. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.” Postgraduate Student in MSc HRM & Employment Law, Loughborough University

“I met Mark at Loughborough University. He was invited to lead and deliver a lecture on Employment Law module for MSc students. From what I witnessed, Mark possesses a great deal of professionalism and keeps himself up to date with the latest developments [and precedent cases] concerning the UK Employment Law. He has been able to explain sophisticated topics in layman’s terms and draw analogies with a myriad of real-life cases that he as a professional encountered or dealt with. As the MSc HRM Programme Representative at the time, overall I believe Mark has been a great asset to the university, and to my class in particular. Recomend!!!” Postgraduate MSc Student in HRM & Employment Law, Loughborough University

“As a former student of Mark, I can really say he brought the complex world of HR together by giving a holistic view of how HR can operate in any organisation and also, going into detail when needed to paint a clear picture. Significantly, I enjoyed attending his classes because he always brought in real-life examples to his teachings and was very helpful and happy to dedicate some time for further understanding. Mark is a professional individual that knows what he’s talking about and his various experiences demonstrate just that”. Final Year BA Student in HRM, University of Bradford

Selected Colleague Feedback

“I love working with Mark, astute, caring and professional. We work teaching and supporting LUBS Management Consulting students to develop their critical thinking skills in both theory and practice and Mark leads by example.” -Former Programme Director and Lecturer in Work and Employment Relations

“I have worked with Mark at Leeds University Business School over the past year and have found him an extremely collaborative, supportive and engaging colleague. His teaching and consultancy expertise in particular have provided considerable added value for students and the teaching team at Leeds. It has been a pleasure working with him.” -Programme Director in HRM and Lecturer in Management Consulting

“An outstanding teacher and a great colleague - it has been a pleasure working with Mark and I would definitely commend his work in the highest terms.” -Professor of HRM

“Mark is a consummate professional in everything he does. His command of his subject areas is second to none and he has shown the utmost dedication to his teaching. He provides a stimulating learning experience and is extremely popular with students. As a colleague he is a great team player, always ready to bring fresh ideas and invaluable support when needed. He has a creative approach to finding solutions to even the most intractable problems, and always manages to remain good humoured and positive whatever the circumstances. It is pleasure and a privilege to work with him.” -QC and Lecturer in Employment Relations and Employment Law