Matthew Barstow

Background

About Matthew Barstow

A seasoned Employee Relations leader with over 20 years of dedicated experience across a broad range of industries, including social care, security, entertainment & gambling & facilities. My career has been shaped by a deep specialism in employee relations, where I have successfully navigated highly complex people challenges, driven cultural change, and delivered commercial outcomes in alignment with business strategy.Throughout my career, I’ve built and led both large-scale operational ER teams and smaller, highly specialised expert functions. My leadership approach balances strategic insight with operational rigour, ensuring teams are equipped to provide pragmatic, risk-managed and commercially sensitive solutions to people-related issues. I have extensive experience in areas such as complex case management, industrial relations, policy design, dispute resolution, organisational change and employment law compliance.In addition to my core expertise in ER, I have a well-rounded HR background, having held roles that span Reward, Learning & Development, Organisational Design and broader HR services. This breadth of experience enables me to take a holistic view of the HR function and how it can drive business performance, employee engagement and sustainable organisational outcomes.I’m passionate about building high performing teams, mentoring future ER and HR leaders and shaping progressive people strategies that enable both individuals and organisations to thrive. I thrive in complex, fast-paced environments where thoughtful, well-informed counsel is required to balance risk, opportunity and people impact.Key Skills & Strengths: • Employee Relations Strategy & Execution • Complex Case Management & Dispute Resolution • Employment Law & Risk Mitigation • Industrial & Trade Union Relations (GMB, UNISON and CWU) • Organisational Change & Restructuring • Global HR Policy Development & Governance • HR Strategy & Business Partnering • Reward Strategy & Execution • Organisational Design & Development • Leadership & Team Development • Stakeholder Engagement & Executive InfluenceCIPD member (MCIPD) since 2013.