A BATLEY woman has hidden talents.

Kim Roberts, head of retail human resources at Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons, was winner of the Hidden Talent of the Year category in the Specsavers everywomen in Retail Awards. She received her prize at a ceremony held in London.

Kim (pictured) joined Morrisons in 1986 and climbed the corporate ladder quickly to reach her current post with the company.

She is responsible for all matters which affect the company’s 115,000 retail employees – from recruitment, health and safety and pay and benefits to building the framework for the company’s training programme.

Kim has seen huge changes at the company – not least its 2004 takeover of rival Safeway when she dealt with the integration of 55,000 new people into the enlarged business.

Kim said she put her success down to hard work, surrounding herself with a great team and retaining her beliefs in what is fair and right as she has moved up the organisation.

She said: “It’s really humbling to read my application form and see what fantastic things my colleagues have written about me.

“I’m so fortunate to have found a business that I’m passionate about and which has afforded me some fantastic opportunities to progress. The challenge of making it a great place for everyone to work excites me every day.”

Speakers at the awards included Jane Shepherdson, chief executive of the Whistles clothing group; Sharon O’Connor, managing director of Oasis Group; and Julia Reynolds, chief executive of Figleaves.

Despite the recession, retailing is still the largest private sector employer in the UK – with almost 3m employees and annual sales of £265bn. The sector employs one in 10 people in the UK – 60% of them are women, but very few progress to senior roles. Fewer than 5% of chief executives in retailing are female and only 8% of purchasing decisions are made by women.