Family Values

Karen Morse: The Woman Behind the Scenes of Rigby Group. Karen Morse, Sir Peter’s right hand for over 30 years, reflects on a career built on Dedication, Loyalty, and Legacy.

Karen Morse didn’t set out to become an institution at Rigby Group. But after more than three decades as Sir Peter Rigby’s PA - witnessing an era of expansion, transformation, and many moments that defined a company built on people - that’s exactly what she became.

“I remember my first day vividly,” she says. “Well, sort of. I had a terrible cold and I should have been in bed, but I was introduced to the team, and I think to Peter, although he wasn’t ‘Sir Peter’ then. Within three days, I was handling my first contract change and doing twelve-hour days. Honestly? Not much changed!”

Karen’s laugh is warm, familiar, the kind of person who holds everything together, often without people realising it.

More Than Just a Job

Ask Karen, who last month finally retired for a well-earned rest, about her role and she’ll tell you one thing - there is no such thing as a typical day.

“One moment, I’m booking aircraft for a board meeting in Europe. Next, I’m welcoming visitors to headquarters or sitting in a hotel preparing for a major event. It was always varied and dynamic.”

Rigby Group has grown into a £4 billion enterprise with more than 9,000 employees, but at its heart, it’s still a family business. Karen had a front-row seat to that evolution.

“I’ve grown up with ‘the boys’ (James and Steve) as I still call them. Watching them step into leadership while keeping the family values at the core of the business has been incredible.”

Karen has been part of some of the Group’s most defining moments. She points to the project to create Millennium Point, the major public building that transformed Birmingham’s landscape in 1999 – as a personal highlight.

“Sir Peter chaired the entire project. I was in meetings with dignitaries, business leaders, university heads, and council members. And it all culminated in Her Majesty The Queen opening the centre the same year Sir Peter received his knighthood. That was an emotional moment.”

Her role went far beyond logistics. It was about people, relationships, and ensuring that the ethos of Rigby Group remains intact through its growth.

A LEGACY OF PEOPLE

The Man at the Centre

When asked what it’s been like to work with Sir Peter, Karen pauses and gathers herself before answering.

“Oh gosh, I might cry,” she says with a smile. “He has an incredible sense of humour, but he’s serious when he needs to be. We rarely disagree. I’ve been his right-hand person for years, and he’s taught me so much about business, about people. It’s been a privilege.”

Karen’s loyalty, like so many others at Rigby Group, speaks to the company’s culture.

“The family are hands-on, every day. They’re not ‘remote owners.’ That makes all the difference. It’s why so many of us stay.”

A Legacy of People

“They’re just a brilliant company to work for,” she says simply. “Some of my colleagues have become lifelong friends. It’s a place where you feel valued.”

As Rigby Group celebrates 50 years, it’s people like Karen who remind us that success isn’t just defined by revenue or acquisitions. It’s built on the dedication of those who make it all happen.