Kayte Houghton, Payroll Lead at M&S: No GCSEs, No Degree, No Limits

My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Jack Parsons

Business, Careers

4.2 • 5 Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode Guest:

Kayte Houghton is the Payroll Lead at Marks & Spencer, where she’s risen from admin assistant to leading payroll for 65,000+ colleagues. A champion of resilience, Kayte’s journey from council house to career leadership shows what’s possible when passion meets opportunity.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:49 Kayte’s Early Life as a Teen Mum

2:15 Living on Benefits & Hitting Rock Bottom

3:40 The Courage to Visit the Job Centre

4:50 Discovering the Marks & Start Programme

6:10 Finding a Buzz in Admin Work

7:30 Gaining Confidence from Small Wins

8:45 Getting the Life-Changing Phone Call

10:10 Starting Her First Role at M&S

11:40 Learning the Power of Supportive Managers

13:00 Climbing from Admin to Team Leader

14:35 Reclaiming the Word “Ambitious”

16:00 How M&S Feels Like Family

17:20 Seeking Mentors & Giving Back

18:45 Imposter Syndrome & Belonging

20:00 Falling into Payroll — and Loving It

21:15 Why Empathy Matters When Handling Pay

23:10 From Post Room to Payroll Lead

24:30 Kayte’s Duvet Flip — Personal Pride & Identity

Episode Partners

M&S

M&S is a trusted global retailer, committed to quality, value, and innovation. For over a century, it has set industry standards by doing the right thing and embracing change. With 65,000 colleagues serving 32 million customers worldwide, M&S places quality at the heart of everything it does.

https://bit.ly/4mVHfLO

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hi, I'm Kate. I'm the payroll lead at Marks and Spencer who currently employ over 65,000 colleagues.
0:06.0	This is my do very quick.
0:08.0	I want to know where it all started. Tell me from the beginning.
0:10.0	19. Two children just left a relationship, living in a council house,
0:14.0	and thought that that was the end, living on benefits.
0:17.0	I don't know how I got the courage to go to the job centre. The lady told me about the Marks and Starts programme.
0:23.6	Throughout that placement, it gave me a real buzz.
0:26.6	You used the word buzz, realising I can do something and I will do something.
0:30.6	It's not outside anybody.
0:32.6	There is a fire in everybody. Everybody can do it.
0:35.6	Do you think the program like the fire in it?
0:38.3	I saw a bit of the fire and then I pushed there is that fire.
0:41.3	What is making that fire burn?
0:43.3	What do you do they flip?
0:44.3	What gets you out of bed in the morning to flip the do we?
0:46.3	So I'd always...
0:50.3	Hi, I'm Kate. I'm the payroll lead at Markson Spencer. Just before sitting around with Jack, feeling a little bit nervous but a bit excited.
0:58.0	I'm most excited to talk about my personal journey today.
1:01.0	I said yes to come on my DeVay flip just in case it helps even just one other person.
1:06.0	I've never met Jack before, but I'm expecting more to fun from the conversation.
1:10.0	It is one thing that people can take away from this episode, I hope it's the confidence to do it.
1:19.6	Let's do this.
	...

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