After leaving school he started his career in the Charity and Voluntary sector working as a fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation. Since then he has worked for Hope House Children's Hospice, East Lancashire Hospice and now heads the fundraising team at Martin House, Yorkshire's hospice for children and young people with life limiting, terminal illnesses. He is responsible for leading a team charged with raising over £4 million a year.

Stuart was elected to Leeds City Council in 2003 when he won the Labour seat of Aireborough. Following boundary changes, he then represented the Guiseley and Rawdon ward. He was a member of the Planning Panel and campaigned against excessive developments in his ward.