Best places to work 2018 SHORTLISTED FOR BEST EMPLOYER CATEY


CYCAS HOSPITALITY UK In a nutshell A hotel management company with 11 properties and three opening this summer, founded in 2008 by John Wagner and Eduard Elias Locations The UK and the Netherlands Employees 55 in a central support role, and about 320 team members or “Cycadettes” Average staff turnover 2% (retention for the past 12 months is 98%) Annual sales turnover £36m in 2017


There’s a lot of energy at Cycas Hospital- ity, with management describing the team playfully as Cycadettes and pledging on its website that hotel management is “fun”. Certainly, the company engages its people.


Not only did it scoop the Serviced Apartment Investment in People Award at the Serviced Apartment Industry Awards in 2017, but 85% of the company’s respondents to the Best Places to Work survey would recommend it as a great place to work.


The message from the top is that everyone is valued and there is no room for bureau- cratic barriers that stifle innovation. To get this across, the Cycas Hub Facebook page was launched in 2015 to allow teams to cele- brate successes and share stories, and for the co-founder to post his lively quarterly business update videos. Best of all, the Facebook Hub is a great leveller – in keeping with Cycas’s open culture, it encourages a non-hierarchical, team-focused approach.


The message is appreciated, with 98.5%


of Cycas respondents to the Purple Cubed survey saying their leaders are inspirational This summer, the company is introducing an engagement app to make two-way com- munication even easier. Teams will be able to access everything from business updates and surveys to best practice, and can share docu- ments. By reinforcing the feedback-friendly culture, Cycas hopes it will be able to monitor what matters most to employees. Comments from the team say it best: “I am


inspired and empowered here, and my devel- opment is taken seriously.” “I have a young family and I am encouraged to have a work- life balance.” “I am recognised by very senior management for being individual and for add- ing value to the company.”


36 | The Caterer | 27 April 2018


www.thecaterer.com


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