SHOWCASE
Savvy Hotels S
avvy Hotels operates three hotels: the 31-bedroom Townhouse in Chester, the 152-bedroom aparthotel the Richmond and the 108-bedroom ‘poshtel’ Sleep Eat Love, both in Liverpool. The group, headed by husband and wife team Steven and Nicola Hesketh, employs just over 120 staff across its businesses and, over its years of growth, has seen many of the team rise through the ranks. The company focuses on training and team and personal development and credits that as a big part of its success. Steven – who started as a window cleaner in a holiday resort in Australia – has now lived in the UK for 20 years. He has worked in the majority of hotel departments and was a previous winner of The Caterer’s Acorn Award. Steven believes that the independent hotel journey is often very different to the chain hotel route and that those who thrive on responsibility, hard work and wanting to put their personality into a venue should look at the independent route into the industry.
Case study
The Savvy Hospitality Academy The Savvy Hospitality Academy introduces people to the wonderful world of hospitality and provides fully funded pre-apprenticeship traineeships. Participants are sought through a
partnership with Wirral Metropolitan College. After a short profiling exercise, participants are interviewed by the Savvy hotel management team to gain a placement.
The following 10 weeks sees them work
with college tutors on their employability skills and they then proceed to a live working environment across the businesses. The trainees work in a ‘buddy up’ system,
with one of the many academy mentors within the companies. They lead the students through a hands-on training programme and offer an introduction to working in the hotel trade. The programme is split into two parts, where
students spend time in the kitchen and then work front of house in the restaurant, or they may work on reception and then in housekeeping. This helps the students understand the different challenges of each department while working in an overall team environment. The academy has seen 80 students to date, with a further 40 expected to undertake the programme over the next 12 months.
Those looking to develop a comprehensive set of hospitality skills would be wise to look at an independent hotel group for a well-rounded experience
Steven says: “While working for the big hotel and restaurant chain operators can be very exciting and bring great kudos, the entrepreneurial spirit in a privately owned, smaller operator venue is a really different experience for an employee. I personally believe the independent route often brings a more varied skills requirement of employees, meaning more day-to-day variety in their roles. The sector can certainly never be guilty of ‘groundhog day’.” Savvy Hotels has the added benefit of its team being able to experience different operations across the portfolio, from a hostel and vegan eatery to the serviced apartment sector, as well as everyday hotel operations, weddings and events. Steven continues: “We are also working with City & Guilds for the remainder of 2019 and 2020 as it launches its global hospitality badge qualifications across the sector. We are looking to be a case study in the independent hotel market position.”
Benefits ● Employee assistance programme (via Hospitality Action). ● Employee scratch cards to give instant thanks, rewarding staff with a £20 voucher or an overnight stay at a hotel, for example. ● Additional holiday days after two years, up to a maximum of five extra days. ● Meals and uniforms provided. ● 50% discount on all food and drink at all Savvy venues. ● £250 support for employee entrepreneurs who are trying to start a business while working with us. ● Annual Christmas and summer parties as well as company awards. ● £150 refer a friend scheme
Contact us Visit
www.savvyhotels.com, call 0151 236 1220 or email
steven@savvyhotels.com
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