People, Recruitment & Talent Episodes

What's the saying? Be Kind because everyone you meet is facing a hard battle. Within the story of todays guest, there was one monumental battle. I was over thrilled to get some time with one of my old mates, Natalie Tait - People Director at Artfarm. Our chat played out a little bit like a catch up but there's a lot to take away here including:- Artfarm School Rejecting college for work Finding pubs Running a pub at 20 Changing direction through injury Recruitment D&D Opening a hotel ...

A little sneaky bonus for you all this week as I wanted to showcase one of the wonderful highlights of the Hospitality Calendar, that being The Walk for Wellbeing. So what better way to showcase that than get its founder on the show, Craig Prentice. We also chat through Craigs journey to figure out where this idea came from and cover off:- Starting at a Money brokers Moving to a theatre & Music venues Finding Hospitality Neglecting self care Recruitment Ennismore Mental struggles Starti...

A sneaky bonus for you this week as I welcome back absolute rockstar of a human, Jim Knight - Author, Speaker & Podcaster. Jim's super power is all about elevating through culture and having just written another book in his series, this time "Service that Rocks", I thought it was high time we had him back. Jim is just box office in every minute and we get through:- Music Jim's Books Authenticity Creating wow experiences Price of admission stuff Service Attitude and personality Rita Gill...

We've got another epic journey for you this week as I got some time with CEO of Umbrella Training and Employment Solutions (and almighty Apprenticeships champion) Adele Oxberry. And what a story she has, getting involved in hospitality from an early age right through to now, heading up one of the sectors most prominent training and apprenticeship providers. Adele is super chatty and so we get through loads including:- Starting young The lessons of housekeeping Moving to reception Developing...

I've wanted to get today's guest on for a while (I should have just asked him as it transpires) as I'd seen a few of his posts around on LinkedIn and there was this wonderfully positive and inspirational theme running through his message. So I was delighted to welcome Simon Maguire to the show. Simon has spent his career in hotels but towards the end of 2022 he opted to pursue a passion, leadership and performance coaching with West Peak (https://www.thewestpeak.com/). As usual, we get through...

There won't be many people the UK hospitality scene who haven't heard of today's guest, and if you haven't, then have I got a treat for you. I chat to none other than award winning HR legend Sean Wheeler, now running his own consultancy. Sean has had one hell of a career so far having worked with many recognisable brands. We chat through his epic journey and get through:- Marlow Avoiding Academia Getting on a management training programme Moving to Coffee shops Miss Selfridge TGI Friday’...

What happens when you put two recruiters together to talk about people? The answer is this weeks chat. Abi Dunn, Founder of Sixty Eight People (https://www.sixtyeightpeople.com/). I was connected with Abi through Jo Harley of Purple Cubed (Thanks Jo!!!) as Abi had conducted some very interesting research around candidate experience. We thought the world should here it so here we go. Abi also covers her story so far and so we also get through:- The state of things Starting in pubs Sylvia Gl...

I love coffee, I mean I REALLY love coffee and coffee tastes even better when it's doing some good (Crediting that line with today's guest 100%). So I thought, let's have a chat with someone in the coffee business as lets face it, where would hospitality be without it? So I got some time with Jonathan Reed, CEO of Coffee Rockstar's and all round doers of great work, Paddy & Scott's (https://paddyandscotts.shop/). This chat is a joy from start to finish as we cover off:- Ambition House The c...

It's been a while since I've had a people and culture guru on the show so I've rectified that by getting today's guest on. I welcomed Di Gwinnell, Group People & Culture Director at Edyn Group (https://www.findingedyn.com/) for a chat about her story so far, and a whole lot more too. We got through:- Portishead Edyn Good intent Hospitality plans Travelling Starting on an HR Graduate scheme Moving into Hospitality Cross sector experience The people landscape Retail v Hospitality The f...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business When industry legend Harry Murray MBE sends you a message one day and asks "Can I interview you for your podcast", what do you suppose the answer was? Well, you need not wonder as ...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business Before I started recording this episode with Olajide Alabi, Equality, Inclusion & Wellbeing Partner at Turtle bay restaurants (https://turtlebay.co.uk/), I had no idea why it had ta...

Give yourself the gift of happiness Today! With all this sunshine around, what better way to celebrate summers eventual arrival than with a podcast special all about Happiness! What is Happiness? How can we achieve Happiness? These questions and more were covered on my happy chat with the queen of happiness Klaudia Mitura, host of the rather awesome & Happiness podcast (https://www.andhappiness.co.uk/ - also available on all podcast apps). It might surprise you to hear that we talk a little a...

I'm so lucky to be able to speak to so many different people from within the industry and today's guest is another shining star of Hospitality. I got some time with Clare Johnson, Early Careers Lead at Sodexo (https://www.sodexo.com). Clare brings the energy from the off and we get through loads including:- Sodexo Previous guest Emeline (Episode 109) Belfast Hospitality Uni v Work Starting in a Theatre Work Ethic Mindset Engaging all age groups Lifting people up Interview performance ...

What a wonderful way to cap off the first part of season 2 than with a chat with one of the industry's shining stars! I got some (Very human focused) time with Natasha Nagra, Resourcing & Talent Director at Valour Hospitality Partners. We cover loads including:- Being busy Valour Hospitality Management Falling into recruitment Recruitment and marketing Managing multiple brands Awards Best practise HIRE The Metaverse Human v Tech Using animals in marketing No filter children Falling...

Today we bring you the superstar that is Jane Sunley, Founder and CEO of Purple Cubed (https://purplecubed.com/). As always, we get through loads including:- Humble beginnings Being the naughty one Being spurred on by negativity Becoming a manager Moving to Reading London Starting in contract catering Setting up a temp agency Purpled Cubed Culture Book writing Shenanigans in the dry store And so much more. Jane is one of the most recognisable humans in hospitality and has an epic s...

We're back! Season 2 is up and running and what a way to kick things off as I got some time with Employer Branding expert Oli Cavaliero from Honest Burgers (https://www.honestburgers.co.uk/). There's all manner of excellent insight in here as to why Honest Burgers are so highly regarded as an employer as well as Oli's brilliant story so far. We also get through: Hurricanes and bathrooms Starting out of industry Travel Recruitment Finding yourself out your depth Unstructured Structure T...

Another week goes by and another wonderful chat with someone who played their part in why this show exists. 5 years ago, the intricate weave of life put me in touch with the wonderful David Guile (http://www.davidguile.com/), Leadership Coach, Speaker and Author of the fabulous book "Potential". We got through so many golden nuggets around leadership as well as:- Podcast origins The value of the coffee chat Falling into Hotels Wanting to become a prison guard Focus on the job you’re given ...

I can't believe it's taken this long for me to chat to today's guest, especially as she played her part in why this humble little podcast exists in the first place. So I finally got some time with Monica Or, Founder of Star Quality Hospitality (https://starqualityhospitality.co.uk) and author of 3 wonderful books. We get through a lot including:- Springboard pantomime Podcast influencer Education Cruise ships Life at sea A move into recruitment Practical v Academia Qualifications Londo...

Time spent with today's guest is time well spent indeed! I once again got Jim Knight back on the show to chat about his recently released "Leadership That Rocks" (Available here - https://www.knightspeaker.com/product-page/rock-n-roll-with-it). Jim is a previously published author and Public Speaker extraordinaire around Leadership and Culture and is a special friend of the show. We get through:- Florida Covid in the USA Changing culture Music Ideas inspiration Book writing Gaining more...

Ahhhhhh Culture. What is it? How do we achieve a good one? All this and more when we got some time with today's guest, Benjamin Drury AKA the Culture Guy! As you might expect, there's a lot of chat around culture but a whole lot more too including:- Receiving Parcels The Culture Guy The Inner workings of a company What is Culture? Creating Cult like status Values Sanity check Trust Hiring for cultural contribution Simplifying business Bringing the emotion Job Adverts Creating a saf...

What a cracker we have for you this week. What does it take to be an HR leader in an iconic hotel and restaurant? Well, we chatted to Sarah Powell, HR Director at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons (https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons) to find out. Look out for another mispronunciation from Phil. We get through loads including:- Reopening Admin days Studying languages Teaching English in the Indian ocean The careers book The Hilton graduate pro...

There are so many exceptional people in hospitality and this week we got some time with yet another of those. We chat to Aseem Kapoor, Founder & Chief ARK-itect at Ark People Solutions (https://arkpeoplesolutions.com). We chat about:- Being an Ark-itect Travel plans The first meeting Standing meetings Heated debates Creating positive work environments Early path to becoming a doctor Hotel openings Defining brands Creating culture Job titles Leadership Starting your own business K...

What a treat we have for you this week as we bring you the natural story teller that is Debra Ward, Global Transition Director at ISS Facility Services UK. Debra has some brilliant stories from a truly spectacular career built in many areas of hospitality. As always, we get through lots including:- Starting out in Canada Working the family business Calling out your professors Moving to the city Working with Wolfgang Puck The comedy and safety of small town Respecting local customs Jail t...

This week we got some time with rising superstar and all round bundle of energy Catrina Pengelley, Founder of the Nerdy Hotelier (https://thenerdyhotelier.weebly.com). Like a lot of people in the hospitality industry, 2020 saw Cat lose her job in sales but rather than getting all down beat about that, she dusted herself off and got on with it, founding the Nerdy Hotelier Blog and generally making a positive nuisance of herself. In our chat, we get through loads, including The glory of a podcas...