Idy

My core role is about people. The employees of the company, their needs, how they fit into the organisation, how the organisation can make them feel at home and support them in giving and achieving the best of themselves at work.

I started at 4C Group about nine years ago, in a PA and Office Manager capacity and have worked my way up the ladder since then. I now cover a wider administrative role that includes People and Culture, ESG Risk, Health and Safety and Compliance.

4C Group are now recognised as one of the Top 30 places to work in UK hospitality and one of our hotels, Canopy by Hilton London City were also recognised as having the Talent Development Team of the Year. I am very proud of what are teams have achieved to date, as it is a reflection of not only our supportive work culture but also the initiatives implemented following the feedback from our employees through our annual surveys. Of course, there are still areas to improve upon and we continuously strive to be better and do more for our employees. At the end of the day, working for a particular employer is not just about the salary and benefits offered but also the culture and ethics that exist within the work environment.

This is why as a team we are focusing on training and development at all levels within our organisation which includes apprenticeships, custom built in- house courses, structured performance development plans and external training. Our recent leadership conference brought together not only current managers within the group, but also our aspiring managers, allowing us to work together in considering how best to lead for the future and equipping us for success.

Promoting from within is also important to me, not just because it was my own personal path, but I believe internal promotions can provide and strengthen a positive work ethic and culture. If an employee can see that there is a career path within the organisation it motivates them to develop their skills and stay with the company, instead of feeling that they may need to look elsewhere to advance their career.

We also launched a Green Champion programme last year, which focuses on providing our champions with opportunities to learn new skills whilst taking a lead within their property in promoting and creating green initiatives and benefits for our guests, our local communities and their colleagues. It is great to see this programme going from strength to strength with our champions engaged and passionate about the environment, recognising how they make a difference.

Beyond that, ensuring that there is great communication within the group is key; whether it is showcasing the benefits we offer, our social and team building events, sharing news on personal and team successes or our employees being comfortable in sharing a challenge they have with a manager or colleague, it is important that communication within the group is clear and effective. People are at the heart of our organisation and we constantly need to review our processes and infrastructure and work together in making our organisation a great place to work.