Savvy Hotels runs three hotels across Liverpool and Chester, employing 41 people plus additional casual staff during peak times. As guests’ experiences are so dependent on the service they receive, happy employees are essential.
Steven Hesketh, chief executive of Savvy Hotels and founder of The Hospitality Hero, explains: “We’re a family-run business and we want all our staff to feel they belong.”
For Hesketh, this starts with the recruitment process. Although the hospitality sector has struggled to fill vacancies after the pandemic, recruitment is never rushed. “We want to employ the right people so we’re honest about what’s involved in the interview: if someone wants every Saturday off, it’s not right for them,” he explains. “Having the right people is key and we have staff who have been with us for more than 10 years.”
Employees receive a competitive reward package. As well as committing to pay a minimum of £12 an hour and providing an employee assistance programme through Hospitality Action, staff receive a bonus in summer and at Christmas. “These are our busiest times but they’re also times when people need the extra money,” Hesketh adds.
The organisation also ensures it recognises employees’ commitment throughout the year. Financial contributions are made to staff nights out on an ad-hoc basis and birthdays are celebrated with a card, a cake and a gift. “My wife, Nicola, is brilliant at remembering details, including what people like to drink,” Hesketh says. “Giving someone a bottle of their favourite vodka rather than the standard bottle of wine can make a big difference.”
As well as thanking employees for their hard work, the organisation also gives them more control over the times they work. “Across the hotel sector, employees don’t like having to ask for time off so we use scheduling software Deputy,” adds Hesketh. “This enables them to book holidays and mark the times they’re unavailable for shifts. They really appreciate having this freedom.”