Acorns 2020: Chinwe Inyamah, 29

People and development manager, the Ned, London

Nominator Jenny Harris

Chinwe Inyamah started her career in hospitality as an HR intern at a 665-bedroom hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. She progressed to several key roles and subsequently started her career in the UK as an HR assistant at the Royal Garden hotel in Kensington, London.

Now at the Ned, with its staff of nearly 900 people, Inyamah and her team have worked tirelessly to put together an extensive wellbeing programme to demonstrate the company’s commitment to this area, and launched a four-week ‘job chat with HR’ to ensure all new starters stay on track during the early stages of their probation period.

She has also spearheaded the hotel’s charity initiatives, encouraging high levels of engagement in activities such as Kitchen Social (which feeds children in need during school holiday periods), and has been a panellist at the BYP Diversity Conference, promoting hospitality careers to BAME students.

Do you think the hospitality industry could be more sustainable? Not just in terms of plastics and waste but in terms of careers and diversity, training, and growth?

Yes, I would like to see more awareness of hospitality careers in schools and colleges. The lockdown has shown the massive contribution hospitality has to the economy, on a macro and micro level, so it would be great to see this career path discussed more in schools. If more people demand a career in hospitality, that will attract the necessary investment to nurture talent, who will then in turn create more advances for in the industry.

Who is your hospitality hero?

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality. During the recent time of adversity for the hospitality industry, she was a voice for the millions of people who work in the sector. However tough the conversation, she challenged government and campaigned determinedly for us all.