Hotel Cateys 2021: HR Team of the Year: Red Carnation Hotels

Despite the many challenges facing Red Carnation’s HR team, they have achieved a huge amount over the last year, supporting staff financially, mentally and physically, and creating a positive culture during the pandemic.

Red Carnation Hotels is a 20-strong collection of five- and four-star hotels across the UK, Ireland, Guernsey and Switzerland as well as the US, South Africa and Botswana. The 10-strong UK-based people and culture team was reduced to just four during the pandemic, overseeing the group’s 820 UK employees.

In March 2020, the Red Carnation HR team came up with a weekly wellbeing guide, including financial advice and information, as well as a list of job vacancies at companies that were recruiting. Its Keep the Learning Burning programme promoted work and personal skills courses, while a Good News Only section focused on positive Red Carnation stories, including volunteer opportunities and ways of getting active without visiting a gym.

They delivered birthday cakes and Christmas gifts in person, and held monthly tea parties virtually. They celebrated and rewarded the success of those who had gone above and beyond, pandemic or no pandemic.

Last year it launched an inclusivity, diversity, equality and action initiative to ensure its workforce was fully represented while recruiting and developing people from under-represented groups to reach their full potential. An interactive course for staff covered where to seek help, challenging personal biases.

At a time when the industry was losing staff, resulting in a staffing crisis, the group introduced an online questionnaire for its employees, which enabled the HR team to step in, discuss and resolve concerns, and ultimately retain those who may have been thinking of leaving the business.

Where redundancies were necessary, information was provided on interviewing techniques, CV writing and accessing benefits, and an employee assistance helpline was kept open to all for a further year. They team even held a post-employment online seminar to help people to plan their futures.

With their Masterclass initiative, they persuaded people from all levels of Red Carnation – including managing director Jonathan Raggett and other executives – to give lectures to hospitality and tourism students to help inspire and motivate them to join the industry.

As a team, they strove to support hospitality students and young people, as many were unable to complete an internship or work experience. They partnered with local schools, contacted the Ark Academy to host nine 
students on work experience, and offered virtual work experience to 400 students.

They also volunteered with the National Citizen Service to help 16- and 17-year-olds get an idea of what they want from their future. They ran five sessions over the summer, reaching 60-80 students per session, helping to
create a pipeline of potential future recruits.

What the judges said

“A strong entry that was from the heart. Delivered a strong Covid welfare strategy while still ensuring that the core people and culture strategy for the group continued, even launching new leadership, L&D and LGBTQ programmes during the most challenging times.”

Sean Wheeler

The shortlist

The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane London

The Headland hotel Cornwall

PPHE Hotel Group

Red Carnation Hotels

Rosewood London

Past winners

2019 Aviator by Tag

2018 The Ned

2017 Firmdale Hotels

2016 The London Edition

2015 Red Carnation Hotel Collection

2014 Dorchester Collection

2013 Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5

2012 Dorchester Collection

2011 Royal Garden Hotel London

2010 Jumeirah Hotels

2009 The Berkeley, London

2008 The Dorchester, London