Acorns 2020: Abbie Livesey, 28
Contract manager, Rapport Guest Services, Broadgate, London
Nominator Greg Mace
Abbie Livesey is the front of house contract manager for Broadgate. She supports a team of 38 staff who look after reception services in 15 busy multi-tenanted buildings on the largest pedestrianised neighbourhood in central London. Like most Acorn winners, she has risen through a series of promotions within her company and, in her own words, makes decisions to ensure each new opportunity will challenge her and push her outside of her comfort zone.
Livesey has recently undertaken training in mental health and wellbeing and has hosted sessions with her team about her own mental health struggles. She encourages her team and colleagues to discuss their concerns and break the stigma around the subject. She interacts with 27 clients daily and is empowered to make decisions, which has enabled her to take charge of her own learning and fully manage her own budget. As a senior manager within Rapport she also assists the HR team with high-level HR cases.
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, absolutely. Sustainability should be a priority in every part of the hospitality industry. From using technology to move away from paper to sourcing local candidates for jobs, moving away from purely classroom-based training and ensuring your employees have clear growth journeys to encourage natural progression.
Who is your hospitality hero?
Chloe Davies, the head of PR and partnerships at myGwork, a business community for LGBT+ professionals and allies. I have had the pleasure of hearing her speak at an Empower Women in Leadership event and attended training with her. I find her honesty and openness an inspiration.