Acorn Awards 2024: Emily Lewis, 28, operations director, the Lewis Partnership

Age 28

Job title Operations director, the Lewis Partnership, Staffordshire

Nominator Rebecca Carroll, HR manager, the Lewis Partnership

There is no doubt that Emily Lewis is ambitious. A quick browse of her CV reveals a conscientious professional who has worked up from being a waitress in 2012 to operations director in 2021, gleaning experience on the way as front of house manager and marketing manager – all within the Lewis Partnership.

In her current role, she oversees the running of all three sites within the family-owned hotel and pub group, managing a revenue of £3.7m net and a 165-strong team and demonstrating an ability to lead multifaceted initiatives that result in business growth.

Not least, Lewis’s astute financial management and ability to drive improvements in key business metrics resulted in the highest number of wedding bookings in six years. By overhauling the sales strategy and pricing structure for weddings, Lewis achieved a remarkable 37.5% increase in average spend. And showcasing her adeptness at capitalising on promotional opportunities, she also orchestrated a Black Friday sale that generated £41,000 in gift voucher sales.

While Lewis is ambitious, she doesn’t leave anyone in the team behind. She is a fan of cross-training, which has fostered better working relationships, paved the way for career opportunities and contributed to cost-savings.

To create a positive working culture, Lewis recently introduced life coaching sessions for the team as well as supportive policies for those affected by societal issues such as menopause, neurodivergence and pregnancy-loss.

As for guests, Lewis has undertaken an accessibility audit across the company’s listed properties to ensure all feel welcome.

Lewis’s strategic vision includes her collaboration with Channel 5 to secure a documentary, The Motorway Hotel, for the Moat House, which is expected to raise the profile of the industry in a positive way.

How do you get the best out of your team?

"It’s all about having respect and empathy for everyone on the team and valuing each individual."

What excites you most about the future of your role?

"Having been in survival mode for a few years post-lockdown, I’m excited to start growing the business and looking for new opportunities and sites."