Hotel Cateys 2024: People Team of the Year – Mollie’s Motels

Mollie’s Motels stunned judges with its exemplary retention rates and genuine commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all. The People and Development (P&D) team consists of three heads of department who are responsible for 206 team members across Bristol, Oxfordshire and London. They work effectively to recruit staff, manage employee relations and provide training opportunities. For example, leaders can be enrolled in the Leadership Development: Investment in Leadership scheme, which gives those in senior positions the skills to build a strong, committed team.

Team members are encouraged to build supportive, transferable skills that can lead into a positive work environment. The business has seen an uptick in those training to become mental health first-aiders, while all managers and supervisors undergo a half-day course on equality, diversity and inclusion to ensure they have a better understanding of how to welcome staff from all backgrounds. In fact, 40% of the managers at Mollie’s are from underrepresented groups, while more than half are female. It is also involved in job carving to ensure people with special educational needs and disabilities have a chance to thrive at work.

These policies have already reaped rewards in terms of staff retention, with data provided suggesting spectacular retention levels of 90%. Meanwhile, 94% of employees stated they felt happy and engaged about their job, with one member of staff praising the business for allowing them “to be yourself and feel comfortable” in the workplace.

Other employee responses celebrated the “welcoming and helpful” atmosphere, the “trustworthy and supportive” team culture and the “easy communication”.

One of the most impressive feats of the group is that it has cultivated a team that  promotes the wider industry. Staff speak at school assemblies or offer work experience opportunities for those looking to make their first step in hospitality, and also offer Mollie’s Masterclasses, which provide a series of free “have a go” sessions to educators, community groups and charity partners, who can experience the Bristol and Oxfordshire venues behind the scenes.

The judges were impressed with everything the team has achieved over the pasy year and  that they looked to Mollie’s as a model employee for others in the industry. There is no doubt its people culture will go from strength to strength.

What the judges said

“Such a solid entry with some clear statistics that really impressed us all. The concern taken with each employee as quite a small team really is significant and the employee quotes underpin this care. And the retention rate of 88-90% literally blew our socks off.”

Liz McGivern

“A small team of 3 who achieve so much. Given their locations a huge concentration on both education and diversity in recruitment has paid off. A massive retention rate of 90% is super impressive.”

Martin MacPhail