SUPER AMBASSADORS
KERRY CROMPTON-HARRIS
People Director, Workforce Strategy & Payroll, Compass Group UK & Ireland
Kerry has a HR Generalist background dating back nearly 20 years, joining Compass Group UK&I in 2014. In 2021, she took the lead on Talent Acquisition through the use of technology; the world of hiring had changed especially within the hospitality sector; with lower levels of labour supply and vacancies being the highest ever recorded, led to a highly competitive marketplace. Kerry led the Compass team to think always through the ‘job applicants’ eyes’, and streamlining candidates’ journeys. Kerry’s most recent endeavour is to venture more widely into delivering data-led decision-making, across the entire ‘employee life-cycle’.
KIRSTEEN RAITT
Group Recruitment Manager, Firmdale Hotels
Kirsteen Raitt is Group Recruitment Manager at Firmdale Hotels. The independently-owned collection encompasses 8 luxury hotels in London and 2 in New York. Having been at Firmdale for 18 months, Kirsteen oversees the recruitment across all hotels, Head Office, and at Palace Laundry. Most of her career has been within the hospitality and leisure industry, where she started off by working in casinos and training as a croupier, before moving into HR and finally focusing on recruitment, her favourite aspect within HR.
RACHEL MASING
People Director, ETM Group & Maven Leisure
Rachel Masing, People Director ETM Group & Maven Leisure. Came into hospitality following delicious food and good times… and never left! Obsessed with making people excited about their jobs in the worlds’ best industry. Loves classic cocktails and never goes past steak tartare on the menu.
HANCE MCPHERSON
Head of Licensee Attraction, Star Pubs (Heineken UK)
I’m the Head of Licensee Attraction at Star Pubs. My role is to develop both the attraction strategy and the processes that sees new licensees take on our pubs.
I’ve been with Heineken for 13 years and prior to that worked in a range of industries including advertising and real estate. But pubs and hospitality is by far the most enjoyable!
I lead a team of marketers and attraction managers who work with our field-based Business Development Managers to attract and appoint the best licensees for our pubs. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a pub transformed and become the heart of its local community or high street through the hard work and collaboration between Star and our licensees!
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LOUISA THOMAS
Talent Acquisition Manager, Wells & Co.
I am a seasoned recruiter with over 25 years experience – 10 years in the hospitality industry and the last 5 at Wells & Co, a family run Bedfordshire Brewery and pub company. No two days are the same and I am surrounded by passionate and energetic people who don’t take life too seriously!
My role as a Talent Acquisition Manager is all about working with our hiring mangers to support them find the best talent to join us at Wells & Co. I promote our unique culture while striving to provide only the best seamless candidate experience throughout the end to end hiring process. I have a passion for building high performing teams and therefore have a keen eye for identifying exceptional customer centric candidates. Naturally, the favourite thing about my job is connecting talented individuals with their dream careers and seeing the people I’ve hired succeed and grow with us.
BEN FRIZELL
Group Hospitality Manager, Caring Homes Group
I serve as the Group Hospitality Manager for The Caring Homes Group Ltd, a family-owned organisation operating 21 care homes across the UK, spanning from Aberdeen to the Isle of Man, with a significant presence in the South of England.
Similar to many of you, I commenced my professional journey in hospitality, initially working part-time in hotels and venues during my school and university years. My commitment to the hospitality field led me to pursue a BA Hons degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Concurrently, I gained valuable experience at a Sports and Country Club on the city's outskirts.
Throughout my career, I have maintained a steadfast passion for curating memorable experiences for those under my care, whether it's a newlywed couple, a concert enthusiast, or a resident in our care homes. I firmly believe in investing in our teams, fostering belief in their abilities, and empowering them to feel motivated to deliver exceptional service.
Having grown up in the industry, I have always identified as a compassionate and nurturing leader. This inclination eventually guided me toward the care industry, where I can genuinely enhance the lives of residents and their families by ensuring comprehensive and holistic care. Engaging in the care industry has proven to be an incredibly rewarding vocation, and I am currently more inspired and driven than at any other point in my career.
AMANDA SMYTH
People Director, Scoffs Group
Hi, I’m Amanda and I lead the fantastic People Team at Scoffs Group. We are a Franchise Partner to Costa Coffee and have over 110 stores ranging from Norfolk down to the stunning Cornwall coastline.
I grew up in Hospitality, where my family owned guest houses, pubs, restaurants, and hotels in Ireland (not all at the same time). I have worked in this industry now for over 40 years and every day still brings something new and exciting. My current role leading HR initiatives in the Café/QSR space is so rewarding. I get to have engaging conversations with team and customers alike, I undertake firsthand observations when I’m out in stores, I build talent pathways that offer our people opportunities to progress and most of all, I have a genuine appreciation for the hard work and dedication exhibited by our store teams. Along with a healthy dose of warmth and fun!
My passion is for creating exceptional experiences for people and support others to achieve their dreams.
JILL MEYERHOFF
Head of Recruitment & Immigration, Hall & Woodhouse
With a background in UK and International Hospitality recruitment Jill joined Hall & Woodhouse in 2017 to lead recruitment for its estate of exceptional managed pubs and small hotels across the south of England. Before joining H&W Jill founded and ran Culturepot, a highly successful specialist agency supporting many of the country’s high-profile pub, hotel, and restaurant groups through the minefield of international recruitment.
Formerly the Group Managing Director of Christopher Martin Associates responsible for operations all over Central Europe, Jill brings a wealth of experience and subject expertise with a particular focus on UK and overseas recruitment, the PBS, Sponsor Licensing, the Skilled Worker visa route and UKVI compliance.
ROSIE REDMAN
Recruitment Manager, David Lloyd Clubs
Rosie is currently the Recruitment Manager at David Lloyd Clubs, which has over 10,000 employees and 130 sites, which include 101 in the UK and 29 across Europe.
With over 10 years recruitment experience within the hospitality sector spanning, top end restaurants, casual dining, agency, logistics and currently leisure, working for leading brands such as The Ivy Collection, Casual Dining Group and Brakes.
Through her extensive knowledge of technology platforms and utilising multiple recruitment tools, Rosie endeavours to streamline the candidate journey throughout the end to end hiring process and see’s her role as working in collaboration with her hiring managers, supporting them to find the best talent to join David Lloyd.
Rosie always encourages the hiring managers to always think through the ‘Candidates eyes’, and through data led information constantly reviews and benchmarks the recruitment life cycle to ensure best practice and introduce innovative new solutions.
ED NESBITT
Head of Resourcing, BaxterStorey & Holroyd Howe
With over 15 years of experience in strategic resourcing and talent management, Ed is a highly accomplished and passionate recruitment professional dedicated to driving organisational success through proactive recruitment strategies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Throughout his career, Ed has honed his skills in producing comprehensive resourcing plans, enhancing employer branding, and ensuring the delivery of top-tier talent across all levels of the organization.
As the Head of Resourcing at BaxterStorey & Holroyd Howe Ed is responsible for planning, managing, and driving the ongoing strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future executives. Ed works with operational teams to understand their requirements, design, and implement resourcing plans, and manages a team of resourcing managers to ensure timely and high-quality hires. Ed also has a unique culinary background, having completed a Cordon Bleu Diploma at Tante Marie Culinary Academy, which gives him an edge in understanding and attracting talent in the hospitality and catering sector.
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NICOLA BURGESS
Resourcing Partner, Harrods
I’m Nicola and I’m Resourcing Partner at Harrods. I work in Paula’s team, and I specialise in recruiting for our back of house positions. I began my career in hospitality recruitment when I moved to London just after the Olympics in 2012, starting as a recruiter for an agency recruiting temp chefs. I eventually found my way into Harrods after the pandemic, and I haven’t looked back! I’ve always loved working within the hospitality industry – this is such an exciting and fast paced environment, filled with some of the most interesting and inspiring people so I’m excited to be part of this incentive to promote how great this industry is to the next generation.
BLERTON HYSENI
Programme Manager & Senior Lecturer for Tourism and Hospitality, University of Sunderland
I am the Programme Manager and Senior Lecturer for Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Sunderland in London, where I have been working since 2012. I received an MA in Tourism Management and International Tourism in 2009 and completed my Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in 2011.
I'm very student-focused, with a particular interest in supporting students to achieve their goals and aspirations. I have been involved in many internal and external projects to enhance the student experience and my aims have always been to make learning practical and embed employability further into the curriculum.
I was awarded the Vice-Chancellor Teaching Fellowship in 2019 for my work on the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality in learning. My aim is to bring VR learning into classrooms to tackle the issue of passive learning and engage students through active learning
