and Shine Awards 2011 - People 1st

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th eShine Awards Woman of the Year Award Winner: Victoria Sanders, Managing Director, Teletext Holidays Victoria Sanders took over as managing director of Teletext Holidays in February 2009. Since then, she has turned the business from making a £5.5million loss to a £2.7million profit. Under Victoria’s leadership, the business has undergone a transformation. With the closure of the analogue television service, on which Teletext Holidays was most famous for advertising, she has overseen a multi-million pound re-launch of the business – including a remodelled website, internet-connected television, a revamped Freeview channel and innovative new apps for iPads and smartphones. Victoria was also pivotal in a partnership deal with Tesco to create the very first Teletext Holidays shops, the success of which resulted in an agreement to open up to 10 more stores. As well as being a popular columnist for Travel Weekly, Victoria is also a judge for the TTG Travel and CIMTIG Travel Marketing Awards, and contributes regularly to industry panel debates and roundtables. She has made a number of appearances on BBC television, and speaks regularly on the radio. As one of her nominators commented, “Victoria has been, and still is, one of the most inspiring people I have ever worked with in my 17 years in the travel industry.” Also shortlisted for this award: Michelle Hanson, commercial director, Sodexo Jill McDonald, chief executive officer, McDonald’s UK and president Northern Division Jane Sunley, chief executive officer, learnpurple Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Robyn Jones OBE, Chief Executive, CH&Co Having started her career as a school dinner lady, Robyn Jones OBE founded CH&Co with her husband Tim on a Government Enterprise Allowance in 1991. Within two years, and at the height of a recession, the company had won the Booker Prize for Excellence as Best Young Business and Best Caterer. Robyn’s determination, “endless enthusiasm” and vision to gain a reputation for improving food at work by providing exceptional eating experiences, has paid off. CH&Co now has a multi-million pound turnover, employing almost 2,000 people, with 140 contracts nationwide. Robyn is a patron of the Association of Catering Excellence and a trustee of the PM Trust. She is also a guardian member of the charity, Hospitality Action, a winner of a Catey Award – the industry equivalent of an Oscar – and was named the Credit Suisse Most Outstanding Woman in Business 2007. In addition, she has featured in four business books. Described by her colleagues as “concise, focused and brave,” Robyn’s story is truly inspirational. As one nomination concluded, “it shows to all what can be achieved with true grit and determination from humble beginnings.” Also shortlisted for this award: Gill Benwell, director, Bourne Leisure Maggie Berry, chair, Farm Stay UK (retired 2010) Vivien Sirotkin, operations director, Q Hotels
th eShine Awards Small Business Award Winner: ABode Hotels ABode Hotels launched its first hotel in 2005. It now has five locations across the UK and has made a conscious decision to help address the gender imbalances that exist in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry. Using the Women 1st programme as a framework, ABode provided a programme of continuous professional development training for women in middle-management roles. At the end of the programme, the company celebrated success over a dinner hosted by ABode managing director, Nick Halliday, giving the trainees an opportunity to share their experiences with Nick and discuss their aspirations. Following the training, the company has reported positive changes in the way women view themselves in the workplace, while a number of the trainees have also achieved promotion. ABode is also keen to help women cope with the challenges of caring for young children, while continuing to build a career. The company holds regular meetings with new mothers to discuss ways to help them return, including flexible working, reduced hours and alternative roles that better suit working hours. On one occasion it even employed the father in order to accommodate the working hours of both parents! The company is also actively involved in developing female chefs, and Michael Caines, director of ABode and Michael Caines Restaurants, acts as a key ambassador on the issue. As the company states: “ABode and Michael Caines truly believe that, as an industry, we need to do more to tap into female talent.” Also shortlisted for this award: Drake & Morgan Firmdale Hotels Teletext Holidays Large Business Award Winner: Sodexo UK & Ireland At Sodexo UK and Ireland, which designs, manages and delivers on-site service solutions, 60 per cent of the workforce is female, with women holding 34 per cent of senior management positions. The company is actively working to increase the representation of women at senior levels, and has set up SWIFt (Sodexo Women’s International Forum for talent) at a global level. SWIFt’s mission is to accelerate the attainment of gender balance within Sodexo through the personal drive, commitment and leadership of high-level women. It aims to reach between 23 and 25 percent female representation among its top 300 leaders by 2015. Through its Diversity and Inclusion Council, Sodexo considers ways to attract and retain women, including greater job share opportunities and better flexible working arrangements. Sodexo UK and Ireland is also revising the maternity benefits it offers with a view to enhancing benefits and further encouraging women to return to work. It already provides SayCare childcare vouchers to help with childcare costs, which means that working mothers can save over £1,000 each year in tax and National Insurance contributions. In order to enhance women’s professional and personal growth, the company also launched Women Work, its first employee network group in the UK and Ireland. Also shortlisted for this award: Bourne Leisure McDonald’s Merlin Entertainments Group
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