The Boston-based specialist in renovating historic venues in prominent market town locations, the Coaching Inn Group broke into The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For’s ‘mid’ category – for companies employing at least 250 members of staff – making its bow at number 44.
A previous winner of the Best Accommodation category at The Publican Awards, the operator recently added the Rutland Arms Hotel in Bakewell, Derbyshire, to its now 17-strong stable.
Speaking to The Morning Advertiser, The Coaching Inn Group’s chief executive Kevin Charity said: “It's a great achievement just to get on the list – especially on the first attempt.
“We were just hoping to get in the list but to find we were number 44 is amazing, to be honest. We're very proud to be in hospitality and if you look across the list there are a lot of hospitality companies in there – we're punching above our weight.
“It’s been a two or three-year journey and we've become a very people-focused business. Our people come first, that's what we've concentrated on and the approach we go about every single day. That's shown in the results fundamentally – to come in at 44th at the first attempt shows what great people we have. But it has been a three-year journey of just constantly maintaining that culture, keeping improving, looking at what we can do better and how we as a management team can serve our people – that's been the key.”
Additionally, multiple operator Oakman Inns slipped two places in the same category to place 27th overall – the highest placed representative from the pub sector – while The New World Trading Company and Peach Pub Company ranked 30th and 64th respectively. The New World Trading Company ranked fifth in the 2019 list, while Peach fell by 16 places from 48th position last year.
“We are delighted and honoured that once again the judges have awarded us with the highest accolade of three stars for a fifth year," Peter Borg-Neal, CEO of Oakman Inns CEO commented. "To be recognised as the highest ranked pub company and in the top 30% of this group of brilliant, innovative and inspiring mid-sized companies is an absolute honour. Even more so, because the award is a recognition of the support and dedication the company receives from each and every member of its fabulous team."
“For the fourth year running, Peach was in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list," Hamish Stoddart, managing director of Peach Pub Company, said. "We continue to strive to be the best employer in hospitality.
“We’ve made lots of steps forward in the last year in supporting our team. We have also recently announced our 10 social responsibility promises, covering our ethics and ways in which we contribute to saving the planet.”
What’s more, premium bar and restaurant operator The Alchemist dropped out of the top 100 having placed 95th last year.
Elsewhere, Leeds-based brewer Northern Monk broke into The Sunday Times Best 100 Small Companies to Work For 2020 list, placing 49th.
