Careers testimonials

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  Our guests tell us time and time again that it is the attitude of our people that truly sets us apart from our competitors. With a very strong family culture and the company’s core values, every employee is aware of, and recognises, the importance of their individual contribution to business success.

  
  We actively encourage internal transfers and promotions within the group and we are proud of our record of internal development, in fact, over 70% of our General Managers started life with us as management trainees.

  
  Don’t just take our word for it, meet some of the team and hear of their experiences… 
  
  
• Mark Bowers, General Manager
   

  Following completion of his HND in Hotel Catering & Institutional Management at Manchester Poly – Hollings Faculty, Mark applied, and was successful, for the ‘graduate management training scheme’ (now known as the Management Development Programme) in 1984, and joined the Cottons Hotel & Spa. In 1987, he was promoted to Senior Assistant Manager and transferred to the Crown Hotel (no longer part of the Shire group) in Cumbria. Mark then left the company later that year in order to seek external challenges….but it wasn’t long before he too returned ‘home’, back to The Cottons Hotel & Spa in the role of Deputy General Manager.

   

  In 1991, Mark was promoted to the position of General Manager at The Oaks Hotel (no longer part of the Shire group) in Burnley where he remained until 1994. He then moved back to The Cottons where he remains as the General Manager. 
   

  Mark’s thoughts…
  I enjoy working for Shire Hotels because they are a family-owned company that has a great sense of history and culture and they care as much about their people as they do about the long-term future of the business.
  

  Shire Hotels invest equally as much resources in developing their people as they do in developing their physical properties to create products and services that are differentiated and, therefore, a pleasure to work in.
  
  

• Ian Graham, General Manager
     

  Ian kicked off his working life with Shire Hotels in 1996 as an F&B Assistant at the Crown Hotel (no longer part of the Shire group) and it wasn’t long before he was promoted to Assistant Bars Manager. His talent was soon recognised and he was promoted in 1998 to General Assistant and transferred to the Millstone at Mellor - the ‘original’ Shire Hotel, it epitomises our philosophy with regard to hospitality and a high level of personal service and was the ideal place for Ian to gain an understanding of the foundations of Shire Hotels approach to customer care. 

   

  Following twelve months at The Millstone, Ian was transferred to the North Lakes Hotel & Spa in the position of Assistant Manager. Ian, as with many of our Senior Team, decided it was time to seek challenges outside of the company and left to join MacDonald Hotels as Assistant Manager. He also spent time in several privately owned properties before returning to us in March 2005 as Assistant Operations Manager responsible for Food and Beverage at The Cottons Hotel & Spa. 

   

  Ian received a further promotion in May 2007 to the position of Operations Manager at The Solent Hotel & Spa and then transferred to Aztec in 2008, also as Operations Manager. Ian has now taken on his first General Manager’s role at Penny Street Bridge in Lancaster - one of the Thwaites Inns. With 28 stylish rooms and a busy food & beverage operation, it’s a great opportunity to put all the years of learning in to practice.
  

   

  Ian’s thoughts…

  In my role as Operations Manager I most enjoy seeing how we, as a hotel and by department, provide guest satisfaction. It is vital to live and breathe the company strategy and cascade this down to each department's own targets, developing service and systems and seeing this through to the end result - satisfied guests.
  
  

  The greatest enjoyment I get from my role and working in the hotel is that no two days are the same - with the mix of people who work in the hotel, guests and spa members providing some interesting days.
  
  
• Ian Pilcher, Deputy Manager

   

  
  Ian, as part of his studies, undertook his Industrial Placement at the Aztec Hotel & Spa in 2001.

  On completion of his studies, in 2002 he joined the Solent Hotel & Spa on the Management Development Programme as Junior Assistant Manager. This programme provides both on and off the job training combined with mentoring and coaching styles, which are designed to build on individual strengths and encourage career progression in the company. 

   

  Ian was promoted to Assistant Operations Manager responsible for Food and Beverage in 2003 at the Solent.

   

  Continuing in the role of Assistant Operations Manager responsible for Food & Beverage, his next move saw him transfer ‘up North’ to the Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa and then the North Lakes Hotel & Spa.
  
  Ian is now in his first General Manager's role at the Keswick Lodge, a real favourite for walkers and cyclists visiting the Lakes.
  
  Ian's thoughts...
  

  I have worked in catering since I was 15 years old and can honestly say that I have never experienced anything like the "Shire Culture" that is present in all of the hotels in the group. It’s not just a job - it’s an opportunity to progress and grow within a very forward thinking company that cares as much about its staff as it does its customers.
  
  I think the fact that I am currently working with heads of department that have been at the hotel for 21 years speaks for itself and this is not a one off, every one of our hotels has examples of this length of service. I am very lucky because I enjoy going to work everyday and find it a challenge meeting the ever-changing needs of a hugely diverse customer business mix.
  
  
• Chris Taylor, Spa Manager
   

  Chris undertook his work-placement in 1991 as part of his leisure and tourism course. Following completion of his placement, he joined the spa as a part-time fitness instructor, eventually becoming full-time.

   

  He then left the company in order to study and achieve his leisure and business studies degree before returning to the company as Assistant Spa Manager.

   

  Chris was promoted to Spa Manager in July 2006 and is responsible for all areas of the operation, from recruitment and training to sales and marketing.

   

  Chris enjoys various sporting activities such as football, squash and racketball and his passion is Arsenal football club. 
  

  
  Chris’s thoughts…

  I can never understand when friends say how little they look forward to going to work. I am proud to work for Shire Hotels, a company that really does actively encourage internal promotions and I should know having come through every spa position!
  
  Everyday is different and it's the people I come into contact with that make it both rewarding and challenging. Having regular contact with our customers to ensure they are achieving their goals and hearing their success stories is another key reason why I choose to work in such a rewarding industry.
  
  
• Elaine Gregory, Reservations Manager
  
  
  Following a period time working for BA Elaine returned to her home town joining Shire Hotels in the capacity of Trainee Receptionist at the Kettering Park Hotel in 2000.

   
  Having worked at the hotel for 8 months Elaine proved her ability and competence in her role and was promoted to the position of Deputy Reception Manager.

  
  In 2002 the Company expanded, building The Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa, an £18.5 million 4* 123 bed roomed hotel in Leeds, allowing Elaine the opportunity to move ' up north' taking the role of Deputy reception Manager and assisting the Reception Manager set up the department prior to the hotel opening in April 02. Elaine has moved from her Deputy Reception Managers position to take on the responsibility for Reservations as Reservation Manager.
  
  Elaine's thoughts...
  I enjoy my role working at the hotel particularly the communication between all the different departments ensuring that all guests receive a seamless service whether they are staying in the hotel for business or pleasure.
  
  Working at the hotel full time and juggling the demands of parenthood is certainly keeping me on my toes but I wouldn't change a thing!