host-somerset

HOST Raises £3,854 For St Margaret's Hospice

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:44 GMT

HOST Move-A-Thon 2024 Raises £3,854 For St Margaret's Hospice

HOST 6th Birthday

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:00:00 GMT

As HOST turns six years old, we would like to celebrate the many milestones and successes our team have achieved.

Since opening our doors for the first time on the 11 ^th of June 2018, we have sold a total of 2,284,669 room nights. Our team has worked incredibly hard to achieve these figures and are a true reflection of our values and mission statement, ‘A good nights sleep means a good days work’.

HOST are passionate about the training and development of the team, which is proven by the 13,000 hours of training we have delivered. Because of this, we have provided the tools and skills needed for our team to progress, allowing us to offer a total of 85 promotions throughout our journey.

National Apprenticeship Week

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 12:00:01 GMT

National Apprenticeship Week

Apprenticeships are a way of training a specific trade or profession with ‘on-the-job’ experience alongside studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. The courses run concurrently with job roles and typically 20% of working hours within a week go towards the qualification. They are supported by colleges, universities, and independent training providers which can offer both face-to-face and online tutoring.

Apprenticeships start from Intermediate (Level 2), which is the equivalent of GCSE’s, right through to Degree (Level 6 and 7) which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Most applicants for apprenticeship schemes are often new in their careers, are hoping to upskill, or are looking for a career change. There is a broad range of industries that offer apprenticeships including, construction, catering, IT, and finance.

In April 2017, the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced which has allowed employers to provide apprenticeships to their Team Members. The funding contributes to both the apprenticeship course and the end-point assessment which has helped towards over 700,000 apprenticeship students last year, nationwide.

HOST has previously offered apprenticeship schemes to its Team Members, which has proven successful with many of the candidates going on to further their careers within the business. Kady, who is a Front Office Team Leader working across the HOST Campuses, has recently embarked on a Level 3 Team Leader apprenticeship, this is what Kady has to say about her experience.

HOST will continue to encourage the future development of its Team Members by providing opportunities to increase knowledge, grow in confidence and to gain qualifications within their field.

HOST Test Centre 1st Birthday

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 13:08:42 GMT

At HOST, we have recently celebrated the 1-Year Anniversary of the HOST Test Centre Facility, which provides a convenient location for individuals to complete either their CITB (CSCS) Health, Safety & Environment tests or their NOCN (CPCS) modules. The Test Centre is located on the Hinkley Campus and is operated by HOST, in partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College.

Over the last year, the Test Centre has successfully facilitated thousands of tests for the construction teams across the whole HPC Project. Providing flexibility in testing sessions across the week, including evening testing sessions for the night worker teams.

The Test Centre is operated on a day-to-day basis by HOST’s two Test Centre Invigilators, Anthony and Jasmine who are responsible for both the administrative tasks including booking the tests, invigilating the tests themselves and continuing to maintain the required standards in accordance with the CITB and NOCN exam boards. Jasmine says “It has been great to see how well, the Test Centre has progressed, especially as Anthony and I have been here since the beginning” with Anthony adding “Seeing the Test Centre develop and reach new high goals every day is extremely rewarding to us. It has been a pleasure to have been with the HOST Test Centre for the first year, I’m sure it will reach many more milestones in the next few years.”

The strong relationship that exists between HOST and Bridgwater & Taunton College is essential in the successful running of the centre and includes frequent quality audits that always exceed expectations. Both Hannah and Ian, the Business Operations Manager and Contract Compliance Officer at Bridgwater & Taunton College respectively, have worked closely alongside the HOST Test Centre Team to support its ongoing success. As said in Ian’s words “Hannah and I have been actively involved with the Test Centre Project from its inception. We were present when the Centre was certified by CITB, the awarding body, and witnessed the first Test. The success of this Centre is very important to Bridgwater & Taunton College as the Test Centre is registered in our name. We have a very amicable relationship with HOST, and it has been a delight to work with their Test Centre Team”.

HOST Test Centre will continue to operate into 2024, to provide the HPC workforce with their tests either for individuals or for groups. To make a booking, employees are requested to complete the online booking form on the HOST Website or drop in and book in advance with the Test Centre Team at Hinkley Campus.

HOST Raises £5,666 For St Margaret's Hospice

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:29:40 GMT

HOST are proud to announce a total of £5,666 raised for St Margaret’s Hospice.

HOST held a 24 hour Move-A-Thon at their Hinkley Campus, which begun at 12:30pm, on the 25 ^th October, and finished 12:30pm, on the 26 ^th October. Our aim for the 24 hour Move-A-Thon was to fill 48 slots of 30 minutes with Team, Guests and the wider HPC Workforce, running or walking on a treadmill inside our reception area whilst on a live-stream video.

St Margaret’s Hospice is a charity close to the heart of HOST, with members of our team having first-hand experience with the Hospice. Yvonne, one of our Campus security officers, spent time in the Hospice with her husband, Ian, who sadly passed away in August. When we asked Yvonne how the Hospice cared and supported Ian and the family, she said ‘Hospice care is a gift given with no demands or expectations. They are just there. They were our angels.’

Yvonne bravely opened the Move-A-Thon after a heartwarming speech from our Campus Operations Director – Mark Flinton. As the evening went by, the St Margaret’s Hospice bee mascot, Busy Bee, paid a visit; Busy Bee posed for photos whilst many donated to the event. The HPC Workforce from Main Site and the guests were encouraged to enter the raffle or buy a cake to donate. Chris: Ian and Yvonnes son, who also participated in the Move-A-Thon completed an amazing total of 2 hours on the treadmill throughout the event. To finish, Mark Flinton was joined by Rob Evans, HPC Site Operations Manager, completing the final 30-minute slot together. The event was closed with a live raffle incorporating prizes from local businesses and sports teams.

If you would like to watch our Move-A-Thon live-stream video, you can find it on our Facebook page here .

HOST's Wellbeing Wall

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:17:27 GMT

In light of August’s Wellness Month, we created our Wellbeing Wall with information to highlight all types of health; Physical, Mental, and Emotional.

HOST Test Centre - A Day In The Life

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:04:08 GMT

The HOST Test Centre, which operates in partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College, is available for all employees of Hinkley Point C, to visit to complete their Health, Safety & Environment Tests. Located at Hinkley Campus, the Test Centre is just a short walk from the main site and provides convenience to employees to complete their tests which is a requirement for their site badges.

The test centre is operated day-to-day by Anthony & Jasmine, who are a dedicated HOST team working to facilitate bookings and requests and invigilate tests for individuals and companies, always ensuring to stay in accordance with CITB & NOCN regulations. Below outlines a typical day for Anthony & Jasmine in HOST Test Centre.

For more information, please click HERE .

A day in the life of Anthony and Jasmine:

08:00, ''Our day begins with ensuring our 8 test computers are working correctly, any software updates are completed, and they are ready for the day's testing sessions. This includes checking the equipment, such as the headphones, as each CITB test has a voice-over option for many different languages which allows us to accommodate many nationalities. We then check our emails and phone messages to respond to any enquiries that have come in. Enquiries can include companies or individuals requesting more information or asking about availability to book tests.''

09:00, ''The first testing session of the day begins in an hour, so we prepare our test logs, which is the documentation that the candidate will sign on arrival. This includes the candidate's name, their personal CITB or NOCN number, and the test they are due to sit.''

09:30, ''The candidates are due to arrive around 30 minutes before the start of the test, to allow us the time to process their check-in. We are required to provide the candidates with the Terms & Conditions to read and on arrival we ask our candidates for their ID. As per CITB & NOCN rules, the identification to sit the test be a valid driving license, passport, or citizenship card. There are other forms of ID we can use if these are unavailable however we are unable to accept a SAP badge. Once a copy of the ID is taken for our records, we take a picture of the candidate, ask for a signature, and then admit them for their test. The candidates are provided with a padlock and a locker, as they are required to store all personal belongings away including phones, watches, and hats.''

10:00, ''The test is due to start, each candidate is directed to their own computer and prior to the test beginning is given a briefing on the rules and regulations. It only takes one of us to invigilate the test, and we are on hand to help with any technical questions – however, we are unable to help with the test itself! Food or drink is not permitted in the testing room, and candidates are kindly requested to remain quiet so as not to distract others that are testing. Whilst the test is in progress, the other one of us is completing our daily admin tasks such as booking future tests and responding to enquiries.''

11:00, ''Each test has 45 minutes to be completed and has an optional tutorial at the beginning that explains how to complete the test. Once the candidate has completed their test, their results will be printed in the reception where one of us will confidentially hand the results over. The candidate then collects their belongings and returns their padlock. The next set of candidates is due within the next 30 minutes for the next testing session at midday.''

12:00, ''It is now testing time again. The same process as the morning test is completed with the new candidates. Some of our candidates may complete multiple tests, if this is the case, they will extend over the 60-minute testing period and the Team Member who is invigilating will ensure the candidate is successfully logged in to each test. Once the midday test is completed at approximately 1300, it is now time for lunch!''

13:30, ''After lunch, we are back in the test centre to welcome our final set of candidates for the day. Usually, we take it in turns to invigilate – and the process remains the same as the previous two testing sessions. We have got into a great routine between us, especially as we have now completed almost 1500 tests since opening in November 2022!''

15:00, ''It is the last hour of the day; the final test is completed and now it is time to ensure all our documentation is filed. We store candidates' details on the computer as per UK GDPR regulations and for our CITB audit purposes and dispose of the hard copies in the shredder. We must also prepare for the next day by making sure the test centre is clean and tidy, the computers are shut down and any documents and forms are ready for the next day of testing. Whilst we typically offer three sessions a day at these times, we are flexible to accommodate additional and varying testing sessions for our candidates including evening sessions for Night Workers.''

16:00, ''It is now home time; we have had a successful day of invigilating tests and are now ready to car share our way home!''

HOST 5th Birthday

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:36:43 GMT

HOST 5th Birthday

We strive to ensure our Core Values; Ambitious, Inclusive, Collaborative, Caring and Outstanding, are implemented in everything we do; by doing this, between the Campuses, we have now sold over 1,629,201 Bedrooms and 5,328 Meeting Rooms since our doors opened in 2018.

Our Team receive a wide variety of internal training packages to help them perform to the highest standard. To date, HOST have delivered over 10,000 training hours and promoted 86 of our team members!

This year has seen one of the largest accomplishments yet, with the opening of the Brean Sands Self-Catering Accommodation. This has added an additional 685 apartments to our Campuses, totaling to 2,091 altogether. Brean Sands opened its doors to the Hinkley Point C workers on the 5th December, with 87,314 rooms now sold and 118,645 occupants overall.

To celebrate our 5th birthday and the exceptional work required to reach this milestone, team members who reached their 5-years of service were invited to a celebratory lunch at the Green Olive in Bridgwater.

Celebrating Foxes Academy

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 15:55:03 GMT

Since 2019, HOST has worked alongside Foxes Hotel to further develop skills to use in their personal and professional lives.

Foxes Hotel, based in Minehead, is where students, aged 16-25 with additional learning and physical needs, have a 38-week supported-residential accommodation. During their placement they are able to learn independence and meaningful skills with help from vocational tutors, therapists, and house staff. At the hotel, the students work within a variety of departments, such as housekeeping, food preparation and reception.

Our most recent cohort joined us in September 2022, HOST have been providing work experience to the students; every Friday, we have had 6 students across Sedgemoor and Hinkley Campus, learning our HOST work values, operating our Guest Management system and cleaning rooms. Through this venture, it has enabled the students to transfer their skills to a different work environment and to help them experience a busy hospitality workplace.

Rebecca, who was assisting our Reception Team has said: ‘I loved it! Working with the Reception team has made me feel more confident when I am speaking to customers and my team at the Foxes Hotel. My favourite thing to do is work on the computers, I enjoy allocating rooms, preparing the keys, and answering the phone calls.’

Emma, assisting with Housekeeping: 'It was fun! The Housekeeping team were helpful and nice, they even gave me my own rooms to clean! My favourite part was changing the bed sheets! I feel as if they have helped me feel more confident when cleaning rooms at Foxes as well as my own room! I am really going to miss them.’

HOST would like to take time to thank the Foxes Hotel for assisting our teams; it has been a pleasure to work alongside the students.

HPC Excellence Awards nominations

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:02:00 GMT

HPC Excellence Awards nominations

We are pleased to announce HOST have won silver in the final of the HPC Excellence Awards for the category Community Contribution.

The awards celebrate the 13 top performers across two themes Project Delivery and People and Behaviours. The Gala Awards Ceremony took place at the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-Super-Mare on Wednesday 23 ^rd November, were each winner of gold, silver and bronze was announced.

Our Nomination:

HOST’s ethos as a business is to have a positive impact on people’s lives and the local community in which we operate which we aim to do in a number of ways and I why I believe we should be considered for this award.

HOST have for a number of years been partnered with Foxes Academy in Minehead and offers work experience to the students who are studying hospitality with them. Details of the partnership can be found here https://www.host-rhm.com/case-studies/foxes-academy this has had a huge impact on the students who need the work experience as part of their 3rd year studies. Our third set of 6 students are due to start with us this September and will have weekly work experience sessions with us until June.

Supported Traineeships – HOST signed up to this project wide scheme for the second time. From the first cohort in 2018 we were able to offer permanent, paid employment to all 3 of our placements and 2 of those are still in their positions now 4 years later.

HOST had a regeneration of the pillows at the campuses and donated over 400 of our old (yet completely usable) pillows to two local charities the local YMCA and Arc. Quote from Arc:

"Many of our clients come to Arc with next to nothing. Bedding and comfort are things that a lot of us take for granted, so being given a fresh set on arrival can have such a positive impact on our residents as well as a warm welcome to the next steps of their journey. It is thanks to our fantastic supporters, like yourselves, that we are able to provide good quality, second-hand bedding that may have otherwise been discarded. This not only reduces our costs, but also reduces waste and our impact on the environment, something that we feel passionately about.

The 100 pillows donated by HPC are being distributed to Arc residents who are currently experiencing homelessness. We have around 170 clients at any one time, and you are supporting so many of them with your generosity. As a small and local charity, it can be difficult to afford the purchase of so much bedding and we are therefore very grateful that you chose to donate to us."

As part of the government funded kickstart project HOST offered a placement as a general administrator, as the placement came to an end we secured a maternity cover position within the company and also enrolled them onto a training course in GDPR to ensure they would have a good chance of securing a role after the maternity cover ended. With training and mentoring they have now secured a full-time role within the project and have started on their career path.

Old electrical equipment laptops/phones etc and old branded stationary are all donated to the local schools/charities in the area and we have approached the local job centre about our older unused Front Office uniforms (shirts and suit jackets) to see if they would like them for job seekers who might not have anything smart to wear to interviews.

At Easter HOST held a collection of Eggs and Arts and Crafts items for our nominated charity, The Children’s Hospice South-West. We collected over 60 items and delivered them to children staying at our local hospice in Devon in time for Easter.

CEO Message

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:38:12 GMT

CEO Message

With an uncertain political backdrop affecting many areas of our lives, we head into autumn with a renewed commitment to both our guests and our teams to pull together and do everything we can to support one another.

We recognise the months ahead may be tough, but we continue to make strong progress and I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of our teams who are at the heart of the HOST offering.

As a business we have seen positive results during the summer months, including the acquisition of our second hotel. The Abbey Hotel in Cheltenham officially became part of the HOST family in August 2022 and following a transitional period, is now welcoming its first guests.

The Royal Ashton Hotel in Taunton continues to perform well with the teams achieving exceptional results as we approach our first full year of operation.

In light of soaring energy costs, we remain optimistic about the Government’s commitment to support the construction of new nuclear plants in the UK. In one of his final acts as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson committed to investing £700m in a major nuclear power station, Sizewell C in Suffolk. As projects like this get underway, we expect to see increased demand for temporary worker accommodation.

We are delighted to be launching an exciting new self-catering accommodation option for the teams working on the HPC project. From November, the first phase of accommodation will be available at Brean, a coastal village close to Burnham-on-Sea. Guests will benefit from a home-from-home style of accommodation as well as access to multiple leisure facilities.

As always, these positive developments wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and hard work of our teams and I thank you for your ongoing support.

Tim Jones, CEO

HOST 4th Birthday

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:23:30 GMT

HOST 4th Birthday

Since the start of our operations on Campuses we've sold over 1,119,435 rooms!! Over the years our team have worked hard to ensure that our core values and behaviours of ambition, inclusivity, collaboration, a caring nature and outstanding service are embedded in all that we do!

At HOST we pride ourselves on our training, to enable our team to perform at the very best of their ability, and we're proud to say that since the start of our operations 4 years ago, 71 team members have been promoted.

Since 2018 we've delivered 8,673 hours of training!

Over the past 4 years we've sold over 3500 meeting rooms on both HinkleyCampus and SedgemoorCampus . Our friendly Team are always on hand to greet our guests and provide the best service possible.

Kelly Quenault, our HR Manager said:

“HOST has been on a truly remarkable journey since opening the campuses 4 years ago, a journey that continues to reach new heights of success at every given opportunity. At the heart of this success are our fantastic Team Members who continually strive to deliver outstanding results despite any challenges they may face along the way. Their drive, hard-work and commitment has me looking forward with excitement at what the next 4 years at HOST can bring.”

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

Thu, 26 May 2022 12:25:06 GMT

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

We are always keen to hear from our clients on any improvements we could make to our services. Mr Meacock recently held a large event at Hinkley Campus where he had just over 500 delegates attending various sessions over multiple days. Here’s what Mr Meacock had to say about his experience at HOST.

“The support I have received from Annia, Cristina and George has been exceptional and for which I am very grateful. Although that said, living on the Campus, I see the whole HOST team do an amazing job every day. Please may I request that my upmost respect and thanks are passed onto your team, it is so important that they know they are doing a great job, and it is most definitely appreciated.”

David Meacock, HSE Behavioural & Personal Development Manager for Bylor

Please use the buttons below and tell us how we are doing:

WOMEN IN SECURITY

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:35:25 GMT

WOMEN IN SECURITY

THE SECURITY INDUSTRY IS GENERALLY RECOGNISED AS A MALE-DOMINATED SECTOR, SECURITY GUARDING CAN OFTEN BE SEEN AS “MAN’S WORK”

THIS PERCEPTION NEEDS TO CHANGE!

There is a positive shift in the number of women working in the industry; however – only 9% of qualified security officers registered with the SIA (Security Industry Authority) are women.

Partnered in 2018, HOST and G4S have created a hospitality security officer role, encompassing a wide range of security services on each campus such as access control, emergency response, conflict resolution, patrols, first aid response and guest and team welfare checks.

Men and Women Security Officers keep hundreds of guests and team members safe at Hinkley and Sedgemoor Campuses – day and night.

Although women are underrepresented compared to males within the security industry – women currently account for 25% of the HOST security team.

We aim to lead by example when it comes to supporting women in the security industry. We recognise that a diverse team makes us stronger and more adaptable.

THE VALUE OF WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINE OF SECURITY

Women can have a diplomatic negotiation style which aides in conflict resolution. We have found women security officers can be great at diffusing potentially violent situations with male customers without resorting to physical measures, who are much less likely to be confrontational with women security officers.

Communication, industry knowledge and empathy are all key attributes to a modern security officer and fundamental to the role. Women security officers can be great problem solvers and contribute highly to diplomacy and tackling any incident.

Women can go into female spaces – where males are restricted – such as public female toilets. Women guests or team members may feel also feel uncomfortable or intimidated by male guests or security officers. A female security presence can help women feel considerably more comfortable and safer.

Women security officers lend support to any females staying or working on campus who may wish to utilize a reassuring safety net of support when in a predominantly male environment.

SAFETY FIRST

SUPPORTING WOMEN’S SAFETY ON CAMPUS

The safety of women is a major concern for many people. The tragic deaths of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and others are a reminder that there is a public safety issue surrounding women. The private security industry can make a valuable contribution to this. As SIA licence holders, our security team play a vital role in protecting female guests and team members on campus.

Through physical security, technology, and innovation – HOST & G4S take steps to ensure the wellbeing of all women working or staying on campus.

Our campus entrance gates are access controlled 24/7
Security patrols are carried out frequently around all areas on campus
CCTV is continuously monitored
All guest rooms are equipped with a landline phone with an emergency button direct to the security gatehouse
All guests and team members are encouraged to join the onsite campus safety app SafeZone linking them directly to the security team for emergency response. Communication and situational awareness link the security team directly to any call for help

IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEONE’S SAFETY

Report your concerns to your supervisor or management Seek the help of security officers
Take advantage of any local or national schemes aimed at keeping people safe, such as ASK ANGELA
Call for a licensed taxi to take the vulnerable person home
Call the Police

International Women’s Day (March 8th) is a global day for accelerating women’s equality and recognising the achievements of women.

HOST & G4S would like to celebrate our Women in Security

#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias

HOST achieves one million room nights milestone

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 09:52:10 GMT

HOST has reached a major milestone, selling one million room nights across both the Hinkley and Sedgemoor Campuses.

Since opening in June 2018, our accommodation facilities for the workers on EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C (HPC) build have welcomed over 19,000 guests on both of our campuses, which offer a combined bedroom capacity of 1,496 and provide a number of high-quality amenities including restaurants, bars, gyms, sports pitches, meeting rooms and event spaces.

Over the years our team have worked hard to ensure that our core values and behaviours of ambition, inclusivity, collaboration, a caring nature and outstanding service are embedded in all that we do. This dedication is reflected in the fact that we’ve been able to achieve this major milestone, alongside many other successes including achieving full occupancy throughout the pandemic.

The achievements are a testament to HOST and how we work to ensure the health and safety of our guests and team is a priority and how we collaborate with the local community and extensive local supply chain to bring the best of Somerset to the HPC Project.

Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director, said: “Achieving this milestone is a source of immense pride for our team. Thank you to all our guests who have made this possible and a huge well-done to our hardworking team who continue to offer an outstanding level of service. We look forward to continuing to grow the brand and welcoming new and existing guests though our doors.”

Meet the Team: Annia Holleron

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:50:40 GMT

Previously part of the Front Office team at our Hinkley and Sedgemoor campus, Annia Holleron has recently been promoted to Sales and Marketing Administrator. We speak to her to get an insight into what her new role entails.

Annia Holleron, Sales and Marketing Administrator, based on both Hinkley & Sedgemoor Campus

A message from the CEO

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 13:50:56 GMT

Dear Team,

As the year draws to a close, I’m encouraged to report that despite the challenges from the ongoing pandemic we’ve remained resilient and have continued to grow our team and ensure the safety and comfort of our guests.

We reached a major milestone in May this year, achieving full occupancy at both the Hinkley and Sedgemoor campuses. This is testament to the dedication and hard work of our customer services and front office teams who are always looking for new ways to improve guest experience. We’re keen to maintain these levels and get people booking in advance to avoid disappointment in 2022.

We’ve also grown our portfolio, with the acquisition of the Royal Ashton Hotel which is our first independent hotel investment in the area. The purchase reinforces our commitment to the local community and brings our room inventory to over 1,500. We’ve already started applying our well-known people driven approach and I’m pleased to report things are going very well in the first month of trading.

Technology has remained a key investment on campus with the introduction of new tools to provide better guest experiences including new kiosk terminals and the Keezapp. The safety of our team and guest on campus still remains a core priority and we invested in our partnership with CriticalArc and the SafeZone app to enhance campus safety and provide a rapid response to calls for assistance.

And finally, let’s not forget the celebrations of our 3 ^rd birthday. Since 2018 we have grown significantly to almost 200 employees with a network of over 100 sub-contracting partners. Since day one we have embedded our core values and behaviours of ambition, inclusivity, collaboration, a caring nature and outstanding service in all that we do. Since 2018 we’ve:

Sold over 696,228 room nights
Provided over 8000 hours of training
Promoted 58 team members
Recruited, inducted and trained over 300 team members including our SWL colleges.

I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and commitment over the last year and look forward to continuing our success in the future.

We wish all of you and your families a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Yours sincerely

Tim Jones, CEO

Meet the team members shortlisted in HPC Excellence Awards 2021

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:40:49 GMT

Two of our team members and our Health and Safety department have been shortlisted under the People and Behaviour and Project Delivery theme at this year’s HPC Excellence Awards.

Gina McGuckin, Finance Officer for Payroll, has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Individual Performance category, which recognises individuals for their exceptional performance, commitment and approach to the Hinkley Point C project. Karis Holleron, Front Office Manager, has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Leader Award, recognising a particular manager or supervisor working on the project who inspires and supports their staff.

The Health and Safety department has been recognised in the Environment and Sustainability Award category, which recognises organisations that have shown a commitment to reducing their impact on the environment through initiatives that minimise carbon emissions, support biodiversity and contribute to the culture of sustainability at Hinkley Point C.

We speak to all those shortlisted on their role at HOST and what it means to them to be shortlisted.

Karis Holleron, Front Office Manager, based on Hinkley Campus

Gina McGuckin, Finance Officer for Payroll, based on Hinkley Campus and Sedgemoor Campus

Oliver Brewer, Health and Safety Coordinator & Tom Lind, Health and Safety Manager, based on Hinkley Campus and Sedgemoor Campus

Oliver Brewer, Health & Safety Coordinator

Tom Lind, Health and Safety Manager

Shortlisted nominees will now be considered by the judging panel, who will select the finalists. All finalists will then be invited to the GALA Awards Ceremony taking place on November 25th, 2021.

An interview with Mark Flinton

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 09:53:25 GMT

For three years, we’ve been supplying the campus accommodation and facilities for the teams working on the construction of the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Project. In this interview, Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director, explains what it’s like supplying services to the UK’s newest nuclear power station. Mark explains the positive effects that the campuses have had on employment in the local area and what it’s like working with the HPC team.

Watch the full interview below.

HOST team celebrate nominations in HPC Excellence Awards 2021

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:36:13 GMT

We’re proud to announce that six members of the HOST team have been nominated in this year’s HPC Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate 13 top performers across three themes; Project Delivery; Supply Chain and People and Behaviours.

The HOST team members have been nominated under the People and Behaviour theme in the categories Outstanding Individual Performance, Outstanding Leader and Rising Star.

Gina McGuckin, Finance Officer for Payroll, and Jay Owens, member of the Commercial Team, have been nominated in the Outstanding Individual Performance category that celebrates individuals working on the project who have shown strong engagement and a continuous commitment. Gina has demonstrated this through actively looking for innovative ways to improve HOST’s performance, including identifying a new payroll system, to enhance the end-user experience. Jay has been nominated for his constant hard work and professional approach, that also led him to identify areas in the business where cost savings could be made.

Three of our team members have been nominated for the Outstanding Leader award, that recognises a manager or supervisor who continues to inspire their team and encourages them to deliver the best results, including Karis Holleron, Front Office Manager, Hilde Stuiver, General Manager and Colin Weeks, Management Accountant. Karis has successfully coached her team to work together seamlessly to deliver excellent guest service while Hilde has demonstrated her natural ability to empower those around her, constantly uplifting the morale of the team. Colin has built a reputation as a trustworthy member of the team, who everyone feels comfortable talking to, his passion rubs off onto all his teammates, which also makes him a worthy candidate for this award.

And finally, Zoe Davis, General Administrator for HR, has been nominated, in the Rising Star category that recognises a particular apprentice, trainee, graduate or intern working on the project who has made a significant contribution to their team. Zoe has shown this through her dedication to implementing a number of initiatives to support the team with their mental and physical wellbeing and her positive approach to delivering the HOST values.

Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director, said: “At HOST, we pride ourselves on our training programme that ensures all of our team feel confident in the fact that they have the necessary skills needed to perform to the best of their ability. Recognition for the team at these awards is testament to our passion for lifelong learning and demonstrates our team’s continuous hard work and dedication to providing a five-start guest experience.”

The shortlist nominees will be announced at the end of September, with the GALA Awards Ceremony taking place on November 25th 2021.

A Day in the Life

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:25:16 GMT

June’s edition of ‘The Point’ magazine, the local magazine for Team HPC, featured a day with Zoe Gillard Stamp, General Administrator in the HR department, to find out what makes the HOST Campuses a home from home for our team members. If hospitality is a people business, then Zoe Gillard-Stamp helps to put the right people in position, so guests receive a warm welcome when they stay at HOST’s Sedgemoor and Hinkley campuses.

Zoe said: “This job is all about personality. So long as someone has a great personality, we can give them the skills and training they need.

“We want team members who make our guests feel they've had a great experience. When guests stay with us at our campuses, we want to offer a five-star service.”

Zoe, supports the 191-strong team of front office, IT specialists, maintenance operatives, security and housekeeping team, who keep both campuses ticking over 24/7.

Sedgemoor will be three years old in December, while Hinkley passed that milestone on Friday 11 June.

Over this time, it’s become a home from home for guests looking to stay close to the town centre while enjoying the campuses’ facilities including two bars, a gym, multipurpose sports pitches, a café and restaurant.

Here, we open the doors to the campus and spend a busy and varied day with Zoe and the team.

A typical day for Zoe:

08:30 “Every day starts with an all-team briefing. After a safety message, we talk about our priorities for the day. The Project is currently running the HPC workforce survey, so, I remind everyone to complete that."

09:00 “The first task for me is to sort the Covid-19 lateral flow tests. I look at the clocking-in records and use a random number generator to pick people. I then contact and chivvy them along to make sure all the test slots are used.”

10:00 “When we’re recruiting for new staff, I upload the jobs and put the details on our website. Jobs at HOST are really sought after, so we’ll end up with lots of CVs to sift through.”

12:30 “Lunchtime, and it’s a bit of a perk to work at a place where you have your own restaurant. We’re spoilt for choice!”

14:00 “I spend time running through my emails. Even though we’re a fairly small team, there’s always lots of people’s queries to deal with. Everything from welfare issues and training needs to vacancies and sickness absence. I also promote health and wellbeing for the team.”

17:00 “End of the day and I grab my kit. It’s time for some exercise. During lockdown, myself and my line manager, Kelly Quenault, decided to do the ‘Couch to 5K’. I’d never run before and started off by walking for a minute and running for a minute. But I love it now and we run 5K twice a week. It’s a great way to unwind."

HOST offers Covid-safe meeting rooms and private dining experience

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:30:56 GMT

We’re running a number of meeting rooms across our campuses to provide a Covid-safe space, helping local businesses continue their work in a secure environment.

Both our Hinkley Campus and Sedgemoor campus, offer a number of meeting rooms that are well equipped with a range of audio and visual equipment, including TV’s with cameras, that make the technological issues that can often come with a Zoom meeting, seem like a distant memory.

Our campuses have remained open and fully operational throughout the pandemic due to our comprehensive safety procedures, which are still in place today, with each room assigned a designated safe level of capacity and cleaning processes as well as pre-event checks taking place to ensure guests are protected. Both campuses have numerous hand sanitising stations throughout the buildings, fever screening and mandatory mask policies are also in place.

Food and Beverage options are available and are served safely in the onsite restaurant.

We also offer a private dining experience on both campuses for guests in a covid-safe environment. A minimum number of eight guests are needed to book and social distancing regulations must be adhered to. We currently offer three menus to choose from and canapes and pre-drinks are available. Themed dining options are also available upon request.

If you’re interested in finding out more, contact a member of our team using the details below:

Phone: 01278 559 382

Email: events@host-somerset.co.uk

We’re three!

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:14:02 GMT

Today we’re celebrating HOST’s 3 ^rd birthday.

Formed in 2018 by a group of west country companies to deliver the campus accommodation for the workers on EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C build, HOST has grown significantly to almost 200 employees with a network of over 100 sub-contracting partners.

Our two exemplar campuses, Hinkley and Sedgemoor, have a combined bedroom capacity of 1,496 and offer a number of high quality facilities to those involved in the build of the nuclear power station, including restaurants, bars, gyms, sports pitches, and meeting rooms.

Since day one we have embedded our core values and behaviours of ambition, inclusivity, collaboration, a caring nature and outstanding service in all that we do. We contribute positively to the local area and have always focused on hiring team members form the local community, recruiting not just on skills but also behaviours. In 2018, we ran a series of local workshops and events to engage local residents, and when we first opened over 75% of our staff were from the immediate local area.

Before opening, HOST employed three, full-time, qualified trainers to onboard and train all of our team and sub-contractors, making sure all roles were onboarded and inducted professionally and diligently. The HOST induction program was widely recognised as an exemplar across the HPC project and has been replicated by many other contractors since, resulting in HOST winning the 2018 HPC Excellence award for best contractor.

Since then, our success has continued to grow, and we have accomplished many achievements including;

696,228 room nights sold
Over 8000 hours of training delivered
Over 1700 hours of online eLearning completed
58 team have been promoted from their original role
110 professional qualifications delivered to the HOST team
Over 300 team members have been recruited, inducted, and trained
Over 35 apprentices have been trained through the HOST apprenticeship program

Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director, said: “All of these achievements are a result of our hardworking team who continue to show dedication and enthusiasm in all they do. Each individual team member adds something special to the service we provide to our guests and we truly could not do it without you. The future is bright for HOST and we are looking forward to growing the brand further. Happy birthday to the whole team!”

HOST becomes Taste of the West member

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:20:08 GMT

HOST is pleased to announce that it has been accepted as an Affiliate Member of Taste of the West , the largest independent food group in the UK that supports food and drink businesses in the South West region.

The membership is available to those companies that can positively contribute to the areas thriving food and drink industry. As an official provider of Highfield Training courses, HOST is now uniquely positioned to offer a full range of training opportunities to this network of over 1,000 organisations, large or small.

HOST offer a variety of hospitality programmes at our covid-safe facilities on Sedgemoor Campus in Somerset, that can support local businesses in training their teams to their full potential.

Our courses are supported by the latest technology and run by qualified trainers. If employers require training on site, HOST can also visit retailers and producers on their own premises, helping companies upskill their team while remaining legally compliant, without having to spend time away from their business.

Learning at Work Week

Fri, 21 May 2021 13:52:29 GMT

At HOST we have a passion for lifelong learning. We pride ourselves on our training, ensuring our team are motivated, enabling them to perform at the very best of their ability.

In celebration of Learning at Work Week , we have had lots of training sessions taking place across both our Hinkley and Sedgemoor Campuses for the team.

Jo Cox, our in-house trainer, has delivered a series of virtual training sessions on the difference between Coaching and Mentoring, as part of our mentoring programme which pairs senior management with the next generation of HOST leaders, giving them the support and motivation needed to fulfil their potential.

We’re also running our ‘Ways of Working’ programme, delivered in collaboration with Crisp Professional Development , which enables our future leaders to develop the skills and behaviours they need to meet their potential. We believe continuous professional development is the key to a successful business, with a lasting local legacy.

Another part of our programme is to introduce potential leaders of the future to new ideas. This month we are all reading ‘The Chimp Paradox’ a fascinating exploration into how we manage our emotions. The book, written by Dr Steve Peters, has helped Olympic athletes like Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, manage their emotions in high pressure situations and we hope that our team will also benefit from this.

Training is delivered daily by the HOST Training team, and the unique blend of classroom, virtual and self-led programmes, has delivered over 400 hours of training to our team and sub-contractors so far this year.

We recognise that we all learn best in different ways and at different times, which is why we integrate the hospitality based learning platform, Flow . Our team is able to learn about a range of subjects such as Customer Service, GDPR, Leadership and many others, from wherever they are through this tool.

We’ve recently become an official provider of the globally recognised Highfield Training courses, that allows us to deliver a range of classroom and online courses from our training facilities on our campuses, in Somerset. The courses range from Food Safety to Manual Handling, and we have recently delivered the Auditing and Inspection Level 3 course to ten learners with the majority passing with Distinction.

Finally, HOST is proud to have been part of the EDF pilot project to transfer Apprenticeship Levy funds. This allowed over 30 members of the HOST team the opportunity to study whilst working, and many the of the team have passed with distinctions and are now looking for the next challenge.

HOST named as finalist at prestigious Somerset Business Awards

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 08:18:39 GMT

We’re proud to have been named finalists in the ‘Investing in Somerset’ award at the Somerset Business Awards 2021, announced at a virtual ceremony, last week.

Recognised by the judges, HOST was praised for its dedication to supporting the area’s economy through its regional supply chain and its focus on local employment at both the Hinkley and Sedgemoor Campuses, that accommodate the construction team working at the EDF Energy Hinkley Point C project.

Campus Operations Director at HOST, Mark Flinton, said: “To be shortlisted in this award, against stiff competition, for our contribution to Somerset’s economy, is testament to our hardworking team and a reflection of our ‘local first’ philosophy. We strive to create a positive impact wherever we operate and our dedication to creating a local supply chain and workforce emphasises our commitment to leaving a positive, lasting legacy.”

Now in its 16 ^th year, the Somerset Business Awards have grown to become the county’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of the very best of Somerset’s businesses and their exceptional accomplishments, and they are the only county-wide business awards in the county.

HOST partners with CriticalArc to enhance campus safety

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:46:36 GMT

Three year contract secured to enable improved safeguarding for entire campus community

HOST has launched a new partnership with CriticalArc , creators of SafeZone®, in a bid to further enhance safety and support for staff and guests across HOST’s entire campus community.

Using SafeZone, HOST’s campus security team has been able to deliver a more rapid response to calls for assistance across all campus facilities, and to better support and assist guest and staff working remotely.

The technology has also enabled responders to pinpoint the precise locations of individuals calling for assistance in a wide range of situations, including those working alone out of hours, those with vulnerabilities, and those with medical emergencies.

Guests and staff can check-in and use the service with the SafeZone mobile app which puts them in immediate contact with the security control room or they can chat with the Front Office team if they have any questions. The technology also makes it easy for the security team to optimise response and provide appropriate intervention in the event of an emergency.

As part of the new partnership, HOST will be able to deliver the same level of safety & security to its guests whether they are workers on a nationally significant infrastructure project or students on a university campus.

Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director, said: “In these uncertain times, the safety of our guests and visitors is at the forefront of everything we do. At HOST, we are constantly reviewing ways to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of everyone in our community. We look forward to this new partnership with CriticalArc and using SafeZone to ensure our safety measures operate at the highest level by keeping everyone connected and enabling the most efficient response to any potential situation.”

“It’s more important than ever to keep in touch with their guests and staff, to fulfil their duty of care and ensure that those who need help of any kind get the quickest possible response,” said Darren Chalmers-Stevens, Managing Director of CriticalArc. “We are delighted to be working with HOST by implementing SafeZone to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and guests.”

For more information on CriticalArc and SafeZone go to www.criticalarc.com or email contact@criticalarc.com.

A message from the CEO

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 08:22:06 GMT

Dear Team

With a hint of spring in the air and a Government ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ announced there feels to have been a noticeable lift in morale. Any post-Christmas, January blues, are thankfully fading into the abyss and HOST could not be more excited for the journey ahead.

The business hit the ground running after the winter break and first quarter results have been impressive providing us with a solid foundation to build on for what is set to be a promising 2021.

With occupancy levels thriving and some significant milestones ahead of us it is a busy time as we prepare to reopen our guest facilities. We have some fantastic technology launching to enable guests to book their leisure activities seamlessly via a bespoke HOST booking app.

COVID-19 resilience is still front and centre of our operations and measures are continually evolving in line with current guidelines, the most significant being the introduction of an intensive testing program across the project with over 10,000 tests being administered since January. The commitment to our COVID secure status is just as prevalent today as it has ever been. We’ve also opened a number of meeting rooms across our campuses to provide COVID safe spaces for local businesses, helping them to continue their work.

This fantastic start to the year would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the team so I would like to take the opportunity to thank each of you for your continued efforts in delivering the success of the campuses.

Yours sincerely

Tim Jones, CEO

Full Occupancy During the Pandemic – An interview with Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:52:01 GMT

Teamwork and communication are key to the successful delivery of safe worker accommodation during a pandemic.

Covid-19 has thrown the industry many challenges, but HOST’s approach to the pandemic has enabled a ‘business-as-usual approach’. Existing procedures implemented in late 2019 has meant HOST has been able to operate normally, with high levels of occupancy throughout the pandemic, which is testament to the fantastic team efforts of everyone at HOST 2 Limited.

Here, HOST’s campus Operations Director, Mark Flinton, explains how he and his team have worked together to ensure guest health and safety are number one.

To reach full occupancy during the challenges of a global pandemic is an impressive achievement. How would you summarise your approach to this?

The Hinkley Point C project was listed as Critical National Infrastructure by the Government which allowed us to remain fully operational, enabling construction to continue, since the first lockdown in March 2020. For that we are very grateful. However, this meant we had to respond very quickly to provide an environment that was safe and secure for the workforce.

Key to this was implementing social distancing and additional safety measures, bespoke training and importantly communication. Through weekly emails we updated our team and guests on latest guidelines and actions we were conducting to reassure them their stay was safe.

Because of this response, we enhanced our reputation for providing a safe home-from-home environment which provided our guests with the confidence to keep returning.

How were your campuses set up prior to the pandemic? Did this preparation play a part in your response to Covid-19?

We already had viral outbreak procedures in place . This helped significantly with our preparedness for the pandemic.

As a standard, all public areas are cleaned every two hours and sanitising stations have been installed throughout our spaces. We then added social distancing measures and protective screens as well as thermal cameras in the restaurants to screen everyone that came in.

Putting people and guests first is part of our work ethos and culture, everything we do is driven by the need to ensure guests are looked after and treated as guests. Our team is looked after in same way and were offered flexible and home working options where possible.

How did you communicate with the guests staying at the campus, especially so early on in the pandemic, when symptoms, testing and guidelines were so uncertain?

We sent out regular emails to guests and contacts, keeping them fully up to speed on guidelines and the various changes throughout this period. The benefit of being an element of the Hinkley Point C Project was that both us and the project shared coordinated messaging about new government guidelines and changes in the way we must use the campuses in order to comply. Everyone who works on the Hinkley Point C Project signs up to a code of conduct which means that new rules have to be adhered to.

Whilst keeping guests’ physical health high on the list of importance, how did you support their mental health too?

Many of our guests are working away from home for long periods of time so it’s important we create a place they feel at home. We take positive and proactive measures to maintain good mental health and share weekly mental health and wellbeing updates – with tips on how to cope under these particular circumstances.

We set up outdoor activities such as chess and table tennis, which could be played safely and within small numbers while still social distancing. We shared online activities, such as quizzes, Sudoku etc., and virtual tours of F1 and major football stadiums which could be streamed through YouTube. These were small ways of engaging with the guests and showing we were there with them, particularly if they were feeling low.

We also have support from the GMB Union and 24-hour mental health and wellbeing first aiders on hand. Even our front desk is trained to deal with certain issues and anxieties – they are familiar faces for our guests and it’s important they know how to identify and respond to people struggling.

In addition to your guests, how did you support your own workforce?

We sent regular questionnaires to the team to ask them to identify any concerns or issues and what they would need from us in return. An open dialogue was essential and often it was fed back how the team felt safe at work – more so perhaps than external venues.

Other than full occupancy, what would you say your biggest achievement has been over the last year?

It would be looking after our team, our workers and all those who rely on us. The fact we have an environment where people can stay and work in full confidence of their own safety is very important to us. The outlook was much lower in March so to come through that with such a positive outcome as well as full occupancy is a massive achievement.

In addition to this we have been able to support the local community through the pandemic from helping to provide a local care home with PPE and food supplies, to temporarily accommodating public service workers during the first lockdown. Within our own supply chain - 70 per cent of whom are Somerset based - we introduced a weekly management call to discuss the latest government schemes including furlough and CBILs, and how we could best share information to achieve the best outcomes for our companies. We also introduced shorter payment terms and reviewed working schedules.

With light at the end of the tunnel now with a possible vaccine for the virus, what do you expect from the future?

Initially, maintaining the level of sanitising and cleaning required was a challenge, but this has set a new standard moving forward that won’t change. We’ll encourage continued close collaboration and communication with the supply chain, our team, and guests which will be a crucial part of running this campus safely.

Looking forward to 2021

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:55:21 GMT

Dear Team

After unprecedented challenges in 2020, the new year is already looking a lot more promising. News on the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccinations means a return to life as it was before the pandemic looks to be within our grasp.

Throughout the pandemic, we have maintained our highest-ever occupancy level. We expect this to remain the case throughout 2021, with demand for space continuing to rise and economic activity stabilising. We are keen to get people booking well in advance to ensure we are ahead of this anticipated curve.

Safety remains our number one priority over the course of the next year. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have worked closely alongside NNB within government guidelines. Our Stay Safe campaign remains in full force. We will also be introducing more cutting-edge technology to make it easier to book while minimising transmission risk at every level, including a Keez app and kiosks in reception, along with remaining very vigilant and careful about sanitation and hygiene throughout our accommodation.

Despite the positive news of the vaccinations, we as a team need to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of everyone who uses our site continues to be the number one priority. I would like to thank everyone for their help pulling together as a team over the last year and look forward to our continued efforts in helping people on the journey towards a brighter, more resilient future. We wish all of you and your families a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Yours sincerely

Tim Jones, CEO

HOST welcome the government’s 10-point plan for a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 08:13:30 GMT

Last week the government announced an ambitious plan for a green industrial revolution via a ‘10 point plan’ - set out to deliver not only a green recovery from the current pandemic but also drive the UK towards its net-zero emissions target.

Underpinned by £12 billion in new and previously announced investments, the plan allows the UK to press on with its positive contribution to climate change over the next three decades, whilst supporting up to 250,000 thousand green jobs in the North and beyond.

Johnson said, “Our green industrial revolution will be powered by the wind turbines of Scotland and the North East, propelled by the electric vehicles made in the Midlands and advanced by the latest technologies developed in Wales, so we can look ahead to a more prosperous, greener future."

The plan includes the funding of an additional £200 million for carbon capture and storage (CCS), totalling £1 billion, up to £500m for new hydrogen production facilities and £525m to develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants and advanced modular reactors. The announcement follows the government’s recent pledge to bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030. With additional investment planned to support the transition to electric vehicles this is inevitably going to drive investment in national grid infrastructure to support.

Tim says, “At HOST we’re optimistic about the announcements and believe the next steps should be centred on coordination. We recently joined the Sizewell C consortium, an important group of businesses and organisations, set up earlier this year to call on the Government to support the proposed nuclear power station. This is a significant project set to deliver 25,000 job opportunities and a significant number of apprenticeships. It has the potential to provide a major boost for the UK economy and will project it forward on its road to net-zero.”

With a proven track record at two campuses for EDF Energy Hinkley Point C, HOST has transformed accommodation for workforces and is set to support several new sites in the UK. With the vast number of job opportunities set to rise thanks to these new plans, the health and safety of the people who are at the front lines in delivering these projects, is a very important priority of these large builds and one that should not be forgotten. Many of the men and women who work on these high-profile sites are living away for extended periods of time, which means the accommodation provided plays a large role in the person’s overall wellbeing . HOST apply the principles of hospitality management to provide exemplary customer service within the worker accommodation environment adopting the latest technology putting worker wellbeing and happiness at the forefront of what we do.

Efficiency and collaboration are central to the success of this green revolution. HOST looks forward to supporting the people making the journey to net zero one step closer.

Tim Jones, CEO

Zero Harm Week

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 14:18:05 GMT

We believe all harm is preventable. That’s why Zero Harm is an enduring priority for us. This ambition means making sure our workplaces are safe and healthy for everyone: our employees and anyone working on our behalf.

It is important to recognise the challenge that we are facing. COVID-19 has provided us an opportunity to become more dynamic with the way we engage with our Team, Guests and Visitors. As such, many of the activities available last year have had to be removed in the interest of safety. We will look forward to a time when these activities and the hard work taken to organise these activities can return.

Zero Harm Week 2019 Poster Collection

A Message from our CEO Tim Jones

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 13:10:06 GMT

Dear Team

The government have announced new nationwide measures due to the growth of COVID19 figures within the UK. The increasing rates of infection have placed the country at a critical juncture in its efforts to suppress the virus.

Living with the virus has gradually become a normality for us in our day to day lives and it is easy to become complacent as time moves on. At this crucial point in time, I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone how essential it is to continue adhering to the measures already in place with regards to social distancing and levels of personal hygiene, in addition to the new practices due to be implemented this week both at work and when we return home.

The increase in national infection rates combined with our highest ever occupancy levels means it is time for a renewed vigor in our approach to the virus, bringing the emphasis of minimising the potential for transmission right back to the forefront of our minds.

The safety of our team and guests has been, and will continue to be, paramount to us as a business and we will continue to fight the virus with the integrity and intensity shown from the start of the pandemic.

I would like to thank everyone for pulling together as a team and, despite the continual changes to our ways of working, delivering consistently high standards and achieving some amazing results along the way. HOST is a key part of the HPC project and all our efforts contribute to its success in these challenging times.

Keep each other safe.

Yours Sincerely

Tim Jones

HOST CEO

Thank You From Somerset NHS

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:10:32 GMT

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

HOST was able to provide support for NHS Somerset Foundation Trust when they needed it most by providing them with free accommodation for their team members who needed a place to stay during these hard times.

It is heart warming to know local businesses have been coming together in all communities offering support to our Key Workers through COVID-19.

Our very own Security Officer has been staying at the HOST Campuses and she wanted to share her story with us:

"I have been staying on campus because I live with my daughter and my mum who is 72. She was recently diagnosed with CPOD and angina as well asthma so her breathing isn’t great. She was really worried about me coming home every day from work and potentially carrying the virus home with me so when host agreed to let me move onto the campus. This made my mum feel much safer to stay at home and isolate with my daughter.

I also wanted to thank Barry from the kitchen personally, he really looked after me when he was working so that I could eat a meal that catered to my vegan dietary requirements. He has really made an effort to make sure I could eat well."

Hinkley Campus 2nd Anniversary

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:34:42 GMT

Message from Management

"Dear Team, what an achievement, 2 years of HOST 2 Ltd. All the effort and hard work over these 2 years has resulted in a campus and company we can be really proud of. Thank you all and the future is looking bright." - Hinkley Campus General Manager

"Yesterday was a very emotional day to be involved in, it was the 2nd birthday of HOST opening its doors at Hinkley to our first guests, I have fond memories of that day as the weather was a lot hotter! However, the warmth, energy, and enthusiasm shown yesterday was truly amazing. I am proud to have so many team members that have grown professionally and personally with HOST to become truly great brand and project ambassadors. Thank you for the work, thank you for your warm hearted personalities that have shone through, and thank you for making HOST what it is. Here is to our future together growing the HOST brand and working as one team! Well done all!" - Campus Operations Director

Environment Week 1st-7th June

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:29:55 GMT

This week is Environment Week and to celebrate this we want to encourage all our fantastic photographers, brilliant bug enthusiasts and excellent ecologists to send their photos and drawings in to HOST for display on our ‘Natural Somerset’ board.

We will also be providing a family fun page with puzzles and a wildlife bingo for your creative kids to get involved with, spotting the local Somerset Wildlife.

Hinkley Campus will have the Viridor Suite to inform of us responsible waste management and what happens to our waste at campus through information and interactive games.

Please join us in spreading awareness of Biodiversity

HOST Training

Mon, 18 May 2020 13:22:58 GMT

They say ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ and for the training team at HOST that has certainly been the case.

Like most businesses, with the onset of Covid 19, HOST has had to adapt its Learning and Development quickly.

HOST support the HPC project and are therefore keyworkers, so most of the team have remained working within the campuses. However, those that can, have been working from home so we have had to find a blend of learning and development opportunities.

Remote learning has been utilised, offering daily training sessions via Microsoft Teams, these have been well attended and surprisingly easy to facilitate. Our Housekeeping department have been creating training videos, which we can host on our team Facebook page, so that more recently employed members of the team can access bite-size training sessions as they need to.

There has also been a lot of great external sources of L&D that has been provided by various outlets such as Linkedin Learning and local colleges, which has been a great help, and added to the HOST offering.

HOST’s 35 Apprentices have also had to adapt their learning. The local training providers such as Bridgwater & Taunton College and First Intuition in Bristol have been extremely proactive in ensuring that visits that would usually take place onsite, have taken place remotely, so that there is continuity with contact and assessments.

The overall experience has been a steep learning curve for our training department and learners but new skills have been learnt, and moving forwards we believe the training offering will be much more engaging and exciting.

A Message from our CEO Tim Jones

Fri, 15 May 2020 13:21:11 GMT

Dear Team

In light of the Government announcement at the weekend - 10/05/2020, I wanted to take the opportunity to assure all of the teams employed at the campuses that HOST will continue its vigorous approach in following the Government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19 and its aim to become a ‘COVID-19 Secure Workplace’.

It is vitally important to us our teams can carry out their duties in an environment that complies with the recommended guidance and your safety whilst at work is our principle objective.

To support this aim there have been a number of ‘Working Safely’ guides that have been published by the Government giving advice to businesses on how to work safely during the pandemic; to assess the risks, enable social distancing and enhance hygiene procedures.

HOST have already implemented a number of these working practices that have now become imbedded as part of our day to day working lives and there will be additional measures introduced once an assessment of the guides has been carried out.

The Government also announced a return to work for people who are unable to work from home and a return to school for children in certain age groups. I would like to assure our teams there will be support if you or your families face any challenges due to these recent changes, so please raise any concerns with the HR team who will explore your options with you.

HOST will continue to keep abreast of the ever-changing landscape in the fight against the pandemic and I would like to thank you again for your hard work and commitment to the business during these difficult times.

Please continue to keep each other safe.

Tim Jones

HOST CEO

2.6 Challenge in support of Children's Hospice South West

Mon, 04 May 2020 14:04:12 GMT

#TwoPointSixChallenge

Can you take on a 2.6 Challenge in support of @CHSW? Whatever you can do – from walking, running, cycling 2.6 miles to juggling for 2.6 minutes. Iuliana, our Housekeeping Manager has run 2.6 for the Children's Hospice South West. Well done Iuliana!

Lisa has completed 13 of her 26 puzzles and they look fantastic!

Kay has done a 26 minute challenge of keeping her lips sealed for 26 whole minutes.

Please send us pictures and videos of your #TwoPointSixChallenge activities tagging us on Facebook @HOST2Ltd or on Twitter @HOSTSomerset .

D onations can be made via our JustGiving page; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thetwopointsixchallengehost

On Sunday the 24th of April, The London Marathon, the world’s biggest, single-day fundraising event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To help our charity, the Children’s Hospice South West, we are joining the 2.6 challenge.

To join in with us, choose any activity based around the number 2.6 or 26. This can be running for 2.6 miles, doing 26 press ups at home with your dog, or walking some laps of the HOST Campus! The most important thing is to have fun, donate to the Children’s Hospice South West and of course, stick to the Government’s social distancing guidelines.

Please send us pictures and videos of your #TwoPointSixChallenge activities tagging us on Facebook @HOST2Ltd or on Twitter @HOSTSomerset .

Donations can be made via our JustGiving page; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thetwopointsixchallengehost

Abbeyfield Taunton Care Home

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:31:37 GMT

HOST AND ITS SUPPLY CHAIN COME TO THE RESCUE...

Once again HOST stepped up to help the local community by using its own reliable food chain to ensure elderly residents in Taunton could have access to the food they required.

The stress and anxiety felt by so many careers during this difficult time can only be exasperated when you’re unable to access the food you need to continue giving your residents a healthy, balanced diet, and this was the case at Abbeyfield Northfield Court in Taunton.

Abbeyfield Northfield Court, a small supported housing residence for the active elderly, was unable to buy the food it needed from its local supermarket and so HOST ordered from its suppliers, and members of the HOST team delivered the goods to Taunton.

It wasn’t long before the sheltered house realised that it’s stock of PPE for its careers was insufficient, and again HOST used its suppliers to assist with the requirement.

David Lowe, Chairman of Abbeyfield Northfield Court said “In the early days of the Covid19 crisis our regular large supermarket could not supply us with the food we needed for our residents, some of whom have special dietary needs. HOST has stepped into the breach and is now supplying us with the food and other household items we require. Similarly, an extra supply of PPE items was required for our staff. The reassurance their reliable supply chain has given us has taken a great worry from the trustees and our staff.”

Key Workers

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:22:30 GMT

With Covid-19 case numbers still rising, our NHS, Education, Food, Care, and many other Key workers are still attending work while facing the fear and uncertainty of passing the virus onto their families at home. Our Events team have been busy reaching out to these key & critical workers to offer them a safe place to stay while they carry out essential duties.

So far, we have reached out to a total of 163 companies within the South West, offering our hospitality so that these key workers can get a good night’s rest in between their working hours, while assuring that their loved ones are safe and distanced at home. We currently have members for the NHS and Education services booked in to stay.

Covid-19 Update

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 13:26:37 GMT

HOST have put together a new webpage focusing on COVID-19 to keep guests updated on their procedures that have been put in place for HOST Team and Guest Safety.

The Campus Amenity Building has been equipped with barriers to protect our team and guests alike. You will see signs all over campus (as shown) reminding everyone to keep their 2 metres distance.

Only you our guest are then left to make sure you are following the rules that HPC EDF NNB and HOST have put in place.

We still want to make sure your stay is enjoyable so check out our ' Things to do ' page.

Shoe Box Appeal

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 14:17:30 GMT

HOST, with the support of its local drink supplier, Tolchards, has been able to donate refreshments for the Gift of Giving Shoe box Appeal in Bridgwater.

Set up in 2015 by Kelly Llewelyn, the local Shoe Box appeal supports those that are homeless and has grown from providing 100 boxes in its first year, to thousands, just five years later.

Mrs Llewelyn was inspired by her son Uwyn, then aged 8, "He asked if he could use his pocket money to purchase some food and a drink for a rough sleeper sitting outside the shop. So this is what we did.”

Uwyn wanted to help more homeless people and Mrs Llewelyn thought that if he could show compassion for a vulnerable person, she could do more, and so the family – husband Daniel, Kelly and their three children run the charity.

More information on the charity can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1656232844660117/

The Springboard Charity

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 14:12:13 GMT

Some of HOST’s leaders were privileged enough to attend a recent dinner at Clevedon Hall, in aid of The Springboard Charity, who help unemployed people of all abilities and backgrounds to get sustainable jobs in hospitality.

The event was to highlight the benefits of employing young people with disabilities.

The dinner was hosted by Clevedon Hall, The Springboard Charity and Foxes Academy, from which several of its students carry out regular work experience with HOST, and indeed have found employment with us.

Some of the South West’s top chefs generously donated their time to cook a delicious five course dinner, served by Foxes Academy students, and savoured by all in attendance, and a massive £14,000 was raised.

HOST hero wins Silver in the HPC Excellence Awards 2019

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 14:06:09 GMT

Ela Kadlubowska, Front Office Manager at HOST’s Hinkley Campus was recognised as a ‘People Leader’ at the HPC Excellence Awards 2019, held at Somerset’s County Cricket Ground on 27th November 2019.

Having been shortlisted just weeks earlier, Ela had been thrilled to have been recognised from the many nominations, saying that it was “completely unexpected.” So scooping Silver on the big night came as a real shock. “My team are fantastic” she said “and that makes leading them so much easier.”

Campus Operations Director, Mark Flinton said ‘Ela has been working as part of the HOST team for eighteen months and in this time has proved a passionate individual, committed to delivering excellent results. Her analytical eye identifies trends in the business, and she is not afraid to make decisions or take on challenges.’

‘Ela has always proved a great leader, accessible and available to those who need her and always there to lend a helping hand or give a listening ear’ added Hilde Stuiver, General Manager Designate. “With 500 guests on campus most evenings the reception team are always busy, but also friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. This attitude is only ever achieved when a team has a great leader.”

This is another fantastic achievement for HOST who also scooped the Bronze award in the Chain Supply category.

host-somerset

HOST Raises £3,854 For St Margaret's Hospice

HOST Move-A-Thon 2024 Raises £3,854 For St Margaret's Hospice

HOST 6th Birthday

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week

HOST Test Centre 1st Birthday

HOST Raises £5,666 For St Margaret's Hospice

HOST are proud to announce a total of £5,666 raised for St Margaret’s Hospice.

If you would like to watch our Move-A-Thon live-stream video, you can find it on our Facebook page here .

HOST's Wellbeing Wall

HOST Test Centre - A Day In The Life

A day in the life of Anthony and Jasmine:

HOST 5th Birthday

HOST 5th Birthday

Celebrating Foxes Academy

HPC Excellence Awards nominations

HPC Excellence Awards nominations

Our Nomination:

CEO Message

CEO Message

HOST 4th Birthday

HOST 4th Birthday

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK

WOMEN IN SECURITY

WOMEN IN SECURITY

HOST achieves one million room nights milestone

Meet the Team: Annia Holleron

Annia Holleron, Sales and Marketing Administrator, based on both Hinkley & Sedgemoor Campus

A message from the CEO

Meet the team members shortlisted in HPC Excellence Awards 2021

Karis Holleron, Front Office Manager, based on Hinkley Campus

Gina McGuckin, Finance Officer for Payroll, based on Hinkley Campus and Sedgemoor Campus

Oliver Brewer, Health and Safety Coordinator & Tom Lind, Health and Safety Manager, based on Hinkley Campus and Sedgemoor Campus

Oliver Brewer, Health & Safety Coordinator

Tom Lind, Health and Safety Manager

An interview with Mark Flinton

HOST team celebrate nominations in HPC Excellence Awards 2021

A Day in the Life

HOST offers Covid-safe meeting rooms and private dining experience

We’re three!

HOST becomes Taste of the West member

Learning at Work Week

HOST named as finalist at prestigious Somerset Business Awards

HOST partners with CriticalArc to enhance campus safety

A message from the CEO

Full Occupancy During the Pandemic – An interview with Mark Flinton, Campus Operations Director

Looking forward to 2021

HOST welcome the government’s 10-point plan for a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’

Zero Harm Week

Zero Harm Week 2019 Poster Collection ﻿

A Message from our CEO Tim Jones

Thank You From Somerset NHS

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Hinkley Campus 2nd Anniversary

Message from Management

Environment Week 1st-7th June

HOST Training

A Message from our CEO Tim Jones

2.6 Challenge in support of Children's Hospice South West

#TwoPointSixChallenge

Abbeyfield Taunton Care Home

HOST AND ITS SUPPLY CHAIN COME TO THE RESCUE...

Key Workers

Covid-19 Update

Shoe Box Appeal

The Springboard Charity

HOST hero wins Silver in the HPC Excellence Awards 2019

Zero Harm Week 2019 Poster Collection