Cameron House Resort has announced that its Training and Development Manager, Laura Dunphy, has been recognised as one of the most inspiring young leaders in the UK hospitality sector, after she was named a winner in The Caterer Acorn Awards 2022.
Now in its 36th year, the Acorn Awards shine a light on the brightest prospects of the industry by appointing an annual ‘30 under 30’ of the finest hospitality stars, nominated by their peers.
Laura Dunphy from Glasgow began her career as a Banqueting Server at Cameron House while at school. She continued working at the resort through her university studies before she graduated and joined the Principal Hotels’ Graduate programme in Manchester then latterly the Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow.
Recognising her desire for team and colleague development, she worked her way through the ranks, holding numerous HR roles, before being recruited back to Cameron House in 2021.
She was first tasked with creating a new training strategy to elevate the hotel’s service to match its world-class offering, and rolled out the ‘Clan Welcome’, a three-day induction programme for new starts. In the 12 months since she was recruited, Laura has trained 75 new department trainers, resulting in over 15,000 hours of training.
In the face of extreme recruitment challenges in the industry, Laura’s passion for the next generation has also shone through. She has forged links with local schools, colleges and businesses, including the University of Strathclyde’s Business School, to encourage candidates to consider a career at Cameron House.
Since coming on board at Cameron House on Loch Lomond, she has increased applications to the hotel’s HIT Scholarship programme by more than 75% and upscaled its Graduate Programme increasing its annual intake by 80% thanks to an improved, bespoke performance plan introduced for each recruit.
The Glasgow Caledonian University graduate has also used her spare time to develop her skillset including Mental Health First Aid Instructor training and Education & Training Level 3 Certificate which she will use to support the team.
Nominator Jennifer Jurgensen, Director of Human Resources at Cameron House, said: “In more than 30 years in the industry and working with many talented young people, Laura’s achievements are some of the most impressive I have encountered, and she is truly deserving of this recognition from The Caterer Acorn Awards.
“In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has demonstrated her ability to navigate through extremely challenging situations, all while maintaining a fun and personalised approach. Her strong understanding of the hotel industry makes her a hugely relatable individual who is respected and inspiring to others.
“At 29, Laura's career in the industry is still young, and she inspires our considerable under-30 workforce of what you can achieve in hospitality. We are very proud of her journey with Cameron House so far and can’t wait to watch her thrive in the future.”
Andy Roger, Resort Director at Cameron House, added: “Laura was one of our most pivotal appointments last year. She has been responsible for the introduction of the three-day induction during very trying times for the industry and most importantly, has continued to show a personal approach for each recruit, inspiring them for their own futures. This recognition from The Caterer Acorn Awards could not be more well deserved.”
The winner’s ceremony took place at Rudding Park in Harrogate on 29-30 May 2022.
Cameron House on Loch Lomond
https://www.cameronhouse.co.uk
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