The annual team brean awards awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate our team members success throughout 2020 and to say thank you and well done from the management team and Directors.
This is our 4th annual team brean awards, who’d of thought 12 months ago we would not be holding a celebration event and be forced to hold this event virtually this year.
No one could have predicted a year like this with us having to adapt to a completely different way of working.
We would like to thank everyone immensely for what has certainly been a bumpy ride but we have done ourselves proud and worked towards our 2020 goal of being better together. Striving to do our best in difficult circumstances for both our colleagues and guests.
From the start of the first lockdown team members have worked outside of their comfort zones and wore different hats working across different areas to help the business. Without realising how much they have been developing themselves and learning more about the business along the way.
We would like to personally thank every single one of our team for contributing to the team this year. Without them there is no team and there is no business to serve our guests.
Even with the difficulties faced this year some departments have excelled over a short period such as the summer holidays when the UK staycation was in its prime.
Holiday check in became virtual with online videos and welcome hosts at the entrance to reduce the need to visit reception. Entertainment adapted to life in an outdoor marquee, capacity was reduced significantly at Brean Splash and Brean Play. The online app was launched for activity booking and food and drink. Not forgetting the effort in increase of cleaning of high touch points and the installation of over 40 hand sanitiser stations. The list of changes go on
Our annual team awards were designed to reward achievement across the year and recognise efforts in all areas and at all levels within the business.
The event started by celebrating length of service amongst our team. Certificates were were then issued to several team members celebrating 5, 10, 20 and 25 years of service.
Our long service team members are a mixture of people that have progressed through the ranks since joining #teambrean as a student or have remained in a similar role throughout. This helps us provide a consistent level of service to our guests and for these team members to act as a role model for new team members.
On to the awards
The categories were Service Excellence, Best Buddy, Top Perfomer, Un-Sung Hero, Top Hatter, Team of the Year, Bert House Award and an award in memory of our founder Bert House.
Service Excellence
Awarded to our new Brean Country Club Manager Heather Hudson who transferred to the role in the Sumner and did a fantastic job ensuring an excellent service was provided to our guests backed up by several positive guest reviews.
Top Hatter - New for 2020
This is someone who has embraced the wearing of different hats during these difficult times. They have got stuck in with different tasks and roles outside of their normal job with enthusiasm.
This award is very relevant to this year and is also something we are looking to develop to have more multi trained team members across the company.
We have had at around 20 team members working outside of their normal areas this year. From accounts to maintenance, brean play to reception and leisure park catering. Hr and events to housekeeping, accounts to caravan sales to name a few. Thank you very much. This meant we could utilise existing team members who may not have had hours in their own area to other others giving them training plus up skilling them in the overall business.
The award for top hatter this year goes to someone who temporarily moved to a new department at unity reception whilst their area was forced to close. Learning a whole new area whilst bringing a smile and enthusiasm, then upon return to her area has benefited from the experience in this other area. The winner of top hatter award for 2020 is Amy Lay Farnell from Brean Play
Un-Sung Hero
This award is for someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for either a one off event or a series of actions or someone who knuckles down, doesn’t cause a fuss and may not be seen or recognised by other team members of guests for a job well done.
This award this year goes to someone who was key in our operating infrastructure for re-opening in a covid secure manner. This meant a complete change in operating from both a guest perspective when ordering food and drink as well as ironing out service issues in the back of house side of the operation. In many nominations were the words he helps in many different ways most of which go un-seen. So this person is the perfect winner for this award and that is Stuart Hewlett from RJs.
Top Performer - New for 2020
This award is for someone who has exceeded their objectives or targets in an exemplary manner. They have overcome the obstacles presented by the changes and challenges that covid have brought.
Nominations for this award were far ranging featuring a number of departments. The winner of our top performer award goes to someone who has superseded their targets and adapted to a complete new way of selling involving less human interaction. This person is Roger Shaw from holiday home sales.
Best Buddy - New for 2020
This award is for someone who has gone out of their way to help either someone or others by supporting and training. They have been there as a point of contact for those perhaps working in a different area or department to normal.
This person received multiple nominations from not just within their own department. Was a point of contact for all team members transferring to the department, they had lots of paitence and empathy as well as having to adapt to a lot of covid operational changes. This person is also the face of many of social media videos and has recently completed her customer service apprenticeship. Well done to Tracey Buckell Team Leader at Holiday Resort Unity reception.
Team of the year
This was very difficult one for this year as each team has faced so many different challenges and hurdles to overcome. Many were faced with reduced team numbers, a complete change in operating to reduce human contact with a huge customer demand in the main summer holidays. A special mention goes to the housekeeping team who were judged more than ever in the cleaning and hygiene processes in place and faced with a reduced team through no fault of their own.
The award this year for team of the year goes to a team that forms the backbone of business. They have faced their own challenges balancing the books and also some of them we wearing different hats to help out other departments. The word furlough was unknown until march and not entails so much additional work. The winner of team of the year is our accounts and hr team.
Bert House Award
Bert founded Holiday Resort Unity over 70 years having started our camping diversification alongside our dairy farm. Bert would often be seen riding round in his truck or sat outside reception welcoming guests and in his later years using his barrier button to open them to save people having to wait.
This award encompasses our ethos and everything Holiday Resort Unity and Team Brean.
The winner of this award worked through both lockdowns to maintain the security of the Resort, helped with the introduction and monitoring of covid controls. Nothing was too much trouble and there were lots of checks needed across all areas that were closed to ensure that they would be ready for re-opening. One nominee said. This person is kindest person I know. He is always there to help out with anything and everything and not to mention he is always in a great mood and lightens atmosphere in the room. The winner of our Bert House Award for 2020 is our Security Operations Manager Simon Francis.
Summarising the evening Sarah House Director commented 'It is so important we recognise the achievements of both individuals, teams and the overall business and have the opportunity to say thank you and well done. Our awards now in their 4th year have grown in popularity and give every person in any role the opportunity to be recognised for their contribution and efforts. Almost every department across the business had someone who achieved great things during 2020 which has been a year like no other’
For more information on being part of Team Brean in the future visit www.breanjobs.com