When I joined Whitbread back in 2007, I didn’t expect it to become the place I would build a long, varied and fulfilling career. I’d left university, tried working in my degree field, and quickly realised it wasn’t for me. Hospitality had always been familiar—I’d worked in pubs, hotels, and bars growing up—so I took what I thought would be a temporary role. Nineteen years later, I’m still here, still growing, and still excited by what comes next.
I’ve always cared deeply about gender equality. Growing up, I became very aware of the ways women can experience inequality, and that lived experience has stayed with me. So when the opportunity came to join Whitbread’s Gender Equality Network a few years ago, it immediately felt like the right fit.
Being part of the network opened the door to a community of people who genuinely care about creating a more equal workplace. I started by supporting campaigns and helping to promote events across the business, and over time became more involved—eventually even being recognised through one of the network’s awards. That moment was encouraging, but what I’ve loved even more is supporting others: helping to host the awards, reading the nominations, and seeing the impact recognition has on colleagues. It’s incredibly rewarding to celebrate the achievements of women across the business and to see how empowered they feel afterwards.
The network has also widened my own connections across Whitbread. It introduced me to mentors, new teams, and opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have known about. It reaffirmed for me that this is a place where women support women, and where you can find people who want to help you succeed.
One of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed with Whitbread is the sheer variety of opportunities. I’ve worked across hotels, restaurants, new site openings, project management and now within a transformation team. Every move has felt right at the right time, and every role has allowed me to build something new—to shape it, influence it, and make it my own.
I’ve opened hotels across Scotland, helped launch new concepts, and even spent nearly two years working on expansion projects in Ireland. That experience was incredibly meaningful to me, connecting both my professional skills and my personal roots.
Whitbread is fast paced, cross functional and constantly evolving. If you enjoy variety, energy and the chance to work across different parts of the business, you’ll never be bored here.
For women considering joining Whitbread, I would say this: you’ll feel supported. I’ve been lucky to work with strong female leaders throughout my career, and their guidance and example have shaped me profoundly. Even in functions where women have historically been under represented, I can see real progress happening and a pipeline of talented women coming through.
There’s also genuine consideration for wellbeing and safety, especially for those who travel for work. That care, attention and understanding go a long way, and it’s something I value deeply.
If you’re thinking about a career at Whitbread, be open, be curious and explore the opportunities around you. There’s room to grow, room to move and room to discover new passions. It’s a place where you can build a long, meaningful career—one where you’re supported, challenged and encouraged to be yourself.
Whitbread has given me variety, belonging and purpose. And that’s why, after nearly two decades, I’m still proud to be here.