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Charlotte Spivey from The Maynard hotel and restaurant in Grindleford is celebrating after being named ‘Young Manager of the Year’ in this year’s Visit Peak District & Derbyshire (VPD&D) Excel Tourism Awards. Charlotte was presented with her award at a lavish ceremony held at Chatsworth House on Thursday 4 March and attended by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

 

“I can’t believe I have won!” said a victorious Charlotte, operations manager for The Maynard. “It’s a real honour to be picked out of so many people and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. The Maynard is a great place to work and the strength of our team can be seen by how many of my colleagues were nominated, too.”

 

Charlotte stood out from over 70 nominations and six other shortlisted people to triumph on the night, although when you look at her path to the top, it’s not hard to see why the judges were impressed.

 

Charlotte started her career at The Maynard just four years ago as a 23 year old ‘Saturday girl’ serving food and working the bar and since then her rise has been meteoric. Charlotte has worked her way up in just four years from duty manager, to assistant manager to her current role as operations manager, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of the hotel and her own team of managers and staff.

 

“Everyone at The Maynard is delighted for Charlotte,” said sales and marketing manager for The Maynard and sister venue Whirlowbrook Hall Philippa Debono. “It’s easy to see how so much responsibility so quickly could be daunting for someone in their 20s. However under the guidance and mentoring of director Paul Downing, Charlotte has met the challenges of the role with flying colours and it is no surprise to see her scoop this award. It is no less then she deserves for her efforts and we are all so proud of her.”

 

An independent panel of judges clearly faced some tough decisions when confronted with entries from so many outstanding people and places, so it is an honour for all the staff and organisations involved to be recognised. The tourism industry is estimated to be worth £1.4 billion a year to Derbyshire and employs more than 24,000 people, so these awards are a great way to reward the key members of staff and venues that make such a valuable contribution to the region’s economy.

 

A major refurbishment two years ago transformed The Maynard into the perfect contemporary hotel and the high standards of all members of staff is reflected in the six nominations received in these latest VPD&D awards. Justly famous for its high standards and the quality of its restaurant, The Maynard is one of only a few restaurants in the whole of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire to boast two AA rosettes and thanks to the efforts of Charlotte and her colleagues, the hotel has established itself as a popular choice for local weddings and tourists visiting the region.

 

“Charlotte’s success is fully justified,” continued Philippa. “She is an example and role model to young people everywhere that it is possible to start at the bottom and make it to the top. Her success is the perfect boost at the start of what is going to be another great year at The Maynard,” concluded Philippa. “We are now all looking forward to our next big events for Mother’s Day and Easter.”

 

For further information or to book into the hotel, telephone 01433 630321 or email restaurant@themaynard.co.uk For general information, log on to www.themaynard.co.uk

 

ENDS

 

Photograph and caption: The Maynard hotel and restaurant operations manager Charlotte Spivey receives her award for Young Manager of the Year from Richard Horsely of the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (category sponsors).

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