We are delighted to share that Christian Conference Trust has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2026 by The Caterer.
This national recognition celebrates 30 hospitality employers across the UK who are investing in their people, building strong workplace cultures, and creating positive environments where teams can thrive.
For us, this is a very special moment. Across The Hayes, High Leigh, Highgate House, and our central teams, our staff work faithfully every day to serve the Church. This award is a celebration of them.
In the employee survey, we scored 93.33% for being “part of a team that works well and supports each other”
The team at High leigh celebrating the award.
Recognition shaped by our teams
What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that the Best Places to Work in Hospitality list is shaped by anonymous employee feedback and engagement. That means this recognition is not simply about what we say about ourselves. It reflects the lived experience of our teams and the culture they help create across the Trust.
The Caterer highlighted our strong team culture, including the way staff feel trusted, supported, and given opportunities to grow. In the employee survey, we scored 93.33% for being “part of a team that works well and supports each other”, compared with a benchmark of 85.94%.
For an organisation built around hospitality, this matters a lot. Our guests experience the welcome, service, and care of Christian Conference Trust through our people. The way our teams support one another has a direct impact on the atmosphere our guests walk into and the kind of experience churches have while they are with us.
More than an award
This recognition is about more than winning a place on a list. It’s a reminder of the culture we are continuing to build together.
At Christian Conference Trust, hospitality is part of our ministry. Whether someone is serving food, preparing bedrooms, welcoming guests at reception, maintaining the grounds, supporting bookings, leading a department, or working behind the scenes, every role helps create spaces where churches can gather.
That shared purpose is one of the things that makes working at Christian Conference Trust so meaningful. Across our centres, we want to build a culture where people feel valued, supported, and encouraged to develop.
The team at The Hayes celebrating the award.
Investing in our people
Alongside investing in our buildings and facilities, we continue to invest in our people. Our staff can access on-the-job training through the Institute of Leadership & Management, and several accredited apprenticeships are offered in areas such as catering and housekeeping. Each year, our Team Spirit programme also helps around a dozen staff from across the centres grow as emerging leaders, developing transferable skills that benefit teams across the whole organisation.
The Caterer also highlighted our wider commitment to career development, including leadership pathways and mentoring. These initiatives are designed to help team members see hospitality not simply as a job, but as a place where they can grow and build long-term skills.
As Claire Melrose, HR Manager, said:
“These initiatives support employees and their longer-term development, reflecting our commitment to caring for our people.”
Thank you to our teams
This recognition belongs to everyone who helps make Christian Conference Trust what it is. From housekeeping and catering to maintenance, reception, sales, conference & events, finance, HR, operations, and leadership, each person plays a part in creating the welcome our guests experience.
Every clean room, prepared meal, friendly greeting, answered question, repaired fault, and thoughtful act of service helps make our venues places where ministry can flourish without distraction.
The team at Highgate House celebrating the award.
Join our team
We are regularly hiring for our teams at The Hayes, High Leigh, Highgate House, and our central support team.
If you would like to be part of an organisation that serves the Church through hospitality, keep an eye on our Careers page to see our latest vacancies.
