Platinum Hospitality: Our ‘Why’ Then and Now
This blog celebrates Platinum Hospitality’s 20th anniversary, sharing our journey from a startup in 2005 to a leading hospitality recruitment agency. It highlights our ‘people-first‘ philosophy, commitment to transparency, and how we go above and beyond for the people we work with.
The secret to our success? You’ll have to read on to find out!
The Origin Story of Platinum Hospitality
The year is 2005. The internet is a thing, but the screech of dial-up is still a daily soundtrack, and broadband feels like a futuristic dream. Traditional job advertising and applications are a test of patience and perseverance. Don’t get us started on the 8-page CVs and cover letters. The process felt cold and disconnected, with little human interaction.
In this detached landscape, three friends and the founding directors of Platinum Hospitality found their ‘aha’ moment. At the time, they were searching for people who matched the vibrant energy of their first business, Platinum Components. Staring at their bulky computer screens (we hadn’t reached ‘thin and sleek’ yet), they encountered the frustrations of the recruitment process.
“What if we could find a human approach to connecting with real people and having honest conversations?“
Ultimately, the director’s vision to start a recruitment agency based on this humanised principle became the antidote to that black digital void. And just like that, in 2005, Platinum Hospitality was born. This ‘people-first‘ drive still gets us out of bed in the morning (after coffee). It is the foundation that has seen this hospitality agency flourish over the past two decades.
Platinum Hospitality: Our Secret Recipes to Success
Of course, as with any new business, building Platinum wasn’t always smooth sailing. Instead, it took hard work, persistence, a few knockbacks, and even a memorable comment from our first accountant: “You should stop this business now. You can’t make it a success.” – a challenge our founding directors met with a resounding, “Just wait!“
So now, we’ve spilt the beans on our origin story – a quest to bring some much-needed humanity back into the recruitment game. But how, you ask, have we kept the good times (and the great hires) rolling for two decades? Please pull up a chair and grab a virtual cuppa. We’re about to reveal what makes us tick: Our Secret Recipes for 20 Years of Success.
Platinum Hospitality Recipe #1: You Can’t Please Everyone
Ingredients: A Pinch of Reality
This ‘secret recipe‘ isn’t a Michelin-star dish designed to avoid every bump in the road. One of the earliest and toughest lessons we learned on this two-decade journey was a hard truth: When trying to be everything to everybody, you end up being exceptional to nobody.
Consequently, early on, we made a pivotal decision that defined our path: focusing our energy on the vibrant world of hospitality. That’s when Platinum truly became the dedicated hospitality agency it is today.
So then, why hospitality? That story begins with one of our first hires, Rob Cotton.
Prep Time: Cultivate Your Hospitality Focus
A former chef turned recruiter, Rob brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and ideas when he joined Platinum Recruitment in 2006. Adding Rob to our small team was the catalyst that propelled us towards becoming hospitality specialists. But the real question is, what propelled Rob to Platinum, and how did his experience shape our culinary path?
“At the time, I had a young family to support and a mortgage to pay, so joining a new startup was a gamble. However, I’m a big believer that the environment where you work is everything. The one question I had in my first meeting with the directors was about longevity. Thankfully, they were open and honest from the start and promised me a career I could be proud of. It seemed like an exciting opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”
Method: From Gamble to Growth
In those early days, Rob sat solo at one desk, phoning prospective clients nonstop. Eventually, the first booking came in after three months (thank you to The Red Lion in Salisbury), and the first candidate was on the payroll by month four. Rob recalls, “I was doing whatever it took. For three months, I took on small jobs in Cornwall for small fees.“
After nine months, Director Paul Sinclair took a backseat from Platinum Components and focused on recruitment. In this first year, Rob and Paul brought the company back from a deficit of £50,000 to a whopping £14,000 in profit (which, in 2006, as a small startup, was big league stuff!)
It was a case of working and playing hard in those early days. Rob recalls, “We did everything by the book, but at the same time, it was like a toned-down, Bournemouth-appropriate version of Wolf of Wall Street. Our first internal hire interviewed at McDonald’s, followed by a round of mini-golf and drinks down the pub! We were essentially four blokes laughing but working incredibly hard.”
It wasn’t always glamorous, but that early energy forged the tight-knit, dedicated team that defines Platinum. Without a doubt, the pivot to a dedicated hospitality agency became our guiding light, pushing us to become the dedicated hospitality experts we are today.
Cooking Tips: Growth and finding your niche often mean making tough choices.
Platinum Hospitality Recipe #2: People Come First
Ingredients: A Whole Bunch of People
We often use the phrase ‘people first,’ but what does it mean when the spatula hits the pan? To illustrate, let us introduce Todd Higgs.
Todd’s been part of the Platinum family for a long time – like that reliable cast iron skillet in your kitchen that’s seen it all. He’s temped with us between gigs, trusted us to find him a cracking head chef role at a seriously cool entertainment venue (think Times Top 100 cool), and even came back to us as a client needing a superstar kitchen crew.
In his own words, Todd said, “The team at Platinum is always incredibly professional and has always taken the time to listen to my requirements, whether as a candidate or as a client needing temp staff. They placed me in some amazing jobs with well-established local brands.”
Prep time: Go the Extra Mile
Fast forward to the chaos of COVID-19. Like many others, Todd faced redundancy, making finding stable work during lockdown incredibly tough. However, Todd had significant personal circumstances requiring security and a consistent income. We weren’t just trying to find him a job; instead, it was about providing the stability he urgently needed during an uncertain time. Consequently, we worked tirelessly to keep Todd employed, navigating the ever-changing restrictions and ensuring he had the consistent work he required. Todd commented, “Without that security and support, my family’s plans could have fallen.”
Method: Give It a Little Heart
Todd’s story isn’t unique. Great candidates like him are the heart of what we do. It’s about listening, supporting, and sometimes even feeling like we’re running a marathon to ensure things work out. That’s because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the job but the people behind it.
Today, Todd is the account manager for Country Fare Food Service, one of South England’s remaining independent, family-run fresh produce suppliers.
Cooking Tips: People are the heartbeat of any thriving business – your team, clients, and customers. Find them, nurture them, and work tirelessly to retain them.
Platinum Hospitality Recipe #3: Honesty is Always the Best Policy
Ingredients: One Can of Candour
So, we’ve talked about finding our niche and putting people at the heart of everything we do. But how do you build lasting relationships that span two decades? It all comes down to the second non-negotiable principle we live by: Is it fair? Is it reasonable?
You know those recruitment clichés? For instance, the vague emails, promises that don’t quite materialise, and the feeling that you’re not getting the complete picture? Yeah, we’re not fans. We believe in keeping it real, with no smoke and mirrors. Just clear, straightforward communication at every step. Whether you’re a candidate looking for your next big break or a client searching for that perfect fit.
Prep Time: A Whole Lot of Knead, Nurture, and Guidance
The bottom line is that if you fail, we fail. We’re in the trenches together. No jargon, just clear and honest communication.
We’ve Got Your Back (And Your CV)
CV not up to scratch? We’ll rewrite it for you!
No Detail Too Small: Preparing You for Success
Spinach in your teeth before an interview – we’ve got you covered!
More Than a Match: Hiring for Culture and Capability
We take the time to understand your business and it’s culture so that we can find you the best hires. not just for the role, but for the company.
Your Success, Our Ongoing Commitment
Do recruits need guidance in their first few weeks? We don’t clock off until all parties are 100% satisfied.
Method: As Long As It Takes
Being upfront and honest builds trust and avoids surprises down the line. We don’t spend 90% of our day admiring our connections list on LinkedIn, we won’t speak exclusively in corporate buzzwords (‘Can you synergise with our bandwidth?’), and our office doesn’t have a whiteboard with wildly optimistic KPIs written in glitter pen.
Cooking Tips: In business, being upfront and honest is like the secret sauce – it builds trust and keeps everyone happy for the long haul.
The Proof in the Pudding: Platinum Hospitality Partnerships
But don’t just take our word for it. The accurate measure of our dedication and honesty lies in our strong, enduring partnerships since 2005. A perfect example is our long-standing collaboration with the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel:
“Platinum Recruitment has been a trusted and dependable business partner of the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel for the past 15+ years. The team’s engaging, personal and dedicated approach addressing our business needs, whether for temporary or permanent requirements, has been exceptional and has greatly supported the hotel’s pursuit of excellence. It is a strong partnership, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the team.“
– Michael Regenhardt, Multi Property Hotel Manager, Bournemouth & Portsmouth.
We have weathered the storms with the Bournemouth Highcliffe Marriott Hotel and celebrated their successes. As we all know, hospitality can be a tidal wave, but when those point breaks come in, boy, is it all worth it!
We look forward to continuing our work with Marriott and other long-standing clients and offering our 20 years of learned experience to clients yet to join forces with Platinum.
Back Office Heroes: Our Alums, Our Allies
Jade Weeks, Resourcing & Onboarding Consultant for Carnival UK, was with Platinum in the early days. To get real insight into what people think about Platinum, we asked her to describe Platinum in three words. Here’s what she had to say:
“Fun, Authentic, Determined. Fun because we genuinely enjoyed ourselves. Authentic because people were real and honest. And determined because we worked hard and pushed through challenges together.”
Our transparency policy is simple: we tell it like it is. Real, honest people doing real, honest work.
Cooking Tips: True trust and loyalty aren’t given; they’re earned. The secret? Provide straightforward, transparent solutions to people’s challenges.
Platinum Hospitality: The Sweet Taste of 20 Years’ Success
So, there you have it: the secret recipes keeping Platinum Hospitality thriving for two decades. It’s not magic; there’s no one secret formula written in glitter pen on a whiteboard (we use fancy screens, actually), and it certainly wasn’t an overnight success. It’s a relentless focus on our people, a commitment to honest conversations, and a genuine passion for the vibrant hospitality world.
Our journey has been defined by those early dial-up days, gutsy decisions, and determination. But above all, it’s the incredible individuals we have the privilege to work with who have truly shaped it. Our dedicated team members, including Rob and Jade, our valued clients like Michael, and talented candidates like Todd.
As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, our recipe for the next chapter is straightforward: to continue ‘kneading’ lasting connections, ‘proofing’ careers, and helping businesses ‘rise’ to new heights. As a dedicated hospitality agency, we’re excited to see what the future holds and invite you along for the ride.
Thank you for 20 amazing years. Here’s to many more human connections.
