Hotel services managers are a vital part of the hospital team, ensuring the smooth running of the range of hotel services so that our patients' stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
You could enter hotel services management by working your way up through a relevant apprenticeship (eg business administration), or with a level 3 qualification or relevant experience from another sector. Qualifications in hospitality and related topics are available from organisations including City and Guilds, Institute of Hospitality, Edexcel and BTEC. Foundation degrees, higher awards and degree programmes are offered by several universities.
Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern. Your career in NHS hotel services management could start at AfC band 3 working in a supervisory role. Managerial positions could range from AfC band 5 upwards and the most senior roles rising to Band 7 for example, as a hotel services manager. Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.
To work in hotel services management, you’ll typically need effective business acumen, attention to detail, good communication skills, leadership skills , organisational skills, a willingness to work with others and respect their views, a good level of numeracy and computer literacy, negotiating skills, the ability to challenge the way things are and find better alternatives, honesty and fairness in dealing with other people and a commitment to the ideals of quality and fairness in delivering healthcare.
With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further into more senior managerial roles – in particular within operational and estates management.
Related roles
Estates manager [4]
Estates managers make sure that our hospitals and other sites are the safest, most environmentally-friendly and best possible places to be for patients, staff and visitors.
Although there are no set entry requirements, estate managers have a relevant qualification, often at degree level. This could be in, for example building surveying, property management or facilities management. To get onto a degree course, you need appropriate level 3 qualifications. Some estates managers join the NHS as, for example, estates technicians and become managers with experience and further qualifications. Employers may ask for a driving licence. When you become an estates manager your training will include an introduction to the department and its systems and procedures. You will be expected to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by going on short courses on particular topics such as risk analysis or contract management. You may be encouraged to take further qualifications in, for example, project management.
Estates managers working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You will typically start on AfC band 7. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions up to band 9. Estates managers in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. The job may involve attending meetings or events in the evenings or at weekends. Terms and conditions will usually be different for estates managers working outside of the NHS.
Estates managers need to have an interest in buildings and property, work on several different projects at once, be able to meet deadlines and work with contractors and others from the construction industry. They also need good communication, negotiating, organisational, project management and business skills.
With experience, estates managers can progress to become senior managers such as area managers or directors. There may be opportunities outside the NHS.