Hotel manager Review
at Compass group
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Hospitality Management
Yarnfield
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
4.6/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Core Responsibilities
• Operational Leadership: Coordinating daily operations, including front office, housekeeping, maintenance, and food/beverage services.
• Financial Management: Preparing budgets, controlling expenditure, forecasting income, and analysing sales figures to maximize revenue.
• Staff Management:
Recruiting, training, supervising, and scheduling employees, as well as conducting performance reviews.
• Guest Satisfaction: Maintaining high service standards, greeting guests, and resolving complaints promptly.
• Marketing and Sales: Developing marketing campaigns, promoting hotel services, and managing corporate bookings or events.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensuring compliance with licensing laws, health and safety regulations, and building security.
Key Focus Areas
• Revenue Management: Developing pricing strategies and monitoring occupancy rates to maximise profitability.
• Property Maintenance: Ensuring the upkeep of the building, facilities, and amenities.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Common Daily Tasks
• Reviewing daily occupancy rates and financial reports.
• Conducting briefings with department heads.
• Inspecting rooms and public areas.
• Managing online reputation and guest reviews
• Operational Leadership: Coordinating daily operations, including front office, housekeeping, maintenance, and food/beverage services.
• Financial Management: Preparing budgets, controlling expenditure, forecasting income, and analysing sales figures to maximize revenue.
• Staff Management:
Recruiting, training, supervising, and scheduling employees, as well as conducting performance reviews.
• Guest Satisfaction: Maintaining high service standards, greeting guests, and resolving complaints promptly.
• Marketing and Sales: Developing marketing campaigns, promoting hotel services, and managing corporate bookings or events.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensuring compliance with licensing laws, health and safety regulations, and building security.
Key Focus Areas
• Revenue Management: Developing pricing strategies and monitoring occupancy rates to maximise profitability.
• Property Maintenance: Ensuring the upkeep of the building, facilities, and amenities.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Common Daily Tasks
• Reviewing daily occupancy rates and financial reports.
• Conducting briefings with department heads.
• Inspecting rooms and public areas.
• Managing online reputation and guest reviews
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I have enjoyed the apprentership as a whole.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
The apprenticeship has significantly enhanced my confidence and ability to lead with clarity and purpose. It’s helped me approach challenges more strategically and communicate more effectively with my team.
One specific benefit has been the improvement in my decision-making skills. The tools and frameworks I’ve learned have enabled me to make more informed and impactful decisions, which has had a noticeable effect on team performance.
The programme has had a positive ripple effect on my team. By applying what I’ve learned, I’ve been able to foster a more collaborative and empowered working environment, which has led to improved morale and productivity.
One specific benefit has been the improvement in my decision-making skills. The tools and frameworks I’ve learned have enabled me to make more informed and impactful decisions, which has had a noticeable effect on team performance.
The programme has had a positive ripple effect on my team. By applying what I’ve learned, I’ve been able to foster a more collaborative and empowered working environment, which has led to improved morale and productivity.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Instep has helped me address the challenge of balancing operational demands with strategic thinking. Through the programme, I’ve learned how to step back, assess situations more holistically, and implement longer-term solutions.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
emotionally the support has been steller. that said the demand has been dificult balancing the day to day running of the business alongside a lvl 5 apprentership.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Both Tutor and Trainer have been amazing throughout the whole process.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Instep has helped me address the challenge of balancing operational demands with strategic thinking. Through the programme, I’ve learned how to step back, assess situations more holistically, and implement longer-term solutions
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Compass group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Honestly, Compass is a great place to work. The benefits are really strong. Compass offers discounts on everyday stuff like shopping, cinema tickets, tech, holidays, and family days out through Perks at Work. There’s solid wellbeing support too, with 24/7 access to counselling, wellbeing resources, gym discounts, and a health cash plan to help with dental and optical costs. Compass also gives flexibility around buying extra annual leave and has a pension scheme already in place.
From a career point of view, Compass is ideal because there are so many opportunities. With thousands of sites, there’s a huge range of roles and plenty of chances to move around or progress. Compass invests heavily in training and apprenticeships, and internal progression is genuinely encouraged.
The culture is another big reason I’d recommend it. Compass is very people focused and inclusive, with strong support for mental health and active colleague networks that make you feel welcome and valued.
There are also nice extras like a refer a friend bonus and a proper recognition scheme where Compass rewards people who go above and beyond. with some genuinely impressive prizes.
Overall, Compass offers the stability of a large company but still feels supportive and personal, with real care for wellbeing, development, and recognition.
From a career point of view, Compass is ideal because there are so many opportunities. With thousands of sites, there’s a huge range of roles and plenty of chances to move around or progress. Compass invests heavily in training and apprenticeships, and internal progression is genuinely encouraged.
The culture is another big reason I’d recommend it. Compass is very people focused and inclusive, with strong support for mental health and active colleague networks that make you feel welcome and valued.
There are also nice extras like a refer a friend bonus and a proper recognition scheme where Compass rewards people who go above and beyond. with some genuinely impressive prizes.
Overall, Compass offers the stability of a large company but still feels supportive and personal, with real care for wellbeing, development, and recognition.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Compass group?
When applying to Compass, the biggest thing I’d recommend is doing a bit of homework first. Understanding Compass’s core values, it’s worth reading up on those and then aligning our own experience to the role you’re applying for. Compass values people who can stay calm under pressure, so one should be ready to talk confidently about how you handle busy environments. Having clear examples of great customer service and how you’ve dealt with complaints will put you in a strong position.
For the application itself, it helps to keep Compass’s 5 Cs in mind. Competence, confidence, communication, character, and culture. When answering questions, especially in interviews, you should have at least three solid examples ready from past roles that show your customer service skills and how you resolve issues. When Compass asks something like “Tell us about yourself,” it’s best to focus on your professional experience and strengths rather than personal hobbies.
Compass also appreciates strong operational knowledge. If going for a culinary role, it’s a good idea to talk about the “behind the scenes” side of kitchen. Things like menu costing, stock control, or even bringing photos of our work if appropriate. Showing you understand both the practical and business side really strengthens your application.
Always apply through the official Compass careers portal and make sure our CV clearly highlights the key skills we’re looking for. While you can apply for more than one role, Compass will usually only progress one application at a time, so choosing carefully is important. The hiring process can move at different speeds, so patience really helps.
Overall, if you show that you understand Compass’s culture, can deliver excellent service under pressure, and back it up with real examples, we’ll stand out for all the right reasons.
The culture is another big reason I’d recommend it. Compass is very people focused and inclusive, with strong support for mental health and active colleague networks that make you feel welcome and valued.
There are also nice extras like a refer a friend bonus and a proper recognition scheme where Compass rewards people who go above and beyond. with some genuinely impressive prizes.
Overall, Compass offers the stability of a large company but still feels supportive and personal, with real care for wellbeing, development, and recognition.
For the application itself, it helps to keep Compass’s 5 Cs in mind. Competence, confidence, communication, character, and culture. When answering questions, especially in interviews, you should have at least three solid examples ready from past roles that show your customer service skills and how you resolve issues. When Compass asks something like “Tell us about yourself,” it’s best to focus on your professional experience and strengths rather than personal hobbies.
Compass also appreciates strong operational knowledge. If going for a culinary role, it’s a good idea to talk about the “behind the scenes” side of kitchen. Things like menu costing, stock control, or even bringing photos of our work if appropriate. Showing you understand both the practical and business side really strengthens your application.
Always apply through the official Compass careers portal and make sure our CV clearly highlights the key skills we’re looking for. While you can apply for more than one role, Compass will usually only progress one application at a time, so choosing carefully is important. The hiring process can move at different speeds, so patience really helps.
Overall, if you show that you understand Compass’s culture, can deliver excellent service under pressure, and back it up with real examples, we’ll stand out for all the right reasons.
The culture is another big reason I’d recommend it. Compass is very people focused and inclusive, with strong support for mental health and active colleague networks that make you feel welcome and valued.
There are also nice extras like a refer a friend bonus and a proper recognition scheme where Compass rewards people who go above and beyond. with some genuinely impressive prizes.
Overall, Compass offers the stability of a large company but still feels supportive and personal, with real care for wellbeing, development, and recognition.
