WOMEN DOING GOOD BUSINESS IN HOSPITALITY

One of the reasons I love working at Belu is that I get to work closely with the brilliant folks of the Hospitality Industry, transforming lives together through the Belu Filter Initiative by raising funds for our partner WaterAid’s work. Their fantastic support over the years has and will help to install hand washing facilities in developing countries as our partner WaterAid scales up their response to the COVID-19crisis. Last week, CODE Hospitality released their annual 1OO Most Influential Women in Hospitality list championing women in hospitality. Released just as the current crisis was ramping up, I wanted to take a moment to share the list with you to remind ourselves of some of the fabulous women who are spearheading hospitality here in the UK. Here’s a special mention to the following brilliant women listed by CODE who have supported Belu present or in the past, and of course congratulations to all 100 women honoured. Shout out to Judy Hutson – The Pig Hotels, Melanie Brown – The Laundry, Angela Hartnett – Café Murano, Ali Earl-Gray – Kricket, Thomasina Miers – Wahaca, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Northcote, Asma Khan – Darjeeling Express, Margot Henderson – Rochelle Canteen. These women will be experiencing tough times right now in business, as we are at Belu, but I’m confident that resilience will prevail. Hospitality folks are hardy, smart and determined with limitless passion for what they do. We salute you! My heart sank for all our lovely restaurant and hotel partners as they each closed their doors. However, seeing the innovative and creative response to the COVID-19 crisis by chefs, restaurants and hotels that I’m lucky enough to work with, cements why Belu chooses to work with the Hospitality Industry. What a truly special community; from feeding NHS workers, donating surplus food to foodbanks, keeping us busy at home with virtual cookery and cocktail classes, the list goes on. Fellow social enterprises and businesses with purpose also featured in CODE’s list, so big congratulations to Alex Head- Social Pantry, Alice Williams – Luminary Bakery, and Eve Wagg & Team from Well Grounded for doing business for good. Personally, I can’t wait to continue doing good business with good people, and be back out in restaurants when (and I never thought I’d say this) I’ll relish a two hour wait for a restaurant table! Claire Pearson, Head of Filtration, Belu HOW YOU CAN HELP: Support NHS and the Hospitality Industry workers:

• Hospitality Action’s Covid-19 Emergency Appealto support Hospitality workers who find themselves in tough times.
• FeedNHS, the campaign led by actors Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory and Matt Lucas