Q&A WITH THE CREW: LIFE ON THE ROAD

In just a couple of weeks’ time we’ll be holding our annual recruitment days, to welcome on board what we are sure will be our 2016 dream team!

As in previous years, we expect to see a pattern in what drives many of our new applicants. In addition to a love of outdoor events, a significant number yearn to fulfil their dreams to travel and see the world.

In light of this, this week we’ve been chatting to three long standing crew members who have opted out of years of bleak British winters in favour of more tropical climates, all made possible by adopting a life on the road working for Hotel Bell Tent.

1) How did you hear about working for Hotel Bell Tent?

Nathan: Through family and friends who already worked for the company.

Kieran: I heard about the company through a friend who had previously been a Project Manager for us.

Natalie: I had friends working with the company. I came to visit the team at Boomtown festival, many years ago!

2) How many seasons have you now worked?

Nathan: This year will be my third.

Kieran: I have now worked five seasons, two as a crew member and three as a crew member.

Natalie: 2016 will be my third.

3) Why is the seasonal nature of this work beneficial?

Nathan: Not having as many financial responsibilities such as rent for several months, enabling you to save money.

Kieran: It allows you to spend the summer outdoors, travelling all across the UK as part of a team going to events. The money aspect as Nathan said is a big highlight as it gives you the option to travel in winter during the down season.

Natalie: It’s great to embrace the best of the UK’s summer by working outdoors and visiting some beautiful places while you’re at it, whilst freeing you to fly south to miss some of the less desirable winter months.

4) Could you describe the last year that you’ve had?

Nathan: I’ve been working in both the warehouse based in South London organising shipping and also working in the field as a Crew Manager- the work required has differed a lot in each role so I’ve gained loads of experience doing different things.

Kieran: I came back from travelling in South East Asia in April 2015 and worked in the warehouse preparing for the season, running the practical recruitment days and organising the stock. I then worked the 2015 season as a Crew Manager in the field between May and September before travelling in Central America from Mexico to Panama over the winter- just arrived back in the UK and begun preparation in the office for the 2016 season as part of the production team!

Natalie: I worked with hotel bell tent reception managing over the summer. Great season, weather on side mostly! When the season ended at the start of September I was able to compete the massage therapy course I had been studying for and next, i qualify by October. This led me to set up my business before setting off for Mexico with my boyfriend Ted in January. I have spent the start of 2016 here travelling and working as a masseuse and lapping up winter sunshine. Feeling grateful for the opportunity and beach life but also ready for English summer 2016.

5) In what way has Hotel Bell Tent permitted you to realise your travel goals?

Kieran: Working for Hotel Bell Tent as allowed me to realise my travel goals as I can make enough money in the summer to pay for my travels out of Europe in the winter!

Natalie: Travel has been top of my agenda since my first big solo trip in 2008 and since then I have always plotted new ways to see new places, saving money, scanning the map and wondering how I can factor extended adventures into my home life. Working for Hotel Bell Tent compliments such a lifestyle because you can earn and save money during high season and fly away when all the events and tents hibernate in the winter! Note - appreciation for the office and warehouse crew who keep the business functioning in the low season so Hotel Bell Tent is raring to go again when us travellers return!

7) How has working for Hotel Bell Tent helped you to progress professionally?

Nathan: Since starting at Hotel Bell Tent two seasons ago, I’ve been promoted each year which has enabled me to learn new skills and do things that I haven’t done before. These are transferable skills that I can put on my CV.

Kieran: In the five years I’ve worked here, I’ve assumed several roles within the company. I’ve progressed from crew member in 2011 to crew manager the following year. Along the way I’ve acquired key skills such as leadership and organization managed crews of more than 20 people in often adverse conditions which has boosted my confidence in furthering a career in the events industry.

Natalie: for me, working as reception manager this year has taught me a lot about leadership. As a company, Hotel Bell Tent has shown me the merits of good honest management and working as part of a team. Not only this, it has made me realise my love of people, colour, glitter, fancy dress are all useful professionally!

8) What’s in store for you, coming back to Hotel Bell Tent in summer 2016?

Nathan: This summer will be my first year as a project manager, which I’m pretty excited about! I’m going to be at T in the Park, the Isle of Man TT races as well Festibells- an exlusive high-end campsite at Glastonbury, so weather permitting it should be a lot of fun!

Kieran: In 2016 I will start my new role as Production Coordinator- assisting the Production manager where needed and filling in to manage crews. I will be running the practical recruitment days, organising the crews and helping with organising the kit.

Natalie: I’m excited to be returning for my second year as Reception Manager with a years’ experience under my belt. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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If you are interested in applying for a position at Hotel Bell Tent this summer, please email us at info@hotelbelltent.co.uk with your CV attached and include any previous/relevant experience. Please also highlight anyone you know that has worked for us in previous years when you apply.

WORKING FOR HOTEL BELL TENT: FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH

With the recruitment process well under way, I caught up with three of our lovely senior managers to chat about all things Hotel Bell Tent. If you’re thinking about applying to join our crew this summer, or read our previous post- this will be of interest to you…

1) How did you hear about working for Hotel Bell Tent?

George: I actually used to deliver them sandwiches! My contract was running out, and Tiff (our Co-Founder) offered me a job in the field.

Kirsty: On a Google search, I was looking for summer work putting up marquees or something similar, as I was teaching snowboarding in the winters in Canada

2) What were the reasons you decided you first wanted to put yourself forward?

Sonya: At the time I was studying for my MSc, so in serious need of funds. I was also really attracted by the idea of working at festivals, during the summer, and thought Hotel Bell Tent looked like a fun and vibrant company to work with.

Kirsty: It was the perfect solution to wanting to go away all winter and working outdoors all summer.

3) How has HBT changed since you were crew members and in what way?

Kirsty: When I started we used to only do 1 or 2 jobs over a weekend with about 20 – 30 tents at each event, we did a corporate job for LUSH for 100 tents and that was a massive job for the company! Now we do 3 to 4 events each weekend, with up to 800 structures up at one time and over 500 of them being just at one event.

Sonya: In a lot of ways, Hotel Bell Tent is the same: the company still cares about the people who work for it, and still prides itself on being fair and transparent to guests, while offering the best customer service in the industry. However, it is a more structured organisation now, with clear delineation of responsibility. It is big on retaining knowledge, and almost all freelance and permanent members of staff worked from ‘the bottom up’.

4) Did you factor in the possibility of progressing with the company in the early stages of working for us?

George: I didn’t actually – too busy putting up tents!

Kirsty: It wasn’t in my thought process exactly, but I knew I wanted to come back the following year as I had found a way to facilitate travelling and snowboarding during the winter and got to do a really fun job all summer!

5) What are your favourite aspects of working with Hotel Bell Tent, and why?

Sonya: Luckily, I like being busy and multitasking. No two days working in events are the same, and I’m always learning and putting my skills to use in different ways. The Hotel Bell Tent office team and crew members are also wonderful.

George: Being in a field (for obvious reasons) and being in a good crew of people – you make some excellent friends in a very short time.

6) What have been your favourite jobs so far?

Sonya: It’s really hard to say – small and intimate festivals are lovely to be at, but from a professional point of view the big, production-heavy events are very satisfying. I’ve seen so many beautiful places across the country that I would never have normally gone to.

Kirsty: I really enjoyed working at Festival Number 6 as it's our biggest and most challenging job by far; setting up over 500 tents with a massive crew. It was also a really amazing festival in stunning surroundings.

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To apply, please email us at info@hotelbelltent.co.uk with your CV attached and include any previous/relevant experience. Please also highlight anyone you know that has worked for us in previous years when you apply.

WE ARE HIRING...

With our packages for all events gradually going on sale, and we enter full-swing into the preparation period, Hotel Bell Tent are excited to be organising arguably the most important part of the whole operation- the crew!

After eight years in the industry, Hotel Bell Tent has undergone constant redevelopment, always adapting and changing when needs be. But our ethos about those we employ remains a constant. We look for like-minded individuals who uphold our company values and will contribute, both in terms of the hard work they put in in the field, and their input in maintaining that 'family' feel.

Historically, many of our Build and Break crew members and Front of House staff return year after year, allowing them to travel between seasons during the winter months, and many have progressed to managerial positions. If this sounds like just what you're looking for, there's no reason why you couldn't be a part of our journey in years to come, accumulating some amazing experience in outdoor events along the way!

For a more detailed overview of each role we are recruiting for, please click HERE. To apply, please email us at info@hotelbelltent.co.uk with your CV attached and include any previous/relevant experience. Please also highlight anyone you know that has worked for us in previous years when you apply.