“Two out of Two” Awards for Hosts International and founding Director, Peter Brown!
It was honour enough for homestay accommodation provider, Hosts International, to be nominated in the inaugural #WIE (Women In Industry) Awards as ‘Enlightened Employer 2017’, and for Peter himself, in the category of ‘Champion of Change 2017’.
To receive a “podium placing”, twice with a Bronze – alongside some very worthy winners, was indeed a privilege. In fact, mention was made that “selecting a winner was no easy task” for the judges. So our congratulations must also go to ILAC ( International Language Academy in Canada), winner of the ‘Enlightened Employer Award 2017’ and to Andrew Nye at Cambridge Assessment (English Learning Exams and Qualifications), for top award in the category, ‘Champion of Change 2017’.
Hosts International were also supporting English UK – London’s network of English language schools and FE colleges – sponsors of the Charitable Endeavour Award 2017. This category was won by ILSC Language Schools, with ILAC picking up Silver, and the Bronze going to French in Normandy (French Government recognised Language school).
Celebrating women’s achievements…and of men and women working together
The #WIE Awards event, held at the InterContinental Berlin on 28th October, was organised by Lead5050 – the women’s leadership movement began in Europe in January 2017. Maria Castro, one of its three co-founders, paid tribute to all in attendance, “It was great to see so many inspiring peers celebrating women’s achievements in our industry, and the effort of men and women working together towards gender equality,” adding that their aim for next year is to “get more people from across all sectors of the industry involved.”
It’s a principle very much at the heart of Peter’s lifelong commitment to the empowerment of women in the workplace, and of course, reflected in the governance of family hosted student accommodation at Hosts International. Not surprisingly, most of the current 5,000 homestay providers with Hosts, as well as over the last 30 years, tend to be masterminded by women taking care of every last detail of an international student’s time with them, including the all-important meal plans!
Following the awards ceremony, as serious party celebrations started breaking out across a packed dancefloor, Peter said, “After a lifelong career, struggling to champion change and especially change for women in senior management positions in a male dominated world, I am delighted to receive this award at Lead5050’s #WIE awards.”
Growing realisation of just “how much better top female management was”
The Host founder goes on to recall the 1970s and encountering “disbelief” in one of the UK’s largest retail chains at his growing realisation of just “how much better top female management was in the retail business”. It proved to be the “best change” he ever made.
“Since then, every move in my extended career, I’ve carried on believing that top, female senior managers were the best… my life and business is run by women now!” – Peter added with a broad smile, while looking across at Hosts International Operations Director, Harsha Shivdasani, who this week was welcomed as “a truly inspirational woman” to become the newest member of #First50.
At this particular moment, there is a huge spotlight focused on historical controversial male attitudes towards females, often still present in the workplace. There can be no doubt that young students, in the UK and from abroad, will be seeking to find genuine inspiration and an affirmative message for future positive change . They only have to look at those men and women who continue to champion enlightened, progressive thinking combined with practical action in their lifelong support of organisations dedicated to educating the future generation.
Just like, in fact, all the organisations who were nominees and winners at the recent #WIE Awards! Click here for a full list of all the Winners, plus Silver and Bronze awards in their respective categories.