Andy Cole, General Manager at Solihull’s Ramada Jarvis hotel has been named a ‘community hero’ at a national awards ceremony recognising eight business people who have gone the extra mile in supporting their local community.
The Development Trusts Association ‘private sector community hero’ award was given to Andy for the outstanding contribution his hotel has made to the Solihull Together campaign, which fundraises on behalf of Solihull-based charities and voluntary groups.
Andy and his team at the Ramada Jarvis hotel have been putting on monthly quiz nights and homemade cake sales, with proceeds going to the campaign. They also ran a ‘watering station’ for over 180 hot and tired walkers at the first ever Solihull Together sponsored walk last October.
And this year, the hotel is making a big gesture – generously supporting Solihull Together’s magic charity ball later this month.
Upon receiving the award, Andy said: “really I’m just very proud for my team because every one of the hotel’s staff has put the effort in, I’m just lucky enough to be the individual picked out to be rewarded.”
Andy was nominated for the award by SUSTAiN/Colebridge Trust, the organisation behind Solihull Together. Having built up a strong partnership with the hotel, both sides have seen the relationship bear fruit.
“I’m very lucky that as a hotel I’ve got quite a lot to offer to the local community,” said Andy. “And what’s in it for me is much better staff morale, a real feeling of teamwork from the hotel staff when they’re helping with all the events, and a bit of fun – something that adds real interest to the day job.”
While Chief Executive of SUSTAiN/Colebridge Trust, Dave Pinwell, had this to say: “Andy and his team have really captured the spirit of the Solihull Together campaign – which is all about the different parts of our community pulling together to make a difference in people's lives. They have helped in so many ways, especially in their idea to host a ball which has really added a new dimension to this year's campaign and has helped to jump-start our fundraising efforts. Their contribution is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when business and the community work together.”
