Inside Inspired Villages: Meet our Village Managers
Our Village Managers play a vital role in helping us ensure our residents live the best years of their lives with us. We caught up with three of them – Kat, Scott, and Stuart, who have all joined us very recently - to hear all about their roles at Inspired Villages, the rewards of being part of our community, and how they’re supported every step of the way.
Can you tell us about your background and your role at Inspired Villages?
Stuart and Scott joined us from the hotel industry, bringing a wealth of hospitality experience, while Kat spent the last 10 years working at another retirement village provider. What unites them is their passion for making Inspired Villages a welcoming, inclusive place for all residents and colleagues alike.
Stuart: “I joined Inspired Villages after spending the last 11 years working in hotels and hospitality. It quickly became clear that many of my skills are highly transferable to this role. I’m focused on the guest journey and the importance of exceeding guest expectations.”
Kat: “I've lived and breathed retirement living for the last 10 years and I'm very passionate about delivering exceptional customer service. I want both our residents and colleagues to feel included and connected as a community – that’s really important to me.”
Scott: “Prior to joining Inspired Villages, I worked in hospitality for 39 years. I’m a people-person, so I love working with the team and building family-like relationships with both my colleagues and our residents.”
What attracted you to Inspired Villages and what makes you excited about working here?
For Scott and Stuart, joining Inspired Villages was a chance to use their hospitality experience in a fresh setting. Kat was attracted to Inspired Village’s strong sense of community and the chance to make a positive impact.
Scott: “To me, being a Village Manager is like running a hotel with 86 rooms – except these are people's homes. Even though this is a retirement village, many aspects are very similar to the hospitality industry. We manage a wellness area, which is essentially a leisure club, along with a cafe and a restaurant. We also host events and conferences. The key difference is that our guests don't check in and out daily, they stay with us long-term. ”
Kat: “I love that Inspired Villages values working together and fostering a strong sense of community. The company really looks after both its people and its residents. For me, that’s really important.”
Stuart: "I loved working in hospitality because I got to meet someone new every day. Here, I get to know my residents extremely well, and I still interact with members of the public in the wider community daily.”
How are you supported to excel in your role?
Our Village Managers feel supported thanks to a structured onboarding process, a supportive and friendly team, and the freedom to manage their roles independently.
Stuart: "From day one, it was clear that Inspired Villages is like one big family, and there's always someone to reach out to. My boss made sure I felt supported and I had a structured onboarding plan. Unlike the corporate feel often found in the hospitality industry, as Village Managers we are given the autonomy to run our own independent businesses.”
Kat: "I've met a lot of people from different departments and I must say, every single person has been absolutely fantastic. They’ve spent so much time supporting, welcoming, and training me. The emphasis on a one-team approach is exactly what I was looking for. I can honestly say that Inspired Villages is one of the best companies I've ever worked for."
What’s different about working at Inspired Villages?
Our Village Managers appreciate Inspired Villages’ caring culture and being part of a team that’s working towards the same vision.
Scott: “We're a caring company. We care about the people who work with us and care about the residents who stay with us. I also have regular exposure to our CEO, which is rare in large hospitality companies. And because we’re backed by two massive investors, we have the resources to do things differently and make meaningful improvements."
Kat: "I don't feel like just a number here. It might sound cheesy, but I genuinely feel valued as a person and as a member of the team. This sense of belonging radiates through everyone, and it's really important to me. Everyone at Inspired Villages shares the same vision and commitment."
What benefits does Inspired Village offer?
Working at Inspired Villages offers a great work-life balance and additional perks and discounts through the Inspired World platform.
Scott: “A big reason I joined was work-life balance. I was used to waking up at 5am and going to bed at 1am. I now have more time to spend with my family.”
Stuart: “I have a good work-life balance which I didn’t have in the hotel trade. There’s also a platform called Inspired World which offers numerous perks and discounts on things like supermarkets, clothing, days out, and holidays.”
What three words would you use to describe working at Inspired Villages?
Kat: “Supported. Encouraged. Passionate.”
Stuart: “Family. Fun. Community.”
Scott: “Fun. Challenging. Rewarding.”
Feeling Inspired? Discover our current Village Management and operational vacancies.
