Media office

Woodbrooke – the Quaker Study Centre based in Birmingham and the former Georgian mansion of chocolate maker George Cadbury – has gained Hospitality Assured, the prestigious internationally recognised industry-specific standard for delivering service and business excellence in the hospitality industry.

The Hospitality Assured accreditation was undertaken by a team of independent assessors on behalf of the Hotel & Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) – the professional body for hospitality industry managers worldwide – and focused on the Centre’s conference and catering services, which embody Quaker beliefs, traditions, and values. 

Woodbrooke is a fascinating, historical and highly unusual space, set in Birmingham’s largest organically-managed garden. The assessors found that the feeling of peace and tranquillity both within the buildings and in the 10-acre grounds, albeit it in an urban environment, appeared to be tangible – enhanced by Quaker policies, including no smoking, no alcohol, respect and fair treatment for all, as well as the value of silence. They were particularly impressed by the efforts made by all the staff involved in the assessment, and their commitment to focusing on the customer and continually improving client satisfaction generally, as well as enhancing business processes. The level of quality being offered to customers by Woodbrooke is typified by the catering team, who use organic fruit, vegetables and herbs – wherever possible – that have been grown in the Quaker Study Centre’s gardens.

Kathleen Russell, Woodbrooke’s Head of Centre Development, was delighted to have gained the Hospitality Assured standard. “It is really good to see that an unusual venue such as ours, offering a warm welcome and a simple friendly style of quality hospitality in a special environment, can achieve world-class service,” she commented.

In gaining the award, Woodbrooke joins an elite band of 35 conference, banqueting and meetings venues that have achieved Hospitality Assured – including top conference and exhibition venue, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre; Henley Management Centre, near Henley-on-Thames in Berkshire; One Great George Street, Westminster, London; Church House Conference Centre, London; and the Cotswold Conference Centre in Broadway, Worcestershire. 

Representing Hospitality Assured, Linda Martin, the HCIMA’s Director of Programmes responsible for Hospitality Assured, presented the Hospitality Assured Certificate and Award to Kathleen Russell and her Woodbrooke team on 22 February – at a special ceremony held at the Quaker Study Centre.  

Linda Martin said: “I would like to congratulate Woodbrooke Centre Services department on its fine achievement in gaining Hospitality Assured. It is really good to see such a distinctive establishment being so focused on enhancing its customer service and business processes through employing Hospitality Assured as an effective tool for continual improvement, via Woodbrooke’s annual reassessments for the standard.”