With two premises in Liverpool City Centre, Staycity is an aparthotel chain – combining home comforts with hotel facilities.
They have been in Liverpool since 2009 with apartments in both Duke Street and Drury Lane. They cater for both long stay business guests by offering competitive corporate rates, as well as welcoming groups coming into the city using their multi-room apartments.
As a company they operate 30 properties across 14 countries, and by the end of 2022 Staycity will operate 5,500 apartments throughout Europe.
Working with Growth Platform, Staycity took part in the Peer Networks Programme – designed for SME leaders who want to stabilise, grow and develop their organisation with the support of like-minded entrepreneurs from across the city region. The programme provides a community for business leaders to get together to discuss their collective business challenges; think-up solutions to them; and plan long term recovery and growth.
Staycity’s Sales Manager in Liverpool, Marian Cotter, said: “I got so much from the Peer Newtorks Programme. During the pandemic we were all on our own but logging on and speaking to other businesses felt like we were in it together, offering support and advice to each other at a time when it was really needed.
“The programme helped me plan for what would happen post pandemic, getting that structure in early, so once we could get back out again, we were ready for anything.”
Marian found staffing to be the organisations biggest problem, but with the advice from others on the programme she has taken on an apprentice and helped her gain the skills needed for a career in hospitality.
Marian continued: “I feel I have gained strength as a leader and become more confident in mentoring young staff which can only make the business stronger. I have loved every minute of the Peer Networks programme. I am still in touch with the other businesses that were on the course, we still go to each other for advice and support, it didn’t stop at the end of the programme.
“What the Growth Platform offer, is simply amazing. Working together, will only make us stronger as a company and as a city.”
Going forward, Staycity are looking at recruitment and training plans to take on more apprentices. They are also expanding as a company, with new openings in the UK from London to Edinburgh.
Find out more about the Peer Networks Programme