Our dedicated employees are the driving force behind our success. From the meticulous planners to the welcoming receptionists, the talented kitchen staff, the hardworking cleaning crew, and the efficient operation, finance, and logistics teams, every single member of our team goes above and beyond to preserve the legacy of The Brewery. It's time we bring attention to the remarkable individuals who make our organisation what it is today.

This month, let's shine a well-deserved spotlight on Steve, Head of Facilities.

Hi Steve! To begin with, could you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in the maintenance field?

I was born and raised in North London in a challenging environment, coming from a very dysfunctional and abusive family. With five of us kids, life was tough. I left home at 15 and spent the next few years in foster care, where I trained as an electrician—following in the footsteps of my brother Alan, who inspired and introduced me to the maintenance field. When I aged out of the foster care system at 18, I found myself homeless, sleeping in parks and snooker clubs. Fortunately, my time on the streets was brief, and I met a man who offered to help me and took me to his nan’s house. I stayed with them for a year and a half, and I consider these two my saviours.

While living with this generous family, I did whatever I could to help out and show my appreciation, including wallpapering, painting, and maintaining the garden. Afterward, I moved to Kent and then spent some time in Spain, where I fixed boats before returning to London. My experience on the streets motivated me to support homeless charities, and I take part in an annual charity walk with Under One Sky, which recently gained support from Stormzy, YouTubers Niko Omilana, and Mr Beast, with a donation of £120,200 after hearing about the charity's work. In addition to this, I also participate in The Brewery's fundraising activities for our partnered charity, Single Homeless Project. Both of these great causes help raise money to keep our homeless friends clothed and fed during their day-to-day survival on the streets of London.

While I feel I've earned my place today through hard work and perseverance, I also recognise how fortunate I've been to meet people who've helped me get back on my feet. Currently, I am in the process of writing a book about my life story.

Steve & co on Under One Sky charity walk

How long have you been working at The Brewery, and could you describe your career progression within the company?

I've been with The Brewery officially since April 2016. Prior to this, I worked as a contractor for the owner of The Brewery, previous aerospace company for around three and a half years. Following that, I ran my own business for five years, during which I also undertook projects for The Brewery. In 2016, the two people who worked for me decided to move on, prompting my decision to join The Brewery full-time. When I first joined, it was quite tough because there were no established processes for facilities. The team mostly reacted to problems as they arose, rather than taking a proactive or preventive approach. I started as a maintenance engineer, and within a year, I was offered a position at another company. However, I decided to stay at The Brewery as there were some interesting projects on the horizon, such as the refurbishment of the Grubstreet Author.

Could you tell us about how your team is structured?

I head up the facilities team, consisting of myself, Peter, Jack, and Owen. Peter is the Team Leader and my right-hand man; he takes a load off my shoulders. He is responsible for building management alongside me, oversees the helpdesk, and handles various other projects. Jack is our Facilities Coordinator, overseeing all planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and coordinating contractors for fire PPM. Owen, our Maintenance Operative, manages our day-to-day maintenance tasks. In addition to this, the technical team also comes under our department, which includes the Head of Technical and Technical Support Managers.

What does a typical day look like for you? What are some of the key responsibilities you handle?

No two days are the same; every day is different. I usually start around 7 am, Monday to Friday, diving into emails for a couple of hours first. Following that, I'm up and about, checking in with the team and meeting with our neighbours at the hotel and school to maintain strong relationships. We often have contractors on-site, and I spend time planning future projects and ensuring our maintenance is up to date after audits, as well as managing insurance inspections.

My main goal is to minimise room maintenance by opting for high-quality materials that need replacing less often, along with environmentally friendly options such as LED lighting, efficient water taps, and equipment like our ORCA food digester, which liquefies food waste for safe disposal via the water system.

After taking over from the previous Facilities Director, I introduced several new processes and systems. One significant change involved restructuring the facilities department and enhancing our operational procedures. Recently, I introduced Alert 65, which is like our bible, where we upload all legal compliance documents including PPM, fire, and gas certificates. This has streamlined our audit processes significantly.

I've also developed training programmes, such as familiarisation sessions to ensure everyone knows the building inside out, and live fire training. During these sessions, the fire alarm goes off, and I receive an alert on my phone pinpointing the fire's location. The team then follow the established procedures, not knowing whether it's a drill or the real deal. The goal of these exercises is to ensure everyone feels confident and prepared, especially those who may be in the building alone, such as security or event managers, when an emergency occurs.

Even after all these years, do you still stumble upon hidden spaces that you didn't realise were there? Have you ever found anything interesting?

Last year, we discovered a hidden door we never knew existed. It was in a part of The Brewery that’s not easily accessible, requiring a ladder to reach, and is not accessible to employees or guests. At some point, the door must have connected to the rest of The Brewery, but now it just opens to a big drop. I know The Brewery like the back of my hand, but we still find things hidden in walls or ceilings. For example, we took down a distribution board in a back-of-house room last year and found a brass-dated Whitbread plaque. During the Grubstreet Author project, we discovered a plaque in the ceiling along with old beer bottles and cigarette packs, likely because this space used to be the staff area back in the Whitbread Brewing days.

Whitbread plaque discovered behind a distribution board

What achievements or projects are you most proud of during your time here?

Besides taking part in and winning The Brewery Pride Bake-Off, I would have to say the Grubstreet Author project - anyone who pays me a visit gets a tour of this space! We managed to pull it off in just nine months from the time we got the planning go-ahead. What made it even more special was that we handled most of the work ourselves. We put up the wallpaper, laid the tiles, built the stage, set up the bar, and even sorted out the ceiling in the Pasteur Room, among many other tasks. It was a real team effort, and seeing the final result was incredibly rewarding.

Is it important to you that your workplace is an events venue rather than any other type of business?

Absolutely! When I took over from my predecessor, I made it a priority to take the team out to Chiswell Street. I wanted them to experience the customer journey alongside me, because any flaws we notice will be noticed by our customers too. Our customers expect a premium experience, so everything has to be perfect—not just functional but also beautiful. It makes me happy to ensure everything is up to standard. Sometimes, during events, I stand in the corner of the Porter Tun just to watch. Seeing guests excited and enjoying themselves makes me proud to be part of The Brewery.

How would you describe the culture at The Brewery?

Well, it’s much better since I joined! On a serious note, I'm surrounded by genuine people who really care about the building, the brand, and its history. It can be challenging work at times, but it's also rewarding. I'm glad to see that everyone trusts each other and takes pride in their work and their team.

What are you most looking forward to in the coming months?

We have a few exciting projects coming up, but some are under wraps for now. Overall, I'm looking forward to improving The Brewery's features and various refurbishments, including the ground and first-floor ladies' toilets, and upgrading our office space.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to achieve similar success?

Honesty and transparency are key, both personally and professionally, and set a solid foundation for achieving your goals.

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