Don't miss Propel's best conference presentations in 2023: For the first time, Propel group editor Mark Wingett has chosen the best videos from the Propel conferences in 2023, picking out a selection of talks and interviews that resonated with delegates from across the breadth of the hospitality sector. Wingett said: “We have been extremely lucky over the course of the year to hear from an amazing selection of speakers across our various conferences. The 12 videos below give a glimpse into the standard of insight that was provided from the broad church that is the UK’s hospitality sector, but also the inspiration and innovation that is currently in play when it comes to all aspects of building award-winning businesses.” The 12 videos will be made available to Propel’s Premium subscribers at 9am on Friday, 24 November. They are: Nick MacKenzie, chief executive of Greene King, discussing how the group has put people at the centre of its plans, its work with apprenticeships, prison leavers and the homeless, and the investment it is making on improving its existing estate, through acquisitions such as Hickory’s and evolving existing brands. Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims, talks about the group's award-winning sustainability journey and how it informs all parts of the business, the company's evolution, the role its academy is playing in encouraging new generations into the sector, and how the brand is looking to create something “that has substance and substance leads to longevity”. Jordan Moore, head of talent at Gail's, discusses its recruitment campaign based around enjoying working in hospitality while having a work-life balance, called “The Early Bird Never Works Late”, which helped the business recruit for seven new bakery openings, with more than 300 new “bread heads” joining the group. James Hacon interviews Indian-born British chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express. Khan talks about the journey to opening her first restaurant, operating an all-female brigade of talented amateur chefs, paying everyone equally, what hospitality means to her, and how the most important thing about building and leading a team in a restaurant is to be empathetic. Kenny Blair, managing director of Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings, talks about creating recruitment initiatives, including a cash referral scheme to attract new talent, its use of TikTok to find new employees, how it plans to become a £100m-turnover business, and why the industry needs to “rip up the traditional application process”. Dame Karen Jones, chair of Hawksmoor and non-executive director of Mowgli, talks to James McLuckie, group chief learning officer at Mapal, about what the sector does right when it comes to finding and nurturing talent, what it could do better, and argues that hospitality is the architect of its own doom in the recruitment difficulties it faces. Olajide Alabi, equality, inclusion and wellbeing partner at Turtle Bay, discusses the impact of the group's Four Days at The Bay initiative, the investment the business has made in its equality, inclusion and wellness programme, and why the culture at the Piper-backed brand is built on a foundation where the wellbeing of its teams “is not just a buzzword”. Debbie Hewitt, MBE, talks about her career in business. Hewitt was appointed chairwoman of the Football Association in June 2021 and is the first woman to hold the post, having previously been chairwoman of The Restaurant Group. She talks about her career to date and her route to becoming a chair in our sector. Helen Charlesworth, managing director of Stonegate Pub Company, talks about how she motivates and inspires people to do their best, and how the group has immersed new businesses and cultures as it has continued to grow. Mark Selby, co-founder of Mexican brand Wahaca, discusses the group's evolution, its work on sustainability, the role its fledgling DF Tacos concept is set to play, a return to the expansion trail for its core brand, his views on the wider eating-out sector, and why the opportunity for the business to be the national Mexican brand is still there. Paula MacKenzie, chief executive of PizzaExpress, talks to Mark Wingett about taking the helm at the iconic casual dining brand, challenges and opportunities her first year in the role provided, how the near 60-year-old brand remains relevant as ever, and why harnessing its power consistently across all channels is a key challenge. Heydon Mizon, joint managing director of Hertfordshire brewer and retailer McMullen, talks about how the business is keeping the pub relevant to new generations of consumers and the challenges and opportunities of being a regional operator. Premium subscribers also receive access to six databases: the Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage; and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription. Premium subscribers are also being given exclusive access to the recording and slides to Propel Multi-Club Conferences. They also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before; regular video content and regular exclusive columns from Mark Wingett.