Transforming Facilities and IT Leadership at Chester Racecourse

Background

Chester Racecourse (CRC) is a historic venue with a long racing heritage. As one of the UK's leading racecourses it attracts thousands of visitors annually, and it hosts a variety of events beyond the racing calendar. CRC partnered with Maxwell Stephens to strengthen the leadership of its facilities management and IT infrastructure through the appointment of a Head of Facilities and IT.

The Challenge

CRC recognised how much effective facilities management and IT infrastructure contribute to the smooth running of its premises, to safety standards and to the experience of guests and staff alike. Without a dedicated Head of Facilities and IT, however, strategic planning, infrastructure maintenance and operational efficiency were all harder to manage than they should have been. The client wanted to fill this leadership role with an experienced professional who shared CRC's values and could drive its mission forward.

Combined facilities and IT leadership roles are unusual, and that is what makes them difficult to recruit. Most senior facilities professionals have limited exposure to IT infrastructure, and most IT leaders have never run a building. At a venue that opens to the public for events, where premises and systems both have to perform on the day without fail, the appointee needs genuine credibility on both sides.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens took on the search for a candidate to lead CRC's facilities and IT operations. Drawing on our network and sector knowledge, we sourced candidates with a proven track record in operations and facilities leadership combined with expertise in IT infrastructure management, and assessed them for the leadership qualities and strategic thinking the role required as well as for their technical background.

The Outcome

After a comprehensive search and rigorous selection process, we identified a standout candidate with substantial experience in operations and facilities management across diverse environments. The candidate demonstrated strong leadership skills, sound strategic judgement and an appetite for innovation, and matched CRC's requirements closely.

CRC appointed its new Head of Facilities and IT, who integrated well into the organisation and brought fresh perspectives, strategic insight and a proactive approach to infrastructure management. Under the new leadership, CRC has improved its facilities operations, strengthened its IT infrastructure and increased its capacity to deliver a high standard of experience for visitors and stakeholders.

The successful candidate's feedback on the process:

"I cannot fault the team and service at Maxwell Stephens who have helped me step into my new career. First class communication from the outset, clear instructions and directions for my interviews, follow up calls and emails to ensure that everything went well and I was ok. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. That's five stars from me and if I could give them six, I would!"

Why This Placement Worked

The search did not compromise on either half of the brief. Rather than appointing a strong facilities leader and hoping the IT side would follow, we looked specifically for candidates who had already carried both responsibilities, and tested for the strategic capability that a role without a previous dedicated holder demands. Keeping candidates informed and prepared throughout the process, as the appointee's feedback reflects, also matters: senior candidates weigh how they are treated during a search as evidence of how the organisation will treat them afterwards.

If you are recruiting a facilities leader for a venue, or any role that spans facilities and IT, Maxwell Stephens can help you define a realistic brief and reach the candidates who cover it. Get in touch with our team.