The Executive and General Committee have previously outlined it is important our structure of paid staff expands to ensure sustainability of what we have achieved and further growth. We have taken this decision due to the increasing size and turnover of the club plus the plan to increase revenue outside the core Rugby periods.

The employed resources and volunteers have done a fantastic job during the start-up period at Battlestead Croft. The transformation from Peel Croft to Battlestead Croft has been amazing and the turnover has trebled in the last 4 years.

However, it is clear our resources are stretched and getting time off for the paid staff is becoming increasingly difficult. The first step to improve resources was the employment of Will Worth which has been a great success.

We have now advertised for a hospitality staff member to help support Julie Dalzell. This appointment will be a similar role to Will Worth, but bar focussed and will be filled in the next month.

The next change we are going to make is to put additional resource into the external marketing of our facility. To date our success has been mostly based on word of mouth, highlighting our first-class venue, outstanding hospitality and food which has resulted in some very solid repeat business.

To achieve this, we will make one new appointment and one internal role change.

Claire Bradley will become the Administration Manager and focus on all the back-office administration for the Club, which is vital for our success. This will be a weekday role.

We will advertise for a Business and Operations Manager. The focus of this role will be external marketing and business development, alongside total facility diary control and delivery of hospitality and events with Claire Gibbs, Julie Dalzell and their teams. They, along with Claire Bradley will report into the Business and Operations Manager.

These changes will be implemented in the next few months; Claire Bradley will change over to Administration Manager from the 17th November 2025.

Until the Business and Operations Manager is recruited Julie Dalzell and Claire Gibbs will report to Stephen Eastwood, who will hold the weekly operations meeting and with them manage the diary, supported by Colin Grimsdell.

Clearly the transition may require Club Members to be patient until the normal smooth running is returned.