Acorn winners 2012 – Laura Hinson-Yates

Age 29

Position Cluster general manager, Milton Keynes/Banbury & Northampton Clusters, Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants

Nominator Tim O'Sullivan

Proudest career moment I lead the Talent agenda in my region and influence the wider regional team through a number of programmes, such as leadership and management development days. My success to date is because I have the best team around me.

Greatest inspiration Our chief operating officer John Forrest because of his ability to connect and engage with people. His drive and energy to deliver the ultimate team and guest experience is contagious.

Ambition To do John Forrest's job as well as him one day.

Laura Hinson-Yates's journey began eight years ago as an F&B team member at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Lincoln while completing her degree in European Tourism. From there, she joined graduate programme, Shooting Stars with Premier Inn, and hasn't looked back. Within a year, Laura's natural leadership ability saws her bag her first head of department position as F&B manager at Leeds City West Premier Inn. Since then she has risen through the role of deputy general manager and then general manager at the 31-bedroom Leicester South Oadby Premier Inn and subsequently the 96-bedroom Coventry Binley A46 Premier Inn.

By last September, she had scooped her first multi-site management role as cluster general manager of the Milton Keynes, Silverstone & Banbury Premier Inn hotels, responsible for six hotels with annual revenue of £5.7m.