As we look ahead to International Women’s Day on March 8th, we’re proud to join the global celebration by highlighting some of the incredible women who help shape Wells & Co. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, calls on all of us to embrace generosity, collaboration, and shared progress, recognising that when we give our time, knowledge, support, or visibility, we create more opportunities for women to thrive.
In the spirit of this message, we’ll be releasing a series of personal profiles from across our business, spanning our Head Office, Managed Estate, and Pub Partners. We want to shine a light on the talent, drive, and impact of the women who help make Wells & Co. what it is.
We are kicking things off with Louisa Thomas, our Talent Acquisition Manager, who has played a vital role in strengthening our teams and helping people find fulfilling careers right across the Wells & Co. family.
A journey through the old and new Wells & Co.
Joining the business in 2018, back when we were still Charles Wells, Louisa has witnessed first-hand the evolution of the company from the old brewery days to the vibrant, independent Wells & Co. of today.
Championing talent across the business
In her role as Talent Acquisition Manager, Louisa leads recruitment for every corner of Wells & Co. From our pubs and support centre to our brewery and senior leadership team.
Recruitment here isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about building teams that thrive. As Louisa puts it, “Ultimately, my role is to ensure we are staffed with the right people at every level to drive performance, culture, and most importantly guest experience.”
Why Wells & Co. feels like home
Having previously worked in a large recruitment team for a major hospitality brand, the move to Wells offered something different. Being independent and family-owned means decisions are made close to the heart of the business, and people are genuinely seen.
“You’re not just a number,” she says. “People know you, value your input, and are passionate about what we do. It’s true to what hospitality should be about. People looking after people.”
Developing skills and shaping the future
Development has been a significant part of her journey. Alongside essential mandatory training, she has taken part in a range of specialist recruitment and talent management workshops. Covering everything from candidate sourcing and interviewing, to behavioural assessments and employer branding. This has enabled her to refine Wells & Co.’s hiring processes, ensuring they are effective, consistent, and candidate‑friendly.
This training, Louisa explains, “has helped me grow as a Recruitment Manager and deliver a more efficient hiring process, ensuring every candidate has a positive experience.”
Ambitions for the years ahead
Looking forward, her goals are centred around building a high-performing, diverse talent pipeline that strengthens both the culture and growth of Wells & Co. A key focus for the coming year is establishing structured, best‑practice recruitment processes for our French pubs. Introducing robust talent strategies, building the local employer brand, and creating a consistent experience for candidates and teams across borders.
Her long-term ambition? To make Wells & Co. “the employer of choice in every town and city!”
What Give to Gain means to Louisa
Reflecting on the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, Louisa speaks passionately about the importance of creating genuine opportunities.
“We open doors that others can walk through,” she says. At Wells & Co., this means valuing diversity, offering transparency, and ensuring everyone is empowered to be themselves and thrive.
From clear responsibilities and fair pay to flexible working, training, and open career pathways, Louisa champions a recruitment approach built on fairness and potential rather than rigid checklists. “We view hiring as a mutual investment,” she explains, “not a one-sided assessment.”
For her, Give to Gain is about helping others rise, because when people are given opportunity, development, flexibility, purpose, and fair reward, businesses gain loyalty, performance, and sustainable growth in return.
