Sustain

Reassemble

Sustain is a podcast for leaders, and those who want to become leaders in food, drink, and hospitality who know the status quo isn't good enough. Hosted by David Chenery, co-founder of Reassemble, a London-based sustainable design studio pioneering a Restorative Design Framework, the show explores how to build cultures, systems, and spaces that don't just do less harm — but actively do good. Over the past five years, Reassemble has partnered with visionary clients like Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson, GAIL's Bakery, and the National Trust to prove that sustainability and commercial success can thrive together. At the heart of every conversation is one defining question: What's the least you can do to be excellent? Through candid interviews and real-world case studies, Sustain reveals how successful brands embed sustainability, design for impact, and create change with defiant, clear-eyed hope. This is the show for anyone ready to lead the next era of hospitality — intelligently, creatively, and sustainably.

  1. Oct 12

    What people get wrong about culture and hiring with Lauren Linford

    A strong workplace culture is essential to building a successful and sustainable hospitality business, but the right culture looks different for everyone. Lauren Linford, founder of Home Hospitality, shares her insight on the industry's high staff turnover, the challenges of zero-hour contracts, and the importance of creating an environment where employees understand what culture they are working in and feel valued and supported within it. Drawing on her experience at Pizza Express and Cote before now specialising in recruitment, Lauren explains how businesses can build loyalty, encourage long-term commitment, and balance high standards with employee well-being. Lauren Linford Substack Dan Pink Emma Grede   Chapters (00:00) Why workplace culture matters in hospitality (00:59) The importance of autonomy, mastery and purpose at work (01:29) Meet Lauren Linford, founder of Home Hospitality (02:00) Why hospitality struggles with staff retention (04:56) Are zero-hour contracts really the problem? (06:13) Why poor employment practices matter more than contract types (06:36) What makes a great workplace culture? (08:04) Why the right culture looks different for everyone (08:49) Challenging hospitality's culture of constant hard work (09:25) Different perspectives on work-life balance (10:23) Why independent hospitality businesses deserve a different approach to recruitment (13:01) The importance of relationships beyond recruitment (14:29) Common hiring mistakes hospitality businesses should avoid (16:04) Why overselling a role can damage staff retention (17:29) The value of honesty and realistic expectations when hiring (17:58) Simple ways to make employees feel valued (19:26) Why employee benefits should reflect individual needs (20:34) What larger businesses can learn from independents (21:21) Why genuine effort makes a difference to workplace culture (21:29) Putting human connection at the heart of hospitality (22:30) Making hospitality careers work for parents (25:09) Why flexibility should evolve with employees' lives (26:02) Rethinking traditional working arrangements in hospitality (26:50) How a nine-day fortnight can benefit teams and businesses (27:24) Practical ways to support working parents (28:13) Recruitment red flags worth paying attention to (29:44) Why contracted hours should be the norm (30:48) The importance of reviewing outdated employment contracts (31:04) Hospitality experiences worth seeking out (31:53) What makes The Palomar's dining experience stand out (32:30) Why having it all isn't always realistic (33:56) Understanding the trade-offs between work and life (34:18) A book worth reading: Emma Grede's Start With Yourself (35:29) The value of being realistic about career and life choices (35:49) Final thoughts and where to connect

    What people get wrong about culture and hiring with Lauren Linford
  2. Sep 28

    How to influence others and avoid the S word… Insights from St Austell Brewery with Emily Coon

    In this episode of Sustain, Emily Coon, Sustainability Lead at St Austell Brewery, shares the story behind Crafting a Brighter Future — the brewery's first sustainability strategy in 175 years. We explore systems thinking, the realities of embedding sustainability into hospitality, and why collaboration and influence are key to creating real lasting change. St Austell Brewery Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth Why influence is a superpower for the climate era, Emily Coon,TEDxPorthtowan Women   Chapters: (00:00) Exploring the Future of Sustainable Hospitality (00:57) Looking Beyond the Sustainability Buzzwords (05:02) Connecting Climate Change, Farming and Hospitality (07:03) Why the Climate Crisis Is a Leadership Challenge (09:13) Building Influence Through Collaboration and Connection (10:39) Using Systems Thinking to Empower Sustainable Action (12:38) Making Sustainable Choices the Default (14:35) Removing Friction to Make Sustainability Easier (15:56) Embedding Sustainability into Everyday Pub Operations (18:18) Tackling Grid Capacity, Suppliers and Tenanted Estates (19:37) Bringing Suppliers and Tenants into the Conversation (21:35) Putting Climate at the Heart of Decision-Making (23:03) Rethinking Sustainability as Long-Term Business Viability (24:34) Reclaiming What "Sustainability" Really Means (25:59) Moving from Talking About Sustainability to Doing It (26:41) Making Meaningful Progress Without Burning Out (28:20) Creating Pockets of Excellence That Build Momentum (29:09) What Makes a Hospitality Experience Memorable? (29:40) Exploring the Pub's Role as a Place of Connection (30:59) Rethinking Carbon Labelling, Trust and Unexpected Opportunities (32:23) Why Doughnut Economics Offers a Different Vision for the Future (32:58) Finding Yourself Through Books and Personal Growth (33:32) Connecting with Emily and Reclaiming the "S Word"

    How to influence others and avoid the S word… Insights from St Austell Brewery with Emily Coon
  3. Sep 1

    Panic. Learn…then do stuff.

    Increasingly uncomfortable with being asked to market small initiatives as sustainable (like banning plastic straws), Sarah Duncan fell down the rabbit hole of sustainability nearly a decade ago after her daughter became a 'fully blown eco warrior'. Since then, Sarah has written several books (including The Sustainable Business Book) and works with a wide range of businesses to move from good intentions into practical change in how they operate.  David and Sarah talk about what sustainable hospitality looks like in practice, how businesses can better understand ESG, and how meaningful change can be embedded across an organisation. Sarah shares how her work has evolved, the challenges businesses face when trying to make meaningful change, and the frameworks that can help turn sustainability ambitions into action. Sarah Duncan Sustainable Business Book Expert Advice Online Resources mentioned:  Green Key Green Tourism  How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee  The New Climate War by Michael Mann Green Swans by John Elkington   Chapters (00:00) Discover how hospitality leaders can achieve excellence through sustainability (00:57) Explore what sustainable hospitality really means — and how we can make it happen (01:45) Hear what led Sarah to pursue a more ethical and sustainable approach to business (10:42) Discover the Planet System Framework from Sarah's new book (12:24) Explore the biggest challenges businesses face when putting sustainability into practice (21:39) Consider the positive side effects of pursuing a sustainable agenda (22:47) Understand why businesses need to define their reasons for pursuing an ESG agenda (24:56) Learn why having a clear vision of where your business wants to be in five years matters (29:16) Explore whether certification systems are essential for creating meaningful change (31:20) Hear about Sarah's most memorable hospitality experience (32:41) Find out what Sarah has changed her mind about recently (36:03) Discover the book Sarah recommends most — other than her own

    Panic. Learn…then do stuff.

About

Sustain is a podcast for leaders, and those who want to become leaders in food, drink, and hospitality who know the status quo isn't good enough. Hosted by David Chenery, co-founder of Reassemble, a London-based sustainable design studio pioneering a Restorative Design Framework, the show explores how to build cultures, systems, and spaces that don't just do less harm — but actively do good. Over the past five years, Reassemble has partnered with visionary clients like Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson, GAIL's Bakery, and the National Trust to prove that sustainability and commercial success can thrive together. At the heart of every conversation is one defining question: What's the least you can do to be excellent? Through candid interviews and real-world case studies, Sustain reveals how successful brands embed sustainability, design for impact, and create change with defiant, clear-eyed hope. This is the show for anyone ready to lead the next era of hospitality — intelligently, creatively, and sustainably.