At Whitbread, our people are the driving force behind everything we do. With over 35,000 team members across the UK, we’re committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our guests and o...
At Whitbread, our people are the driving force behind everything we do. With over 35,000 team members across the UK, we’re committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our guests and our colleagues.
As a Research Executive, you’ll join our Research Team and help shape strategic decisions across the business. You’ll help support the delivery of research projects that deepen our understanding of guests, competitors and the wider market. This role offers a unique opportunity to work directly on strategic business questions and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across marketing, product and beyond.
You’ll be part of a close-knit, supportive team of four, working alongside experienced Research Leads and Managers. Together, you’ll deliver actionable insights through both quantitative and qualitative research, exploring guest behaviours and preferences, tracking brand performance, analysing competitor activity, and supporting teams with evidence-based recommendations that drive growth and innovation.
Role: Research Executive
Contract Type: Full-Time and Permanent
Salary: Up to £30,000pa (for the right experience)
Location: Whitbread Court, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire and hybrid working with coming to the office a minimum of 3 days a week
Why You’ll Love It Here
- Individual Private healthcare
- Up to 10% matched pension
- Discounts: Up to 60% discount on Premier Inn stays and 25% discount on our Restaurant brand
- Annual Incentive of up to 15% Bonus
Check out all our benefits here: https://www.whitbreadcareers.com/about-us/benefits/
What you’ll be doing:
- Monitor competitor activity across advertising, CRM, social media and news, delivering weekly summaries and highlighting emerging trends.
- Design and analyse surveys and qualitative research, turning findings into clear, actionable insights.
- Engage with our online insight community, The Listening Lounge, by tracking performance and driving member participation through creative content.
- Conduct in-person research at hotels and restaurants, capturing real-time guest feedback through intercepts and observational studies.
- Communicate insights effectively by producing a monthly newsletter and sharing standout findings to keep the wider business informed and inspired.
- Support major research projects by collaborating with Insight Leads on planning, fieldwork, analysis, and reporting.
What you’ll need:
- Naturally curious with a passion for understanding people and market behaviour.
- Clear communicator who i confident in writing, presenting and engaging with guests.
- Insight-driven and can make light work at turning data into meaningful, actionable insights.
- Detail-focused and accurate in analysis, reporting and competitor tracking.
- Well-organised and able to juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines with ease.
Desirable but not essential:-
- Experience in a research agency or client-side role
- Research design e.g. survey design, discussion guides
- Survey and research tool proficiency
Be part of our Commercial Research Team at Whitbread
Meeting our ambitious goals to expand and reach new locations across the globe requires serious planning. It means analysing every little detail, spotting and overcoming barriers and working towards our ambitious plans. Think decision science, pricing, revenue and sales, and you’re there. With a lot of doing to be done, you can be part of making big change happen across the globe. Bring your drive and enthusiasm, and we’ll welcome you in.
We believe that everyone is unique and there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. We are committed to being an inclusive organisation that values diversity and welcomes your application whatever your background or situation.
Under-represented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities & members of the LGBTQIA+ community (those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and non-binary or those who use a different LGBTQIA+ term), are strongly encouraged to build a career with us. Speak to us about workplace adjustments, part-time and flexible working. Where possible we will support this.
Job ref: 112130-4492
Advertised: 14 Oct 2025
