About Hawkins Muiderman

Profile of founder Berni Hawkins

People often ask me how I ended up doing the things I do now; how does one make the transition from army officer to the Wellness Industry? Well, it takes 2 determined gentlemen and a lady who likes to lunch

Motivation is the inner drive that compels human behaviour. Many have previously said that great things happen when you least expect them. The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. Sometimes emotive messages inspiring us to make a change, to relate to certain events of our past or to take action for the future are shown to us in the strangest places; by talking to friends, colleagues, maybe evening watching films or listening to music; intuition definitely plays a role!

My message came to me at lunch! It was 1998, it involved Lord Thurso (now a Politician) and Philippe Rossiter (now CEO of the Institute of Hospitality) and a scene that resembled, HOTELYMPIA does "It ain't 'alf hot mum", the rest is history…..ask me about it some time, it’s surreal!

Formal profile

Berni, a former army officer, started her career in the spa and leisure industry in 1998 as Operations Manager, working with Lord Thurso at Champneys of Tring. She then moved on to further leading roles with various industry operators including general management roles with Virgin Active and LA Fitness and Directorships back at The Champneys Group and with Whitbread PLC.

Training and development of people has always played an important role in Berni's life both professionally and personally. She comments, "In the army, you spend the majority of your life training to ensure the delivery of the mission. The quality of your soldiers and you as a leader must constantly be encouraged and cultivated, as no matter what the endeavour or one's desire (not always ability), determines success". Berni truly feels that 'total dedication' to the heights of human potential creates champions and champion behaviour.

Within the industry, Berni now runs the leisure consultancy firm, Hawkins Muiderman.

When literally missing in action, Berni can often be found tending to her allotment, carrying out some outdoor sport (a keen skier and sailor) or on the island of Walcheren, Holland; her motherland.

Whilst attending an ISPA Conference, Dr Beatrice Berry once said, "When you walk with… purpose, you collide with destiny and through it all, you have to have so much fun, you’ll forget to grow old".

Berni remains 27....forever!

Mission

Supporting and building your business through innovation, strategic thinking and inspirational leadership.

Company core values

A company's core values are central to its success. These beliefs help people find a common cause with each other, and sustain this common cause and sense of direction through the many changes that take place form one generation to another.

Success comes through a sound set of beliefs, on which a company premises all its policies and actions. Beliefs must always come before policies, practices and goals. The beliefs should be stuck to through thick and thin; the most important single factor to corporate success is faithful adherence to those beliefs. Beliefs never change; change everything else but never the basic truths on which the company is based.

Integrity is not an option; it’s a non situational absolute standard. With that in mind, Hawkins Muiderman have a set of core values that represent not only the company but their Founder, Berni Hawkins.

Integrity

Winners are honest in their business and personal relationships. The double standard of having professional and personal lifestyles that don’t match is fraudulent.

Integrity is not an option. It is a non-situational absolute standard.

Happiness

Warning; I would always like my clients to feel immediate positive side effects including gentle smiles and greater happiness. If you keep smiling, it triggers curiosity! Talent goes where it’s appreciated, so happy people who feel good about themselves, produce good results.

Moral courage

There are 2 aspects of courage: physical and moral. Churchill wrote, 'Courage is a moral quality. It is a cold choice between 2 alternatives, the fixed resolve not to quit. Courage is willpower'.

Exceeding Service

Customers are scarcer than capital....at Hawkins Muiderman we understand that the market only contains a finite number who will each only do so much business in a lifetime; with anybody! Operating within industries that rely on exceptional service to realise their commercial plans, we understand the importance of serving to lead. Exception service coupled with the ability to waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to coach/teach easily and successfully.

Innovation

Innovation typically involves creativity, but it is not identical to it; we take a creative idea and act on it to make some specific and tangible difference. But for innovation to occur, something more than the generation of a creative idea or insight is required. Hawkins Muiderman take the insight and put it into action to make a genuine difference.