The group is planning to transform the accommodation, dining and events offering at the hotel, which it acquired for around £1m in 2014.
Staff numbers have already increased from nine to 15, with the hotel set to be running on a 22-strong team by 2016.
Jon-Paul Davies, managing director of Heritage Estates, said: “Growing our portfolio is very important to us but we need to have the right team to achieve this. The team at Cockliffe has come into its own and, as we’re starting to see the benefits of greater consumer confidence, we hope to see our refurbishment completed by the end of the year.”
The group is set to recruit a number of apprentices in a bid to encourage long term growth at the hotel.
Davies has previously called on the government to increase its focus on apprenticeship schemes.
Speaking earlier this year, he said: “We need to give opportunities to apprentices to become the leading hospitality figures of tomorrow.
“With around 1.9 million people unemployed in the UK the hospitality industry is in a great position to help more people in to work.”
The Midlands-based hotel group also owns Kelham House Country Manor near Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire.