Claire Lawson
I live in Muswell Hill, London, seven miles from work. If it came to it, I could catch the Northern Line [Tube] or maybe a bus in, but I don't want to do that. My car is my personal space, where I think and clear my head at the start of each day. I pay the congestion charge, and would pay twice as much again to continue using my car.
I leave home, without breakfast, at about 7am and get into work no later than 9am.
I have a chat with the doorman when I arrive, and grab a coffee. Despite working in the City, I've never got into the "city living" thing, where you call in to a café on your way to work and turn up, ready for action, armed with an Americano or a latte.
At work, the radio keeps me up to date, so I don't read the newspapers. Instead, I check the programme for the day, chatting about it with the floor managers as they come in to work (clutching coffees).
As we're in the middle of rebranding the business at the moment, there are photographers everywhere. Traditionally, we've always relied on the City for business, but now we're aiming to broaden our scope, with more charity functions, product launches and awards.
We invited companies to tender for the rebranding, which was an education for us, because we had five companies competing for the contract, and it was amazing to witness their attention to detail, drive and passion. It's been a timely reminder to make sure we court our customers with the same verve and enthusiasm.
I have quite a lot of freedom with what I can do here. My brief is to look at marketing and sales, and to drive the business forward.
At 10.15am we have a daily meeting. It's usually team leaders but we try to keep it open to all staff. We'll discuss each department's progress, talk through the day's scheduled events and recognise individual effort.
Because of the site's history, lunch is at 11.30am. Personally, the thought of lunch before midday is a non-starter for me, so I hang on until the afternoon. So by midday I'm usually starving, as I haven't had breakfast.
During the afternoon, I'll walk the floor several times to get a feel for what's going on. We can be running two events at a time, so it's good to check that everything is running smoothly and to meet our large pool of casual workers.
In the summer months we erect a marquee over the courtyard, and last year Reuters hosted a World Cup party here.
We're always looking for new ideas and, following a suggestion from a member of staff, decided on a "Little Havana" theme for 2003, with marketing flyers disguised as mock-Havana cigars.
By 4pm I'm in another meeting with my senior team, analysing how we're doing and what's ahead. We take bookings 13 months in advance, so it's vital we keep the communication going.
I'll catch up with correspondence at 5pm, but not at the expense of ignoring guests. My background is with Marriott Hotels, and I subscribe to their philosophy that a customer's enjoyment of an event is dictated by their first 10 minutes' experience. Repeat custom is important, so I make sure guests are greeted warmly and that they're happy with everything.
The team and I often head for a drink after work. We go to St Paul's around the corner, but for this summer we've set ourselves the challenge of finding a pub with a decent beer garden.
Otherwise, I head off at 7pm if there isn't a late function I need to be at, although I usually eat out, socialise or shop before I head home.
Just a minute…
Tell us a secret I've played golf on and off since I was a teen. My dad was away in the Merchant Navy, and the sport gave us a common interest and some time together.
Any other hobbies? According to my family, it's buying and selling houses. I've just bought my seventh, which has a strip of grass out back. I'm determined to landscape it this summer, but my family believe it will end up as a patio.
Factfile
The Brewery
Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD
Tel: 0800 068 1288
Web: www.thebrewery.co.uk
The site has nine individual rooms and can host as many as 2,200 delegates, providing in-house catering for 680.
By Chris Druce
