how i got here

Having visited a number of De Vere Hotels sites and received "a really good vibe", Jane Littlewood applied for a number of training schemes for her first industry job in 1988.

Three years as an assistant manager with De Vere led to an appointment in sales. "I'd sworn I'd never make the move because it's perceived as such a ‘girlie' career route," Littlewood recalls.

"But once I experienced the role I was sold on the strategy, development and budgeting skills required. It was so interesting to be able to take a step back and look at the business as a whole."

After four years, Littlewood faced the dilemma of whether to go back into an operational role with the company or break out of her comfort zone and move on. Pursuing the latter, she responded to an advertisement in Caterer for a then little-known company called Hayley Enterprises. It was 1995 and the company had a conference centre at Sedgebrook Hall, Northampton.

Littlewood was successful in her application and joined as a business development manager for the company's second centre, Ettington Chase in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, which was due to open in six months' time. Without doubt she sees this as her big break. "Looking back it was one of those fork-in-the-road situations - fortunately for me, I made the right choice."

By 1996 she had been promoted to group sales manager ahead of the company's third centre-opening. Littlewood took another step forward in 1998, becoming sales director and being appointed to the company board.

Finally in 1999 she assumed her current role of sales and operations director, in a move designed to unify the two sides of the business.

Not willing to sit back, Littlewood has this year taken a lead on the company's newly launched human resources project, which will see the company transform its work culture.

And for those unsure whether sales is a career route they wish to follow, Littlewood has a tip. "If you're in an operational role and don't know if sales is for you, take it slowly. The best trick is to give up some of your free time and get sales experience at your company.

"You'll find that doing it on a voluntary basis will mean there's less resistance to the idea."

Career highlights

1988 - Starts working at De Vere Hotels as an assistant manager

1995 - Joins Hayley Enterprises as business development manager

1998 - Appointed sales director and a member of the board