How hospitality leaders made their way to the top

The pub and bar pathway

Acorn Award-winner Ethan Davids is the co-owner of pub group the Chickpea Group, a group of pubs with rooms located across the south west of the UK.

 

How did you get into the industry?
I fell into it at my parents’ pub and opted for a career in hospitality after university. Starting the Chickpea Group with my sister, Jordan, and schoolmate, Tommy, in 2019 when I was 26 was the best decision I ever made.

 

What advice would you give anyone looking to enter the sector?
Get stuck in, master your craft and listen to as many people as possible. Hospitality is full of wonderfully creative, inspiring and driven people. Sharing ideas is fun, discussing challenges is therapeutic and learning from others who have been there is so valuable.

 

How have you mentored younger people joining the industry?

Hospitality is a people business at every level, so finding what motivates people and offering the right support and guidance is something I work very hard at and is something I hope I am getting better at.

 

What do you think working with a diverse age range brings to your workplace?

It gives new entrants to the industry the ability to learn from others who have been there. Equally, I think it’s helped the older people we employ to understand the challenges faced by young people today.

The restaurant pathway

Acorn Award-winner Daniel Bennett is the general manager of Heft restaurant in Cumbria, a restaurant that serves seasonal food that focuses on the local land.

 

How long have you been in hospitality?

My first role in the industry started at the Pickering Arms, a pub based in Thelwall, Warrington. I had many roles – peeling potatoes, cooking on the grill, assisting at the bar and restaurant – a Dan of all trades!

 

What initially drew you into the industry?
I ate out with my parents from a young age and I was always watching the staff – it was something I had always been interested in. My parents were both very good in the kitchen, but my sister and I always had to cook something for the family at least once a week too.

 

What advice would you give anyone looking to enter the sector?

A good pen sounds like such a small detail, but I always have far more time and respect for staff who turn up with one. I think guests appreciate small details – it shows them the effort and the pride they take in their role and themselves.

 

Have you mentored younger people in the industry?

We have a very small team at Heft. I’ll take the time to collectively show the team and go through things a few times when it comes to the smaller tasks, but my 
main operational focus has to be on the bigger tasks, which require significantly more input and one-to-one tuition.

 

Who’s inspired you most in hospitality?

Claire Wilkinson and Kevin Thornley – my tutors at Warrington Collegiate. They both played a pivotal role in influencing my learning and overall career direction. Also Fred Sirieix – his enthusiasm, his passion and his persona brighten any room.

The hotel pathway

Charlotte Horler is head of meetings and events at Birmingham City Football Club. In her previous roles she has worked for hotel company Red Carnation and the Grand hotel, Birmingham. 

 

How long have you been in hospitality?

I have been living the hotel dream since I was 15 years old, which means I’m touching on 20 fabulous years in this industry!

 

How did you get into the industry?

My parents both worked in hospitality when I was a child, and my dad is still very successful in the restaurant world. For someone who isn’t overly academic and thrives off no two days being the same and not having a routine, I’m not sure what else I’d be doing if it wasn’t this.

 

What advice would you give anyone looking to enter the sector?
Do it! There is something for everyone, whatever you enjoy, and it is so rewarding with skills developed that will help you throughout all aspects of life.

 

How did you decide on your career direction?

It was decided for me! I wanted to work at Walton Hall in Warwick when I was a late teen and they needed a receptionist. So that’s what I signed up to and now I wouldn’t change it for the world. I loved being the hub of the hotel and exposed to all departments daily. 

 

Have you undertaken any additional personal career development?
I did two pantomimes for an industry charity called Springboard, which were a real career highlight. I have also been fortunate to be awarded both The Caterer’s Acorn Scholarship in 2016 and an Acorn Award in 2018.

 

Alongside my job as a mental health first-aider and the charity initiatives we undertake within my role, these are the things I am most proud of throughout my career.

 

 

The foodservice pathway

Jamie Kendall is the head of finance at catering company Culinera

 

How did you decide on your career direction?

I entered the industry around eight years ago. I enjoy absorbing knowledge and always had a preference towards numbers and facts while growing up. This, combined with being motivated by seeing results, meant when starting my first trainee finance role with a contract caterer it was great – and slightly overwhelming – since every contract felt like a mini-business that I could learn about and over time help to influence.

 

All these factors kept me keen, while the business enabled me to learn from a diverse range of people, from general assistants to support office staff to senior management.

 

What advice would you give someone starting out in hospitality?

Stay interested and keep pushing – there are so many areas where you can strive upwards and/or branch your skills into new areas that if you keep asking for more, you will find something that you really enjoy.

 

Who’s inspired you within the industry?

There are so many inspirational people within the industry. Currently – and I may be biased – it would be my manager Thomas Pass, who works tirelessly to keep growing his company Culinera. Over the years I have seen him go from working in sales to setting up and running his own company, and his development and entrepreneurship is very inspirational.