Acorn winners 2012 – Francesca Brennan
Age 22
Position Assistant catering manager, Wilson Vale
Nominator Andrew Wilson
Proudest career moment In February this year when I won silver out of 400 applicants for Excellence in Customer Service at the South West Tourism Awards.
Greatest inspiration My dad inspired me to work hard and be ambitious; my mum has always been my agony aunt. Together they make a great team.
Ambition I'd like to have my own independent company to train front of house staff in different establishments. In this industry training is often overlooked and, as a result, customers experience poor service.
Francesca Brennan was set to take a degree in hotel management in 2009 when she was offered a promotion at the Pear Tree country hotel in Worcester, where she had been working as a part-time waitress. Aged 19, Frankie became duty manager, overseeing a team of 10, with responsibility for the operational management of the bar, hotel and banqueting services for up to 200 people.
Keen to gain experience in a fine-dining environment, she then became chef du rang at the four-star Arden hotel in Stratford. In 2010, she moved into contract catering, joining Wilson Vale's team at the Cotswold Conference Centre as assistant catering manager.