Former Royal Butler lands job after handing out

Finance and Legal

Former royal butler lands job after handing out CVs at railway station

A 63-year-old former royal butler whose job search made headlines across the world after he handed out his CV at a railway station has finally landed a new job.

Cruise restaurant manager Trevor Walford, from Keighley, North Yorkshire, resorted to the novel recruitment tactic at Leeds train station, and others in the area, after sending out 700 job applications with little success. Having started his profession in hospitality as a trainee butler at Buckingham Palace, Walford went on to a highly-successful career working in hotels throughout the UK and Caribbean, including The Ritz Hotel in London, before joining his last employer, a cruise line, in 2006. But in March, as the coronavirus pandemic reached its peak, he received an email from the company saying he was out of a job. Unsure what the future held and with no support from the cruise ship company, Walford posted a 'try before you buy' offer of his services on social media platform LinkedIn. His post garnered a lot of interest from recruiters, but no concrete job offers. So he donned his best suit (and face mask), drew up a handwritten sign and printed off 100s of CVs, before heading to local train stations in a last-ditch bid to find work. Walford’s story clearly touched a nerve as his trials to land a job ended up going global – from Yorkshire to France and far-flung places such as the US, Australia and South Africa. The stunt proved to be the winning ticket when his train station CV handout caught the attention of Rob Campbell, Group CEO of Churrasco. Walford was invited for an interview and got the job. He has now been appointed training development manager for hospitality group, Churrasco Group, where he will oversee the customer service training of 337 employees across their 10 northern England venues.

"I'm chuffed t' bits, as we say in Yorkshire,"

Walford said about his new role. "I certainly

wasn't ready to be washed up just yet." Speaking of Walford's appointment, Campbell said: "Of course I empathised with Trevor's situation, but when we met him, his professionalism and wealth of knowledge across the industry is exactly what our operation needs."

With a lot of the hospitality sector on a knifeedge, he explained: "We are bringing Trevor

in at a critical time of our expansion and we are determined to navigate our way through and our venues recognised for their top-level service and fantastic food and atmosphere. Trevor is an integral part of our growth plans for the next 12 months.”

Churrasco Group consists of 3 brands, Estábulo Bar & Grill, Casa Peri Peri, and Fleur Café. The hospitality group was established in 2016 with the first restaurant in Leeds. Two new venues are due to open by the end of December 2020, creating further employment opportunities across the north of England. Estábulo is a Brazilian Style operation bringing the traditional way of cutting the meat on a skewer at the table, Casa Peri Peri specialises in chicken dishes and Fleur Café is offers daytime cake and coffee and an Italian a la carte menu in the evening.

Finance and Legal

Neil Palmer from Vintage Roots becomes honorary member of the Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Commenting on this nationwide push torecogNorthern Ireland is currently in the process of nise leaders such as Palmer, Lord recognising the leadership figures who have Blunkett, chairman of The Leaders Council of helped keep the country running during this Great Britain and Northern Ireland said, unprecedented period in our history. To that ‘Keeping an organisation in operation end, Neil Palmer from Vintage Roots was during this period is no small feat and it is today made an honorary member of the our belief that the thousands of leadership Leaders Council. Palmer has pledged to adhere figures across the country deserve a to the Leaders Council's Charter of Principles greater level of recognition. It is inspiring (https://www.leaderscouncil.co.uk/charter) to see so many of them sign our Charter of and to do everything possible to help aid our Principles. We are very fortunate to have so nation's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. many dedicated leaders in this country and Commenting on this achievement, Neil Palmer, this is our small way of recognising them Director and Founder of Vintage Roots said: and the contribution they make.’ "It’s fantastic to receive recognition for The Leaders Council of Great Britain and doing your job, especially during a Northern Ireland was set up to support and pandemic when times have been more champion leadership in all its forms. The uncertain. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Charter of Principles can be signed by any work has been very intense, operating with a leadership figure who wishes to do so but smaller team has made everyday tasks more anyone found flouting the principles is removed. challenging while keeping everyone safe has The aim is to ensure that the nation's recovery been at the top of our agenda. Support, is built on the strongest possible foundations. flexibility and the hard graft from all the team You can read more about Vintage Roots and at Vintage Roots has been crucial, making the Leaders Council's Charter of Principles this recognition possible." here: https://bit.ly/2Uwqjk9

Finance and Legal

Lakeside North Harbour Wellbeing Week supports Portsmouth business community

Portsmouth’s premier business destination, Lakeside North Harbour, is supporting local communities across the city and beyond by hosting a Wellbeing Week, with free webinars and classes, in celebration of National Work Life Week from 12 - 16 October. Keen to support as many people as possible, Lakeside is focused on using its unique position as a community hub to help those who work across the campus every day, as well as the wider Portsmouth business community that has been affected throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. All classes were free to attend, and are designed support emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. The sessions will cover a range of topics, from mindfulness and sleep hygiene, to the benefits of interacting with nature and understanding emotional intelligence. Lakeside North Harbour has partnered with a range of expert local businesses, including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Solent Apprenticeship Hub, to deliver the sessions. Simon Bateman, Lakeside North Harbour Asset Manager, said: “Lakeside has always

been focused on wellbeing, and providing an experience for our occupiers that goes far beyond the office. The last six months has been challenging for everyone, so we want to take the opportunity to support our occupiers, and the wider Portsmouth community, and encourage people to take the time to establish a good work life balance, and look after their mental health. “Our jam-packed week of digital activities aims to support a healthier, happier workforce, particularly during these difficult times. But we’re also focused on delivering sessions that will enable us to support our wider community – from the importance of skills and apprenticeships to the impact we

have on wildlife.” Simon adds: “The week is

an extension of our existing commitments to health and wellbeing, and using a digital format means we can reach more people than ever before. Lakeside is home to local, national and multinational businesses, and no matter where we are all currently based, we want to proudly fly the community flag – we are all in this together.” About Lakeside North Harbour:

Lakeside North Harbour is a 130-acre business campus in Portsmouth, home to a variety of international and local companies, including Babcock, Wiggle, Lead Forensics, Coffin Mew Solicitors, Virgin Media and Handelsbanken. Lakeside North Harbour boasts an impressive environment and amenities, alongside flexible office space. www.lakesidenorthharbour.com

https://bit.ly/2Kc7DEn

Finance and Legal

Quantuma appoints new director to Southampton team

Business advisory firm Quantuma has bolstered Quantuma’s Southampton team has seen its Southampton team with the appointment of several key appointments and promotions this director, Kelly Semke (nee Mitchell). year, including Philippa Robinson, as director in Semke has over 20 years’ worth of experience the firm’s Corporate Finance team, and in the business recovery and insolvency promotion of Simon Campbell to a managing industry, having worked her way up the ranks director role in April. at RSM Tenon to form part of the firm’s National Insolvency Practice management team. In 2013 Kelly Semke, director at Quantuma commented: Semke joined Quantuma as a founding partner “Businesses across all sectors are where she headed up the Southampton office experiencing a huge amount of turmoil and and played an instrumental role in the firm’s uncertainty as the impact of the Covid-19 rapid growth. continues to unfold. Quantuma is a growing

advisory firm that is well-placed to support

After spending two years as a consultant at Neil those businesses, and I am delighted to be Taylor Insolvency Semke spent four years in re-joining the firm to offer my skills and the marine sector as finance director for Osprey experience to clients and assist them in Technical Consulting Limited, where she working their way through the crisis.” combined her finance qualifications and operational experience, to undertake a leading Carl Jackson, CEO at Quantuma added: “It’s a role in the management and growth of a thriving pleasure to welcome Kelly back to young business. Quantuma. Her experience as a

restructuring professional and specialist

In her new role, Semke will support a broad knowledge and experience will be invaluable range of businesses across Southampton and to the firm as we continue to grow in the South coast, while developing specialisms Southampton and provide crucial advisory in the marine, manufacturing and retail sectors. support to businesses.”