Profile: Tracey Ashfield

Tracey Ashfield’s parents had the choice of virtually anywhere in the world to settle down and start a family.

But, Tracey, Ashorne Hill’s Partnerships Manager, is thankful they chose to return to Warwickshire because while there are more exotic locations across the globe, she couldn’t be more pleased with the life this region has given to her.

“When I was younger, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Tracey, who was born in Stratford and later moved to Leamington. “I wanted to go into the travel side of things – because my dad always loved travelling.

“He worked in Nigeria and Cameroon and my mum is from the Seychelles. They met in the Seychelles and then they came over to England.

“I feel very lucky. I could have had a very different life living in a tropical climate such as the Seychelles –I am sure it would have had its benefits but I think I’ve had many more opportunities here! My parents had three daughters and we’ve all had great opportunities and we all love what we do.”

At 14, Tracey landed a part-time job that helped to shape her personally and professionally.

“I got a job as a waitress in a restaurant and really enjoyed it,” she said. “It was great to talk to a whole range of people and learn different skills. I think younger people have missed out on some of these opportunities in recent years but I’m so glad I did it.

“It’s great to have friends and be around your peers, but you learn so much in a working environment.”

At 16, Tracey studied travel and tourism at Stratford College, still with one eye on going into the travel sector, and then at 18 took a job on reception at the Courtyard, by Marriott, in Leamington.

As a teenager, she was afforded way more responsibility than she was expecting and her people skills shone through.

“I was given quite bit of autonomy and had to make a lot of my own decisions,” said Tracey. “I had to gain the confidence to deal with customers and that is something that stays with you.”

She stayed at the hotel for five years but, before settling on a long-term career, Tracey had to get the travel bug out of her system.

But, even while she was taking a trip around the world, there was plenty of learning that she would bring into her current role.

“I travelled round Australia, Fiji, Bali, Singapore and India, which was an amazing experience. I would have been 24 when I did that and loved it,” she said. “When I came back, I wanted to stay in the hospitality industry. I saw a job advertised at Ashorne Hill which I decided to go for while I was deciding what I wanted to do and have never left!

“I had a few jobs while I was travelling. When I was out in Perth, I worked in a stadium in the hospitality boxes that overlooked the pitch. At that time, I couldn’t even get the cork out of the prosecco bottle! But everything is a learning curve.

“From mango packing through to working in different coffee shops, it was about developing skills and having someone to take the time to show you what to do and not expecting you to know. If you want someone to be the best they can be, you have to invest the time in showing them and then they will flourish.”

Tracey immediately fell in love with Ashorne Hill and still shares the same passion and drive for the venue – 22 years on!

First and foremost, Ashorne Hill is a learning provider creating transformational learning at all levels and across all sectors.