INDUSTRY ROLE MODEL CASE STUDY – SCOTT WALLIS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, ARAMARK Introduction This case study consists of a personal profile of Scott Wallis, a Business Development Manager with ARAMARK. It is based on a questionnaire interview. Many thanks to Scott and to ARAMARK for providing this information.
Background ARAMARK Limited is an award-winning food service management company. It is a food service partner to organisations across a range of sectors including: • • • • •
business and industry defence education healthcare offshore
There are over 12,500 employees in the UK offering a vast range of services to ARAMARK’s customers. ARAMARK offers management, supervisory and employee opportunities at locations throughout the UK. Interview Name: Job Title: Location:
Scott Wallis Business Development Manager London and the South East
1. Why were you attracted into the industry? I love food. My parents had residential homes on the south coast, so I spent a lot of time there when I was younger. The best place to be in this environment is the kitchen. You get to taste everything that was being made ‘freshly made’. It was great! Our cook, Sally, produced the most amazing traditional dishes including individual steak and kidney puddings, bacon and suet pudding with parsley sauce, and a chicken and bacon pie - to name a few favourites of mine. After school, I started down the academic route to secure ‘A’ levels. But something was missing - I didn’t enjoy facing a blackboard everyday writing notes that I would have to regurgitate at a later date. I wanted to do something that gave me immediate satisfaction, something I could look at and best of all taste once it had been made. I left college after six months and got stuck in… Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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2. What was your first job in the industry? I went straight into the catering industry after leaving college. I worked as a pizza chef. I made some great friends, some of whom I still keep in contact with today. I was finally earning money, I could eat what I liked (within reason), and the social life was fantastic. 3. What educational qualifications do you have and/or training at work? How have these helped in your career? I have a BTEC National Diploma, Hospitality and Catering Management, and HND in Hospitality Catering and Management, and a BA (Hons) Hospitality Management. All of the above gave me an essential understanding of the hospitality industry in general and the way it works. However, it gave me very little insight into the world of contract catering, something that I later realised was for me. Education gave me the grounding and mental approach to learn as much as possible from a situation or event, then you achieve more the next time round. I have received some great training throughout my working life. The most significant training I received was in 2007 when I worked through the ‘Sales Academy’ with ARAMARK. This training gave me a new focus on how I wanted to develop my career. 4. Did you have a mentor who encouraged you during the early stages of your career? If so, who and why were they inspirational? I have had several mentors throughout my career. During the early stage, before I became involved in catering, it was my mum. My mum brought me and my sister up single handed and grew a successful residential care home business. She is an astute business woman who worked hard to achieve what she wanted. This inspired me to pursue my goals and achieve.
Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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5. What do you regard as being your biggest achievement to date? It depends on how you look at this, whether it is personal of whether it relates to business. Personally and most recently, moving direction in my career with ARAMARK has to feature. Juggling responsibilities for 18 months in Operations and Sales was hard work and finally moving was a really exciting time. In business, I have notched up several big achievements. With ARAMARK in my last full fiscal (financial year) as an operator, smashing my contribution plan in the fiscal 07 with a great team has to be a memorable achievement. 6. What industry ambitions would you still like to achieve? I still aim to be in control of my own destiny, self employed, and enter the independent café operator market. At the moment though I want to prove my worth in the sales arena and deliver for ARAMARK. They have given me this fantastic opportunity to change direction from Operations to Sales. 7. What gives you a buzz about your job? People. I enjoy meeting people for the first time, building that relationship and delivering on their objectives. I want to know I do a good job for them and to hear that customers using our facilities love the food we produce and the service we provide. The team spirit this induces is fantastic; to collectively be appreciated for a job well done is a great way to measure success. 8. Why would you recommend the industry to potential recruits? Every day is different and the more you put into your team, your clients and your business the more you will get out. Our industry has faces and personalities. You physically meet people, you don’t just deal with them on the phone or by email. If you love food, there is no better place to be than with people who share your passion. 9. What are your top 3 tips to people entering the industry? • Have fun and bring fun to the people you work with • Always ask questions • Never sever previous relationships with ex colleagues, this is an incestuous industry 10. Any other comments you would like to make? If I were to start from the beginning again I wouldn’t change a thing! For further information about ARAMARK and details of job opportunities please visit: www.aramark.co.uk Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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