“Business acumen, people skills and an ability to work well with numbers is what young people require to succeed in the industry,” said Roger Davy, owner of The Aleksander Pub & Kitchen in Twickenham.
Roger invested in the Twickenham site to create a distinctive and successful Italian inspired pub and eatery. Eighteen months later the turnover has increased tenfold and the locals cannot get enough of the unique offer.
Roger graduated from university with a BA in Economics and Spanish and has a strong background in finance. Like many others, his career swerved in a new direction when he started work as waiter in Scalini’s Italian Restaurants and found a passion for the sector. His hospitality journey went from strength to strength whilst working for big names such as All Bar One, Browns, Côte and the Michelin star River Café.
“Contrary to common belief, it’s not always the school environment that cultivates successful industry leaders. If a young person gets their head down to apply themselves to learning the core skills, there are ample opportunities in hospitality to earn a good wage, progress your career and achieve success.
“At the Aleksander our strength is our point of difference and that is born from a passion in perfecting the fine details in the business. I take pride in personally selecting everything stocked, from the wine list and the seasonal ingredients to the antique furnishing. It is privilege to have this influence over the customer experience as an independent retailer. It’s important to constantly gain knowledge to provide a unique and quality experience.
“My biggest achievement is executing my vision, rather than perfecting someone else’s. It has been made achievable through financial planning and setting firm standards amongst the team.”
Kiran Seahra, aged 20, is one of the youngest bar and floor staff in the champion team. Kiran, just like her boss, discovered her passion whilst working part-time.
Delving into the world of hospitality, Kiran found herself behind the bar at The Vine Inn in Hayes, behind a desk at The Hilton Hotel and cocktail making at Jamie Oliver’s Trattoria in Richmond before being headhunted for the Aleksander team thanks to her charisma.
“Pubs differ from other sectors within hospitality, they provide more opportunity to experiment with creative flare. I get to mix cocktails and work with an exciting range of ales and wines.”
Kiran firmly believes that customer service is at the heart of the pub and bar sector and is extremely proud of the high standard that she delivers on a daily basis.
“I’ve got an exciting future in the sector. I’m looking forward to executing my own creativity by having the opportunity to manage business projects like inventing my own cocktails, planning events for the pub and managing a team. One day I hope to operate my own London nightclub and have a completely original offer.”
By gaining experience in the sector and executing the basic skills with precision Kiran has built the foundation of a successful career.
Young people can step on the career ladder just like Kiran, with the help of the Pub & Bar Careers programme. The programme is helping build a future for industry leaders.
For more information about The Aleksander please visit: http://www.thealeksander.co.uk
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