Ambssadors in Action! 

If you wish to contact a Springboard Ambassador, have them visit your school, college, careers event or local JCP then please email Eileen Allen at eileena@springboarduk.org.uk 

Erwin de Jong
My name is Erwin de Jong and for the last 12 years I have been working in the hospitality industry. When I was in high school I started to work at McDonald’s fast food restaurants, really enjoyed it, and decided I wanted to make my carrier in hospitality.

I went to study at hotel school The Hague in the Netherlands and kept on working at McDonald’s part-time. During my university degree period I completed two placements and worked as a receptionist at Thistle Lancaster Gate in London and later at the end of my studies I worked at the nightclub Panama in Amsterdam. As the economy in the Netherlands was not doing very well when I finished my studies at that time I decided to go back to London to gain experience. I started to work as assistant food and beverage manager at Thistle Lancaster Gate and within 10 months I was promoted to food and beverage manager.

In August 2005 I went to travel through South America for three months and returned to London and started to work as meeting and events manager at the Charing Cross hotel and also here I was promoted to food and beverage manager after a year. I than got the opportunity to open Park Plaza County Hall hotel as food and beverage manager which was my last job in hotels.  I wanted a more structured life and started to work as a general manager for Restaurant Associates at KPMG Salisbury Square, which is my current job.  I really enjoyed all the jobs I have done so far and I can really recommend a career in hospitality.

Jac Owen Davies
Thistle Manchester
Meetings and Events Operations ManagerJac started his careers as a Barman in a country Gastropub and was quickly promoted to Manager within 6 months. He then worked as a chef in another establishment on a part time basis for six months to gain experience. Jac then joined Thistle in September 2006 as a Management Trainee and in the summer of 2007 was promoted to Banqueting Manager. Jac Joined Thistle Manchester in June 2008 as Meetings and Events Operations Manager. His Career Aspiration is to become a General Manager and then beyond!

Rob Taylor
Sous Chef
Swinton Park Hotel Rob (now) 23 joined Swinton at 17 as a Kitchen Porter and was by his own admission at that time not at all sure of what he wanted to do – but felt he needed to get into something rather than risk going astray!   Rob started cooking at a young age  – having mastered the art of cooking a roast dinner at age 11 from his grandmother who was one of his greatest inspirations. Essentially Rob realised that he simply loved cooking.

Shortly after joining Swinton he became a commas, then to demy chef departie chef de partie and then sous chef last  year.    Rob is one of the hotels Ambassador’s within the Springboard Programme.

As a hotel we run work experience programmes, school visits and Rob is very much at inspiration at age 23 to to his young piers.

We have received reaccrediation for IIP last year and Excellence Through People Award and countless awards for the hotel.

Andrew Reid
Restaurant Manager
Restaurant Associates at Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringerAndy has 28 years of experience within the catering industry. Originally qualified as chef after 2 years full time at Catering College. Spent first 7 years working specialising as pastry chef in hotels, moved to contract catering and been with Compass for 18 years, during which time my roles have developed from Relief Chef  to General Manager within large corporate sites. His current role involves working very closely with people, an area that I feel most at home with.
Interests include extensive travelling throughout the world, dining out and theatre. Currently living in Docklands area