Introduction:
In this episode of Talking Hospitality, hosts Timothy R. Andrews and Tracey Rashid engage in a captivating conversation with Nick Clover, a seasoned entrepreneur in the hospitality sector. The episode delves into Nick's journey from starting as a 14-year-old working in a pub to establishing several successful companies in the hospitality industry.
Why Listen to This Episode:
This episode is a treasure trove of insights for hospitality professionals, especially those in leadership roles or aspiring to be. Nick Clover's story is not just about business success; it's a narrative of resilience, innovation, and a deep understanding of the hospitality industry. Listeners will gain valuable lessons on career development, the importance of people in the industry, and how to navigate the challenges and opportunities in hospitality.
Key Points of Interest:
Conclusion:
This episode of Talking Hospitality is a must-listen for anyone in the hospitality industry seeking inspiration and practical advice. Nick Clover's journey and insights offer a unique perspective on building a successful career and business in hospitality, making it an invaluable resource for seasoned professionals and newcomers alike.
Summary
In this episode, Nick Clover shares his journey in the hospitality industry and how he built successful businesses like Appetite4Work and HJUK. He emphasizes the importance of onboarding and support in the industry and encourages more people to join. Nick also discusses the challenges and misconceptions in the industry and the impact of the Opra Awards. He shares his philosophy and principles in building businesses and offers advice for aspiring leaders. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire question round.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:07 Nick's Journey in Hospitality
05:18 Starting Appetite for Work
06:16 Importance of Onboarding and Support
07:10 Passion for the Hospitality Industry
08:09 Encouraging People to Join the Industry
10:06 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Industry
12:40 The Opra Awards
15:39 Philosophy and Principles in Building Businesses
17:35 Building HJUK and Otolo
20:00 Staying Focused and Motivated
23:38 Advice for Aspiring Leaders
28:34 Rapid Fire Questions
31:09 Conclusion
Welcome to another episode of Talking
Hospitality.
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I'm Timothy R Andrews and I'm joined today
with my co-host Tracy Rashid.
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Today we ask the question, how can you
build a business from being a one person
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band to several successful companies?
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00:00:18,748 --> 00:00:23,391
Our guest today, Nick Clover, shares his
story of why he started, the highs and
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lows of his journey and what the future
holds now 21 years later.
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We're excited to bring you today's episode
with the support of our esteemed brand
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partners, Graphic Kitchen.
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Graphic Kitchen stands at the forefront of
innovative design solutions, transforming
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spaces into vibrant, engaging
environments.
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They specialize in spoke graphic designs
that breathe life into any setting.
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Whether it's a bustling restaurant or a
chic hotel lounge,
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and memorable experience.
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Discover their stunning portfolio and how
they can elevate your space at grap
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Welcome back everybody.
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Thanks for joining us again.
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But today we're diving into the world of
hospitality with a very special guest,
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Nick Clover, the visionary behind Tolo,
Appetite for Work and HJUK.
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Nick, it's a pleasure to have you with us
and welcome to the show.
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So Nick, you have built an impressive
portfolio with a total of only a prototype
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for work and HJUK.
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So let's start from the beginning.
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And please let us know what those
businesses are and what they're all about.
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But also how did your journey in
hospitality begin?
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So, 14 years old, working in a pub.
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Joined some cash.
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Remember the time, planning to go into
Glastonbury the following year.
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So, um, pocket money is always helpful,
right?
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And for the, so I started working in a
pub.
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Loved it.
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Hard work.
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local pub had a successful busy kitchen,
so the pans are coming thick and fast and
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they're going to keep up.
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Some of my fondest memories were working
in that pub with the people I worked with
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as the young kid who just did it best.
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Will Barron Why didn't you at the X14, I
know, wanted to be a pot wash?
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00:02:23,536 --> 00:02:26,298
Richard Larkin Well, if I didn't wash
pots, I wouldn't have had any money.
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Well, to go to Glastonbury, also to, you
know, sort of 14 years old, to be able to
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go and see friends, for example, basically
it was a good lesson in life.
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Will Barron Said to work, work for cash.
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My older brother works in hospitality as
well.
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Big inspiration.
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Don't know at the time if there was any
association there, it was more just a case
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of, I might've been the first to actually
work in hospitality.
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And I think he had worked in another pub
for a friend of the family doing similar
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thing, but watch, it looks fun, it suits.
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How did you go from a 14-year-old to a
flat for work, HGK and a toilet?
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I got experience in the kitchen, got
experience in the front of Paris, got
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experience in behind the bar, which is
probably happiest throughout my growing up
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through studying at the university and did
a 18-month employment with a commercial
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business, which is fab, a lot of hard
work, understanding why that garage needed
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a secretary, why the AI needed a...
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account to pay that person in the team.
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So he just kind of put the pieces together
in terms of what makes that business a
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business.
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So I didn't have that experience before.
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So that was great.
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Because my passion for hospitality, I love
it.
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And seeing Chris is 30 months older, he
sort of thrives as a general manager.
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I just thought, this is what I want to do.
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I just want to be talking to people who
are more relatable to me, because of the
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people that I've known, worked with,
friends.
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This is one thing that I'm quite proud of
is I didn't have any candidates or any
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clients.
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But my contact was there, if that makes
sense, like in terms of one.
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or two restaurants they weren't going to
do.
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But they were just getting out and making
a game of it, suddenly recruiting in
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Bristol.
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So Birmingham and then at the South Coat,
it's kind of London and Hamlet for quite a
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while, really.
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It was more the areas that hadn't been
covered by there's a lot of established
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businesses at the time who had that.
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So maybe I wasn't that clever because I
liked to be on the road for a couple of
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hours and then the main people come back,
well I was in front of the candidates and
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this is the job center.
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They were putting the penny on marketing
for the first.
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Yeah, because I didn't have any money.
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I had a couple of grants to keep it going
for three months.
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And that's why I just wanted to.
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It sounds like you really jumped in just
head first.
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Yeah.
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And you just wanted to do it.
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Yeah.
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I had a friend, a friend actually that I
was talking to about it and she had a
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small commercial, so I said, I'm thinking
about this.
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And it changed in where I'm at the moment.
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It was the time to move on.
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Expectations based on my time without a
resource.
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So it was why I got a bit of a telling
off, even though I massively delivered on
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the financial figures and it was just the
app and the process behind it.
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Whoa, I got told off a lot that time.
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You know, and it's sort of, hang on a
minute.
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I've literally doubled the expectations of
people working shifts and, you know, hours
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of hemp's working.
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And so I thought, no, I'm going to move
on.
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Speaking to a friend, I got a phone call
from one of her consultants who said, hey,
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here you're planning on setting up a
recruitment company.
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I said, yeah, I need to get something in
the yellow pages today.
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So I'm thinking something starting with A.
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She said, yeah, I heard that.
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What about appetite?
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And I was just like, I was like,
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Yeah.
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Just, yeah.
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So I popped down with a bunch of flowers
and a box of chocolates and a couple of
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boards wide for the office.
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Because it really meant something that
she'd actually thought, didn't really know
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her, to phone up and say, what about that?
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So that's pretty cool.
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So I can't take credit for the name and
appetite across two businesses.
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And I work in recruitment, the permanent
side, which is all about getting people,
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just giving them the best experience,
understanding businesses, why they're the
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best business for that candidate and
people.
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So watching the team do it now to the same
standard with...
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guys with a lot of experience or the guys
with no experience.
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It's fantastic.
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When Gem, who I worked with, joined at a
dark time of, she didn't know it was dark,
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but I basically hit the recession, hadn't
reacted quickly enough to the staffing and
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00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,501
ended up, face to back once you, I'll
probably say, I just worked my way out of
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it.
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The question that Dad asked me was, was it
worth it?
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It's like, yeah, because otherwise I'm
going to just destroy the brand forever
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and my reputation.
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And it's, you know, that's key.
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They do a great job.
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They do put the candle in first.
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Yeah, over the pine
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And that's really important because the
onboarding, when you join a new job, it's
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the next step in your career in an
industry that's really under underrated in
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terms of the respect levels.
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And they do take pride in and get a buzz
as I did.
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When you've got that kind of thing, it's
literally made their day.
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And it's really cool to hear that.
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You know, so forget money, forget it's
about people.
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Yeah, that will happen if you're good.
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And the focus being the opposite from what
I saw in that brief stint in the previous
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business to the way I see the guys
operating now.
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It's
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is just get the people right, give the
right coaching, give the right amount of
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time to understand the business and to
understand the candidate.
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And so just to do a good job, and the buzz
at the end of it is, you know, you've made
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someone's day, right?
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What feels better than that?
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And you talk about hospitality, friends
for life.
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Yeah.
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You know, you can see those relationships
happening on the supply side of the
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recruiters and in the good businesses and
there's a few of them.
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So yeah.
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There's a golden thread with our guests
and it's very much that despite whatever
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you've been through, ups and downs, it's
worth it.
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I think everyone has said it's worth it.
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Yeah.
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I'm already passionate about industry.
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Yeah, same thing.
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Like there are just, there are some common
themes that just keep coming through.
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And I don't know it's cause we're
attracted to the type of people cause
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we're that is those type of people.
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So I had this conversation with the Rain
Copes and then I had a BIHS app.
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big case of hospitality and I know
Michelle, but yes, yeah.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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And so, even when we meet the operas this
year, that was incredible because that was
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all about people in our industry.
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Everything that we try to do is make it
better for the people.
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Yes.
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Right.
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So that when they come to our industry,
they've got jobs, they've got a profession
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that we're all proud of.
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Yes.
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So we want them to see the fun side.
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Of course you have to work, you have to
work in any job if you really want to get
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somewhere and that's you're really lucky.
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Right.
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So to see that, it's a, it's a, I'm glad
you pulled that out because this is great
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as well, because having been an recruiter
myself, I was always quite passionate.
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And when my top team was called Learn,
Train, Recruit, that's what we did,
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because we trained them up.
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You know, before we put them into work, we
did like 10,000 people, we trained 10,000
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people from scratch in six years.
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So then when they came up, when they did
their first job, they had some skills set.
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Right.
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So that philosophy runs through, let's say
we're talking about hospitality as well,
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which is why I was totally not doing it.
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We have signed up to your mentors program.
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So because it's about helping people in
the industry, because whilst hopefully
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I've got a lot more to give, there's, you
know, there's people that are coming
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through that need to see what I want.
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Yeah.
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00:08:57,591 --> 00:09:03,772
And it's so refreshing when you recruiters
talk about the industry here.
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You know, they took my hospitality first
as opposed to the
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00:09:08,034 --> 00:09:11,495
recruitment, which is when I think
recruitment and there are those
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recruiters, I'm sure you know them, I know
them, they'll always be calling, but if
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you can't look on that, they're literally
just to make money and just ask.
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And it's a lot of patience for it.
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It's about the people as well.
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As you said before, it's meeting your
clients and your potential placements face
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to face.
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So it's not the opposite number.
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You're not just trying to fill a seat,
you're just trying to get your money.
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It's about people having it.
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which makes an opportunity, which makes
the world a different place.
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It's a massive connection.
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00:09:41,687 --> 00:09:45,029
And that's where, that's where in five
years time, that presence likely to be
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client.
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00:09:45,409 --> 00:09:49,491
You know, it's seeing the CDPs go in and
become head chef and hey, I've been in a
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00:09:49,491 --> 00:09:50,651
sous chef sort of thing.
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00:09:50,651 --> 00:09:52,552
It's like good people are never quiet.
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So, but it is, it is, I think it's been
the underdogs as well to them, isn't it?
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Because if we look at the way that they're
reviewed, and I'm going to mention K's
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00:09:57,754 --> 00:10:03,316
name again, 165 billion turnover and
they're complaining to be recognised as an
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00:10:03,316 --> 00:10:06,537
industry, I don't know, I don't know, I
don't know, I don't know.
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00:10:06,666 --> 00:10:10,368
It's the previous class system, the way
that parents and teachers view the
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00:10:10,368 --> 00:10:10,788
industry.
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00:10:10,788 --> 00:10:15,871
You know, I know you two have been into
the schools to encourage, and I love that.
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00:10:15,871 --> 00:10:16,651
I absolutely love that.
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00:10:16,651 --> 00:10:18,292
I'd love to get involved in that at some
point.
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00:10:18,292 --> 00:10:20,693
And the interesting bit that, you know,
spending time with the teachers and the
218
00:10:20,693 --> 00:10:24,915
parents to feel proud about their kids
doing something that they would get at.
219
00:10:24,915 --> 00:10:28,437
And you mentioned a competition between
schools and that's absolutely amazing
220
00:10:28,437 --> 00:10:30,338
because kids are the bosses at the end of
the day, aren't they?
221
00:10:30,338 --> 00:10:33,800
They're just influenced by other people to
get through that way as well as spending
222
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:34,040
time.
223
00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:35,121
So I do love that.
224
00:10:35,121 --> 00:10:36,102
I mean, certainly I've seen.
225
00:10:36,102 --> 00:10:39,024
know, a few people that are, well, someone
very close to me that would do some
226
00:10:39,024 --> 00:10:41,145
hospitality, brother actually, and you
know, a couple of the guys from school
227
00:10:41,145 --> 00:10:42,126
like, what's going on?
228
00:10:42,126 --> 00:10:44,427
It's like, hospitality, Bunningham
restaurant.
229
00:10:44,427 --> 00:10:46,388
And it's just like, what?
230
00:10:46,609 --> 00:10:47,789
That's real.
231
00:10:47,890 --> 00:10:48,911
That's really, really real.
232
00:10:48,911 --> 00:10:52,893
They don't know how hard this guy works
and what it's like doing a shift.
233
00:10:53,734 --> 00:10:55,695
You should try because it's great fun.
234
00:10:55,695 --> 00:10:57,817
Yeah, you might be frowned upon, but so
what?
235
00:10:57,817 --> 00:10:58,557
Be the underdog.
236
00:10:58,557 --> 00:11:01,659
And look at the case studies in the
industry and the encouragement of kids
237
00:11:01,659 --> 00:11:02,320
coming into it.
238
00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,421
They can be that person.
239
00:11:03,421 --> 00:11:04,961
So, you know, I think we're...
240
00:11:05,350 --> 00:11:07,010
We do know the challenges in the industry.
241
00:11:07,010 --> 00:11:08,171
We know that there's a big burnout.
242
00:11:08,171 --> 00:11:11,012
We know there's a drug and alcohol problem
and people taking the wrong coaching
243
00:11:11,012 --> 00:11:13,934
mechanisms, because I believe that that's
because it's easy.
244
00:11:13,934 --> 00:11:16,515
You take the easy choice and you're in an
industry that's got alcohol everywhere,
245
00:11:16,515 --> 00:11:17,535
but then it shows the whole world.
246
00:11:17,535 --> 00:11:17,956
Right.
247
00:11:17,956 --> 00:11:19,036
But what do we do with our managers?
248
00:11:19,036 --> 00:11:19,516
Right.
249
00:11:19,516 --> 00:11:21,197
What do we do with our, with our teams?
250
00:11:21,197 --> 00:11:23,418
We reward them by giving them beer.
251
00:11:23,418 --> 00:11:24,379
It's absolutely fine.
252
00:11:24,379 --> 00:11:25,039
But why?
253
00:11:25,039 --> 00:11:26,520
Because that's also easy.
254
00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,661
So when it becomes case, someone is burnt
out or they've had something happen in
255
00:11:29,661 --> 00:11:30,882
their lives and.
256
00:11:30,882 --> 00:11:32,002
They turn to something.
257
00:11:32,002 --> 00:11:36,205
That's the reason that the drug and the
alcohol problem has become too much of a
258
00:11:36,205 --> 00:11:39,087
coping mechanism to actually affect
people's lives.
259
00:11:39,087 --> 00:11:43,390
And I think hospitality can't be solely
responsible for that, but it can think
260
00:11:43,390 --> 00:11:44,230
differently.
261
00:11:44,431 --> 00:11:45,191
It can think differently.
262
00:11:45,191 --> 00:11:46,432
Let's go paintballing.
263
00:11:46,432 --> 00:11:47,533
Let's not say well done.
264
00:11:47,533 --> 00:11:48,694
It's just being a little bit creative.
265
00:11:48,694 --> 00:11:51,916
I mean, hospitality is not the only
industry that's responsible for that.
266
00:11:51,916 --> 00:11:52,817
All businesses do it.
267
00:11:52,817 --> 00:11:53,998
All industries do it.
268
00:11:53,998 --> 00:11:55,559
It's those Christmas parties.
269
00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:56,699
I'm doing exactly the same thing.
270
00:11:56,699 --> 00:12:00,010
Let's go to a restaurant and we'll pant
some iron and drink beer.
271
00:12:00,010 --> 00:12:03,851
But going back to the atria, Tim, as to
why that was such a good thing, you know,
272
00:12:03,851 --> 00:12:07,493
go to the industry events, there's nothing
wrong with celebrating the directors and
273
00:12:07,493 --> 00:12:10,954
the CEOs and the heads of, et cetera, et
cetera, but they're really doing quite
274
00:12:10,954 --> 00:12:11,054
well.
275
00:12:11,054 --> 00:12:13,535
Atollo is about a trapped retained
developer.
276
00:12:13,755 --> 00:12:17,237
Every business I'm involved in, Appetite
for recruitment and work, is a trapped
277
00:12:17,237 --> 00:12:17,817
retained developer.
278
00:12:17,817 --> 00:12:22,279
So, to mention the atria in a second, the
standard Appetite for work, when I got
279
00:12:22,279 --> 00:12:25,360
introduced to him, if you know my
gardener, you realize just quite how much
280
00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,566
of a legend he is, how good he is, how
strong he is, how dedicated he is.
281
00:12:28,566 --> 00:12:32,768
Part of that process and his team are, is
getting people into the shifts at Wembley,
282
00:12:32,768 --> 00:12:35,269
Twicken and Ascot, whatever that might be,
to earn some cash.
283
00:12:35,269 --> 00:12:36,490
I can't even remember when I was 14 years
old.
284
00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:36,950
Yeah.
285
00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:39,091
And he said, well, we don't probably need
to be able to serve alcohol.
286
00:12:39,091 --> 00:12:39,532
Yeah, fine.
287
00:12:39,532 --> 00:12:42,013
But ultimately that first taste, if
they've got a great experience, they know
288
00:12:42,013 --> 00:12:43,354
exactly where to go when they get there.
289
00:12:43,354 --> 00:12:44,074
They're not getting lost.
290
00:12:44,074 --> 00:12:45,095
They're not getting stressed.
291
00:12:45,095 --> 00:12:47,676
If you're right, so you go in for those
doors, you turn left, you turn right.
292
00:12:47,676 --> 00:12:48,957
It's going to be a stand there.
293
00:12:48,957 --> 00:12:51,058
Paul's going to be on the stand and then
he's going to give you this.
294
00:12:51,058 --> 00:12:51,778
You're going to come through.
295
00:12:51,778 --> 00:12:52,919
See it already.
296
00:12:53,119 --> 00:12:54,120
You're not stressed.
297
00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,961
And that can be the first time they've
caught a pint.
298
00:12:56,961 --> 00:12:57,762
First time
299
00:12:57,762 --> 00:13:00,583
clear the table, first thing they've
served the plate.
300
00:13:00,583 --> 00:13:03,925
And so to have the whole experience case
of, well, surely there's responsibility
301
00:13:03,925 --> 00:13:07,607
there because if they've had a really bad
experience, then they might not come back
302
00:13:07,607 --> 00:13:10,849
to the next shift or they might not in an
ideal world, which I know has happened to
303
00:13:10,849 --> 00:13:15,291
a few people, falling in love with the job
and actually then taking it as a career.
304
00:13:15,291 --> 00:13:18,093
And one of our key challenges is
attracting people.
305
00:13:18,093 --> 00:13:21,014
So there's definitely a strong purpose
with Applite for Work.
306
00:13:21,035 --> 00:13:23,436
And then back to, we're going back and
forward, which I love.
307
00:13:23,436 --> 00:13:25,877
The Okras, it was Chris and Kieran's idea,
308
00:13:26,338 --> 00:13:29,419
predominantly college years background,
because Fletcher, Permanayam and Kieran
309
00:13:29,419 --> 00:13:31,420
and Bailey from Wagamomus and Hard Rock.
310
00:13:31,420 --> 00:13:32,180
They're both Hard Rock.
311
00:13:32,180 --> 00:13:32,960
Great guys.
312
00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:34,641
And with our other business partner, Ian.
313
00:13:34,641 --> 00:13:38,203
But I think the four of us, Ian Burke,
yourself, K2.com and various other things.
314
00:13:38,203 --> 00:13:41,764
So we're kind of a cool team, but you
can't think in the way that someone else
315
00:13:41,764 --> 00:13:41,944
does.
316
00:13:41,944 --> 00:13:45,065
So I know that we were four of us who sat
there and Kieran had come up with this
317
00:13:45,065 --> 00:13:46,606
idea with the Hard Rocks, which is
amazing.
318
00:13:46,606 --> 00:13:49,887
But it's actually, it's not that we didn't
talk about negatively, but it's actually
319
00:13:49,887 --> 00:13:51,628
about celebrating the real people.
320
00:13:51,628 --> 00:13:54,806
They had someone called Joan, 30 years in
Hard Rock, waitress.
321
00:13:54,806 --> 00:13:58,147
Fantastic with the team, fantastic with
the guests and completely underestimated
322
00:13:58,147 --> 00:14:00,848
by the snobs that hospitality is not a
career and all that kind of nonsense that
323
00:14:00,848 --> 00:14:02,469
Boris came out with back in the day.
324
00:14:02,469 --> 00:14:08,332
And then it's sort of to maintenance and
to support to bar the entry-level person
325
00:14:08,332 --> 00:14:14,094
and the reaction to getting that, so I
literally made that year, literally made
326
00:14:14,094 --> 00:14:18,016
that year rather than, you know what, the
CEO who's just got an award and gotten mad
327
00:14:18,016 --> 00:14:20,597
at tomorrow, it might appease his high
ego, you know, initially.
328
00:14:20,597 --> 00:14:21,397
Whereas...
329
00:14:21,486 --> 00:14:24,909
People have been sort of thrown around on
stage and just literally just like, yeah,
330
00:14:24,909 --> 00:14:26,050
this is what it's about.
331
00:14:26,050 --> 00:14:26,891
This is what it's about.
332
00:14:26,891 --> 00:14:29,794
Because actually the CEO doesn't need to
be, I'm not saying there's anything wrong
333
00:14:29,794 --> 00:14:32,857
with that, but my view is getting it in
the right order.
334
00:14:32,857 --> 00:14:36,561
And Chris McKeown kind of nailed that
because you're celebrating a CEO who's not
335
00:14:36,561 --> 00:14:38,001
going to be anywhere without Jones.
336
00:14:40,234 --> 00:14:44,256
And I mean, on the night of one of the
runners up, which was speaking to her
337
00:14:44,256 --> 00:14:46,158
before she went on, she was so excited.
338
00:14:46,158 --> 00:14:47,178
Oh really?
339
00:14:47,178 --> 00:14:48,339
And she came to see her.
340
00:14:48,339 --> 00:14:49,700
Oh, she didn't get the prize.
341
00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:50,741
And she was disappointed.
342
00:14:50,741 --> 00:14:54,883
But she turned to me and she just went,
I'll give it next year.
343
00:14:54,883 --> 00:14:55,384
Oh really?
344
00:14:55,384 --> 00:14:58,246
And I was like, yeah, that's a true bond.
345
00:14:58,246 --> 00:14:58,466
Right.
346
00:14:58,466 --> 00:14:59,767
I was like, this is it.
347
00:14:59,767 --> 00:15:00,447
This is it.
348
00:15:00,447 --> 00:15:01,128
Yeah.
349
00:15:01,128 --> 00:15:03,029
And it did create a lot of good will.
350
00:15:03,029 --> 00:15:03,209
It did.
351
00:15:03,209 --> 00:15:10,073
So far I've been in the room and like you
say, really appreciating it.
352
00:15:10,134 --> 00:15:13,616
Even being nominated, you know, and then
when it was enough for a lot of people.
353
00:15:13,616 --> 00:15:14,756
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
354
00:15:15,137 --> 00:15:16,478
Yeah, really, really good.
355
00:15:16,478 --> 00:15:20,361
First of its kind and certainly won't be
the last couple of things we tweak on in
356
00:15:20,361 --> 00:15:24,223
terms of the, but the first event of its
kind, you kind of, and thank you for a
357
00:15:24,223 --> 00:15:28,346
little bit of constructive feedback, but
actually on the most part, 95% it was
358
00:15:28,346 --> 00:15:29,066
pretty much on point.
359
00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:33,970
As you were building, did you have a
philosophy when you first started or a key
360
00:15:33,970 --> 00:15:37,132
principle when you first started that this
is what I'm going to be about?
361
00:15:37,132 --> 00:15:39,850
Or did you kind of do it and then it
developed over time?
362
00:15:39,850 --> 00:15:41,050
Oh, developed over time.
363
00:15:41,051 --> 00:15:43,753
So when I set up a type of recruitment, I
did think about doing the temp side
364
00:15:43,753 --> 00:15:47,716
because I'm going to Manchester and
having, you know, people working in the
365
00:15:47,716 --> 00:15:52,760
schools in the kitchen and first, my first
temp, Jack Makin's friends, stuff, I
366
00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,963
picked him up and took him to the school,
dropped him off and then came back because
367
00:15:55,963 --> 00:15:57,083
somebody didn't want me to transport.
368
00:15:57,083 --> 00:15:58,384
So I did think along the temping line.
369
00:15:58,384 --> 00:16:01,127
I never forgot about that because then I
just got, I'd never done permanent
370
00:16:01,127 --> 00:16:02,888
recruitment, never done hospitality
recruitment.
371
00:16:02,888 --> 00:16:06,871
That kind of compliance and said, this
was, let's just see what this is like.
372
00:16:06,871 --> 00:16:09,773
And then when I found permanent
recruitment.
373
00:16:10,134 --> 00:16:11,234
It's got to be a bit natural, hasn't it?
374
00:16:11,234 --> 00:16:11,434
Yeah.
375
00:16:11,434 --> 00:16:14,915
When I found permanent recruitment, it
was, I've done it before, not the
376
00:16:14,915 --> 00:16:17,816
post-partum recruitment, but the permanent
recruitment and it was just the case of
377
00:16:17,816 --> 00:16:19,576
kind of went completely that way.
378
00:16:19,576 --> 00:16:20,056
And I loved it.
379
00:16:20,056 --> 00:16:22,977
I loved finding out about the businesses
in a really intimate level and the
380
00:16:22,977 --> 00:16:26,858
operational structure, so it was the
reporting structure from the, for the MD
381
00:16:26,858 --> 00:16:30,359
to the regional director, to the area
managers and just having all that basic
382
00:16:30,359 --> 00:16:33,440
knowledge of, I'll bet it's the people,
it's an anagram of people, you know, so
383
00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:34,500
and it's really, really important.
384
00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:39,981
And then understanding what the features,
the benefits, the career planning and
385
00:16:40,514 --> 00:16:43,475
type of people that you're going to be
working with, people are working with, how
386
00:16:43,475 --> 00:16:45,256
do you describe your teams?
387
00:16:45,256 --> 00:16:46,217
How do you describe the company?
388
00:16:46,217 --> 00:16:49,059
All those kinds of things that you ask
those questions and the guys still do it
389
00:16:49,059 --> 00:16:52,501
today, and it's really, really important
and digging deep.
390
00:16:52,501 --> 00:16:54,822
That's just almost even not opening yet.
391
00:16:54,862 --> 00:16:58,784
Getting that understanding as to why, why
with this amazing candidate and why is
392
00:16:58,784 --> 00:17:00,485
this an amazing candidate?
393
00:17:00,485 --> 00:17:03,467
Why is this person worth employing?
394
00:17:04,268 --> 00:17:07,706
Because we all know it's like 16,000
pounds to train up.
395
00:17:07,706 --> 00:17:08,206
new manager.
396
00:17:08,206 --> 00:17:11,487
And then obviously look at the turnover of
staff so you can increase the retention of
397
00:17:11,487 --> 00:17:12,388
your teams, et cetera.
398
00:17:12,388 --> 00:17:16,830
So that person's got to be really, really
good to be worth, forget any fees attached
399
00:17:16,830 --> 00:17:17,990
to it, to be a given HR.
400
00:17:17,990 --> 00:17:19,671
So you've got to get to know them.
401
00:17:19,671 --> 00:17:21,712
That was my sole focus.
402
00:17:21,712 --> 00:17:24,993
I think to answer your question, no,
you've been completely apathetic from what
403
00:17:24,993 --> 00:17:26,074
I've got introduced to Mike.
404
00:17:26,074 --> 00:17:29,815
Yeah, that was in the back of my mind, but
it certainly was an opportunist.
405
00:17:29,815 --> 00:17:30,876
Actually, do you know what?
406
00:17:30,876 --> 00:17:35,237
Why don't we set up on the back of an
established and a tempting business?
407
00:17:35,470 --> 00:17:36,470
quite a nice experience.
408
00:17:36,470 --> 00:17:37,751
It comes from strength to strength.
409
00:17:37,751 --> 00:17:38,632
It's amazing.
410
00:17:38,632 --> 00:17:43,916
HGA was completely, completely fluke on
the back of meeting Jordan, who had that
411
00:17:43,916 --> 00:17:47,700
business, I don't know if we've talked
about this, to the point of throwing it
412
00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:50,622
back in the way, an amazing, lost their
way.
413
00:17:50,622 --> 00:17:54,085
They're then going into, with support, you
know, to the hospitality industry.
414
00:17:54,085 --> 00:17:57,928
And so, wow, I'm lucky to be introduced to
it at early days, really, really early
415
00:17:57,928 --> 00:18:01,351
days, and Jordan and I were paired up and
she had a job board and a recruitment
416
00:18:01,351 --> 00:18:05,213
agency, so sort of, actually we teamed up.
417
00:18:05,602 --> 00:18:11,547
Made the changes, put a lot of money into
a new website and all the systems were
418
00:18:11,547 --> 00:18:14,489
running behind it and spent time then
relaunched.
419
00:18:14,829 --> 00:18:18,052
But no, it was just coincidental that you
have a conversation that sort of makes
420
00:18:18,052 --> 00:18:19,894
sense and some of them, they're taller.
421
00:18:19,894 --> 00:18:23,497
I met Chris at an event, I think it was
when Haley was talking about delivering on
422
00:18:23,497 --> 00:18:28,361
the hospitality priority campaign and just
in passing, so Chris didn't know him.
423
00:18:28,361 --> 00:18:29,521
Said, hey, let's be in touch.
424
00:18:29,521 --> 00:18:33,885
Went to a couple of his events with
Kieran, the ESP, Rims 101.
425
00:18:34,726 --> 00:18:38,468
made a point of taking time to, I think
our first meeting was a beer and they were
426
00:18:38,468 --> 00:18:40,850
buzzing because I think they just
sponsored for something and the next one
427
00:18:40,850 --> 00:18:42,231
was a coffee.
428
00:18:42,231 --> 00:18:44,993
Let's talk, let's reduce the energy levels
and talk.
429
00:18:44,993 --> 00:18:48,695
I got a call from Chris one day saying,
this guy, James Lemon, has set up Let's
430
00:18:48,695 --> 00:18:50,897
Holo and he has approached me.
431
00:18:50,897 --> 00:18:53,118
Basically wanted to, his set up wasn't
right.
432
00:18:53,118 --> 00:18:57,861
So I thought to call you, then Ian,
myself, Chris and Kieran chatted.
433
00:18:57,861 --> 00:19:00,963
We'd already done a couple of sessions
with them just to help make sound in terms
434
00:19:00,963 --> 00:19:03,865
of, you know, ask those questions in terms
of where the business that we wanted to
435
00:19:03,865 --> 00:19:04,485
be.
436
00:19:04,634 --> 00:19:09,336
We already knew each other and then yeah,
it's a fairly tight window to take on
437
00:19:09,336 --> 00:19:09,616
Atolo.
438
00:19:09,616 --> 00:19:10,596
That was already set up.
439
00:19:10,596 --> 00:19:15,398
But when I read the Atolo, the reasoning
behind it, which is like, this is like
440
00:19:15,398 --> 00:19:16,159
looking in a mirror.
441
00:19:16,159 --> 00:19:17,679
You're talking, it's all the right things.
442
00:19:17,679 --> 00:19:22,181
It's about the mentoring and the
importance of how many people lived for so
443
00:19:22,181 --> 00:19:23,862
long without having a mentor.
444
00:19:25,843 --> 00:19:29,145
If there was just that time taken and
actually the industry culture, that's just
445
00:19:29,145 --> 00:19:29,885
one small aspect.
446
00:19:29,885 --> 00:19:31,554
It's about doing one small thing.
447
00:19:31,554 --> 00:19:33,554
that makes a significant difference.
448
00:19:33,554 --> 00:19:34,615
And that's what we believe in it.
449
00:19:34,615 --> 00:19:36,035
That's why you got involved.
450
00:19:36,035 --> 00:19:39,257
And then obviously the training aspects
and, and community is a plus and being
451
00:19:39,257 --> 00:19:40,697
able to do the operence.
452
00:19:40,697 --> 00:19:44,879
But the bottom line is actually with the
support, you know, the retention rates
453
00:19:44,879 --> 00:19:48,741
will, which is pushed off the scale in
hospitality can be reduced because people
454
00:19:48,741 --> 00:19:49,421
just need support.
455
00:19:49,421 --> 00:19:50,701
Good people need support.
456
00:19:50,742 --> 00:19:51,722
And we all do.
457
00:19:51,722 --> 00:19:54,483
I mean, I didn't have a mentor for way too
long.
458
00:19:54,683 --> 00:19:59,185
I was probably about 15 years too late,
which could have taken a lot of the pain
459
00:19:59,185 --> 00:20:00,265
and stress out of it.
460
00:20:00,634 --> 00:20:03,936
just to feel that bit of support and
completely isolated at times, it just all
461
00:20:03,936 --> 00:20:05,357
feels like it's against you.
462
00:20:05,357 --> 00:20:09,880
And that proactivity of competitors, et
cetera, it's going to sort of set a limb
463
00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:14,623
here and just doing the trial and error,
which is amazing because I think you have
464
00:20:14,623 --> 00:20:17,025
to have that drive, that energy.
465
00:20:17,025 --> 00:20:19,507
And actually that was a good question
before in terms of why, because I believe
466
00:20:19,507 --> 00:20:19,987
in this industry.
467
00:20:19,987 --> 00:20:21,568
I've seen people being broken by the
industry.
468
00:20:21,568 --> 00:20:23,669
I've seen people being discouraged in the
industry.
469
00:20:23,810 --> 00:20:28,333
Therefore, I'm very, very passionate about
it and to be able to do the cool stuff
470
00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:29,610
while being realistic.
471
00:20:29,610 --> 00:20:33,011
most tinted glasses and all that, but at
the same time, the clothes and the tinted,
472
00:20:33,011 --> 00:20:33,771
not completely blanked out.
473
00:20:33,771 --> 00:20:34,211
Yeah.
474
00:20:34,211 --> 00:20:36,933
So with a realistic approach, I think that
realistic approach is, yeah, let those
475
00:20:36,933 --> 00:20:39,793
things do the change and decisions people
are making.
476
00:20:39,854 --> 00:20:43,595
You know, as you talked about drugs and
alcohol and that easy support, which is
477
00:20:43,595 --> 00:20:45,996
the most even support, yeah, if abused.
478
00:20:46,436 --> 00:20:47,777
And, you know, we know it's right.
479
00:20:47,777 --> 00:20:49,938
And I didn't realize this is me just, I
was going into it.
480
00:20:49,938 --> 00:20:53,179
So I was going, but I was working with
someone, he decided to go back into
481
00:20:53,179 --> 00:20:57,441
industry, kept in touch, popped down and
he was telling me, this is, this is
482
00:20:57,441 --> 00:20:59,281
something that people will really resonate
with.
483
00:20:59,350 --> 00:21:02,371
I didn't realize that, you know, so many
businesses, we're going to talk about the
484
00:21:02,371 --> 00:21:04,072
potential of the market, it's going to be
real.
485
00:21:04,072 --> 00:21:06,973
You've been basically doing coke, having a
shot of tequila to get yourself through
486
00:21:06,973 --> 00:21:07,693
the shift.
487
00:21:07,693 --> 00:21:09,274
What do you do after the shift?
488
00:21:09,294 --> 00:21:10,855
Oh, well then you, then the party starts,
right?
489
00:21:10,855 --> 00:21:11,075
Okay.
490
00:21:11,075 --> 00:21:14,036
Then you feel pretty, and what if
something's going wrong in your life at
491
00:21:14,036 --> 00:21:14,476
that point?
492
00:21:14,476 --> 00:21:19,219
It might just be a party period of time
for a while, but what happens if you have
493
00:21:19,219 --> 00:21:20,239
a bereavement in the family?
494
00:21:20,239 --> 00:21:22,320
What happens if you have a relationship
break up?
495
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,941
You know, at that point it becomes a case
of something that was fun becomes really
496
00:21:24,941 --> 00:21:26,134
something that's quite dark.
497
00:21:26,134 --> 00:21:27,875
And the balance is missed out on.
498
00:21:27,875 --> 00:21:32,657
So as I mentioned before, if companies can
not always be rewarding with alcohol, but
499
00:21:32,657 --> 00:21:34,919
they can be actually doing sort of fun
activities.
500
00:21:34,919 --> 00:21:37,420
The restaurant I was at, which is called
the Mississippi Exchange in Guildford,
501
00:21:37,420 --> 00:21:40,081
amazing American quality style.
502
00:21:40,202 --> 00:21:41,903
People dancing on the tables at Christmas
and stuff.
503
00:21:41,903 --> 00:21:43,363
We used to go play football.
504
00:21:43,384 --> 00:21:46,245
I wasn't a footballer, I'm a rugby player,
but I can, I know how to kick a football
505
00:21:46,245 --> 00:21:48,307
and to run around and so just get fun.
506
00:21:48,307 --> 00:21:51,348
We just play and then we had a competition
with another couple of the restaurants and
507
00:21:51,348 --> 00:21:52,389
doing all those kinds of things.
508
00:21:52,389 --> 00:21:53,422
And it's just.
509
00:21:53,422 --> 00:21:54,442
I mean, that's just one example.
510
00:21:54,442 --> 00:21:57,364
And I think sport is a really good
recreational activity.
511
00:21:57,364 --> 00:21:59,945
It would do, yeah, you know, it's nothing
wrong if you go and have a beer and get
512
00:21:59,945 --> 00:22:00,686
smashed over and over.
513
00:22:00,686 --> 00:22:04,328
I mean, there's not, I'm not a judge,
like, you know, but at the same time, I
514
00:22:04,328 --> 00:22:07,429
think we do have a responsibility to do
other things.
515
00:22:10,370 --> 00:22:15,512
So in those moments of doubts or
challenge, how do you stay focused,
516
00:22:15,512 --> 00:22:16,653
old-spyred?
517
00:22:16,693 --> 00:22:17,874
By reinventing a thing.
518
00:22:17,874 --> 00:22:21,516
I think having the next opportunity, one
thing, but then you can also get lost in
519
00:22:21,516 --> 00:22:25,458
that because hang on a minute, how do I
stay focused?
520
00:22:26,098 --> 00:22:27,339
Because I'm passionate.
521
00:22:27,399 --> 00:22:31,761
So to back off from everything after COVID
and it being, for so many reasons, a
522
00:22:31,761 --> 00:22:34,663
really difficult time, that then it's sort
of a case of, okay, right, so the next
523
00:22:34,663 --> 00:22:38,505
site of things starts, it's very, very
different with different energy, different
524
00:22:38,505 --> 00:22:39,670
personalities.
525
00:22:39,670 --> 00:22:41,570
the point of being lost.
526
00:22:41,570 --> 00:22:42,170
Yeah.
527
00:22:42,170 --> 00:22:43,411
And I was lost during the banking session.
528
00:22:43,411 --> 00:22:45,491
You can say, well, how the hell do I get
out of this?
529
00:22:45,491 --> 00:22:46,851
Or how do I get back into this?
530
00:22:46,851 --> 00:22:50,933
And in the case of, well, you just do, you
just do and try to be as kind and strong
531
00:22:50,933 --> 00:22:55,254
as possible, but I think that there's a
lot of leaders out there that probably,
532
00:22:55,254 --> 00:22:57,975
you know, it looks absolutely amazing
because there are certain times behind the
533
00:22:57,975 --> 00:23:02,776
scenes it's, it's an absolute, if I can
say shitshit and you, you kind of, you
534
00:23:02,776 --> 00:23:05,657
hide that, you put your front up there
and, and that's not actually healthy for a
535
00:23:05,657 --> 00:23:06,157
human being.
536
00:23:06,157 --> 00:23:08,997
So it's actually, you know, we work with
hospitality action.
537
00:23:09,078 --> 00:23:11,938
to be able to know everyone in the team.
538
00:23:11,938 --> 00:23:15,439
And obviously, you know, to phone up and
get those conversations, those supporters
539
00:23:15,439 --> 00:23:17,340
conversations, which is really, really
important.
540
00:23:17,340 --> 00:23:19,360
And I've got no embarrassment behind that
at all.
541
00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:23,321
In fact, you know, I think there are times
where there's just too much going on.
542
00:23:23,362 --> 00:23:26,683
So to keep that motivation and drive is
the case of, right, well then, okay, at
543
00:23:26,683 --> 00:23:28,843
that point, what gets me out of bed in the
morning?
544
00:23:28,843 --> 00:23:29,503
What I want to do.
545
00:23:29,503 --> 00:23:32,384
And actually I want to get out of bed in
the morning.
546
00:23:32,844 --> 00:23:36,005
If you'd asked me that question two months
ago, and I'm being really honest with you.
547
00:23:38,110 --> 00:23:41,793
All I'm going to do in my head, right, at
that time, all I'm doing in my head on
548
00:23:41,793 --> 00:23:44,975
certain days is thinking, shit, I've got
to do that, shit, I've got to do that.
549
00:23:44,975 --> 00:23:45,656
I've got to do that.
550
00:23:45,656 --> 00:23:48,198
And all those things that that's what you
get out of bed.
551
00:23:48,198 --> 00:23:52,302
You get out of bed to do those things
rather than sitting there thinking, you
552
00:23:52,302 --> 00:23:54,703
know, playing in your mind, then it
affects your sleep pattern.
553
00:23:54,704 --> 00:23:56,505
Sleep's really, really important.
554
00:23:56,505 --> 00:23:57,586
All of the things that happen.
555
00:23:57,586 --> 00:24:00,709
I mean, luckily I've got a strong enough
support network to be able to come through
556
00:24:00,709 --> 00:24:04,392
to the point of, right, here we go,
reinvention, the next stage, the next
557
00:24:04,392 --> 00:24:04,652
stage.
558
00:24:04,652 --> 00:24:06,466
And I'm really, really excited about it.
559
00:24:06,466 --> 00:24:08,007
Did I enjoy certain times of my career?
560
00:24:08,007 --> 00:24:10,769
No, no, no.
561
00:24:10,769 --> 00:24:14,851
But, I'm still here doing it.
562
00:24:14,851 --> 00:24:18,294
What key piece of advice would you offer
to aspiring leaguers in this society?
563
00:24:18,294 --> 00:24:20,736
Oh, good question.
564
00:24:20,736 --> 00:24:20,916
Okay.
565
00:24:20,916 --> 00:24:23,297
I'm going to go with, I'm going to go with
two words twice.
566
00:24:23,297 --> 00:24:24,518
Confidence and humility.
567
00:24:24,518 --> 00:24:27,400
I think getting that balance right, you
don't be overconfident and then, and then
568
00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,323
two, not, not humble enough, because I
think that's really, really key to be real
569
00:24:31,363 --> 00:24:32,624
and a good human being on that side.
570
00:24:32,624 --> 00:24:34,910
And if your confidence is taking a nobble,
which it will.
571
00:24:34,910 --> 00:24:36,170
not, which it will with all of us.
572
00:24:36,170 --> 00:24:38,651
And I think that the character bit is
being able to come through that on the
573
00:24:38,651 --> 00:24:39,631
other side.
574
00:24:39,631 --> 00:24:45,194
Then I think the humility goes to an
unequal level of over compensation, which
575
00:24:45,194 --> 00:24:45,894
isn't good.
576
00:24:45,894 --> 00:24:53,337
And I think then the vulnerability and
bravery are the other two words I'd use.
577
00:24:53,337 --> 00:24:56,398
And that might not make sense, I'll
explain.
578
00:24:56,798 --> 00:24:58,659
The vulnerability is absolutely key,
right?
579
00:24:58,659 --> 00:25:00,180
So we're human beings.
580
00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:04,721
And I think showing that vulnerability,
genuine vulnerability...
581
00:25:04,794 --> 00:25:08,136
not in a way that's going to concern
people, but in a way that is a case of
582
00:25:08,136 --> 00:25:10,877
it's okay to be a human being.
583
00:25:11,578 --> 00:25:14,180
So forget all the other words from the
past, it's okay not to be okay.
584
00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:15,781
I think it's okay to be a human being.
585
00:25:15,781 --> 00:25:20,944
And I think that for a leader is a lot
more engaging than a fake facade, which is
586
00:25:20,944 --> 00:25:24,187
a case of, what's wrong with, I'm not in
that relationship, I don't quite know what
587
00:25:24,187 --> 00:25:24,387
it is.
588
00:25:24,387 --> 00:25:26,748
I think because the vulnerability is not
there sometimes.
589
00:25:26,748 --> 00:25:30,051
And the other word that I used at that
time is fearlessness.
590
00:25:30,051 --> 00:25:32,132
So fearlessness is basically bravery.
591
00:25:32,132 --> 00:25:34,413
To show that vulnerability, I believe is
592
00:25:34,626 --> 00:25:39,207
But it's also then combines with the
confidence to be able to say, I've got
593
00:25:39,207 --> 00:25:39,807
you.
594
00:25:40,028 --> 00:25:40,388
Yeah.
595
00:25:40,388 --> 00:25:43,969
I've got my role locked in to be
approachable.
596
00:25:44,630 --> 00:25:48,411
And, you know, we've said before, it's,
you know, leaders are everywhere.
597
00:25:48,671 --> 00:25:48,891
Yeah.
598
00:25:48,891 --> 00:25:51,752
If it's a case of, you know, you're
working a long shift and people are
599
00:25:51,752 --> 00:25:55,274
lagging in that energy you bring to pull
people up, that's, that's real leadership.
600
00:25:55,274 --> 00:25:57,835
You know, more so than it is to sit in the
boardroom.
601
00:25:57,835 --> 00:26:02,777
This is where you'll be quite authentic
because my first impression of you was, I
602
00:26:02,777 --> 00:26:04,318
knew you were a busy piece.
603
00:26:04,318 --> 00:26:05,018
Yes.
604
00:26:05,338 --> 00:26:10,443
And it was Vicky, Vicky came over, Vicky
Glover.
605
00:26:10,443 --> 00:26:15,307
She came over and she was like, Nick,
what's the, if it's all right, if you
606
00:26:15,307 --> 00:26:16,247
could speak with you.
607
00:26:16,247 --> 00:26:21,372
And I was like, why, why is he asking, you
know, I was like, of course you can, if I
608
00:26:21,372 --> 00:26:22,453
read some of your stuff anyway.
609
00:26:22,453 --> 00:26:24,034
I didn't know she'd said that.
610
00:26:24,034 --> 00:26:24,314
Yeah.
611
00:26:24,314 --> 00:26:29,118
I was like, anyway, and then when I went
over to you, of course you, you know, you
612
00:26:29,118 --> 00:26:32,100
can't, you're paying for the event
essentially.
613
00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:33,281
And then it was like,
614
00:26:33,462 --> 00:26:35,603
Yeah, but yet you're a podcast writer.
615
00:26:35,603 --> 00:26:37,264
And it was just so hungry.
616
00:26:37,264 --> 00:26:42,868
It was just like, so funny because like
talking a lot of times is growing massive,
617
00:26:42,868 --> 00:26:46,591
like literally just been since then, but
we were kind of like just feeling away and
618
00:26:46,591 --> 00:26:51,574
what we wanted to come at that point, but
for you to do that with such deference is
619
00:26:51,814 --> 00:26:55,257
quite rare, particularly in recruitment, I
would say.
620
00:26:55,257 --> 00:26:57,959
So I was quite taken aback by it in a
really positive way.
621
00:26:57,959 --> 00:27:00,260
I was like, I was trying to go, of course
this is all right.
622
00:27:00,260 --> 00:27:02,601
Like that shows you took your talk.
623
00:27:02,778 --> 00:27:07,140
Because you would just, you know, think,
just assume like we get now at sometimes
624
00:27:07,140 --> 00:27:10,482
where people just come up to us because
they, we're not celebrities, but they sort
625
00:27:10,482 --> 00:27:12,123
of think we are in their head.
626
00:27:12,123 --> 00:27:16,245
And they'll just come up to us like quite
rudely sometimes, just expecting us to be
627
00:27:16,245 --> 00:27:17,266
available for learning.
628
00:27:17,266 --> 00:27:20,868
Whereas it, so it was quite, to see that
was quite a, quite a comparison.
629
00:27:20,868 --> 00:27:21,648
So.
630
00:27:21,828 --> 00:27:25,250
The bit of the story that Tim is missing
out, because he did recite this story to
631
00:27:25,250 --> 00:27:27,071
Hades, I know all about this story.
632
00:27:27,071 --> 00:27:30,173
The bit he's missing out is the fact that
at the same time where you were asking me
633
00:27:30,173 --> 00:27:31,493
if you could speak with him.
634
00:27:31,710 --> 00:27:33,650
In his mind, it's like, but you're Nick.
635
00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:34,751
Yeah, yeah.
636
00:27:34,751 --> 00:27:36,492
You're Nick and you've done this, this and
this.
637
00:27:36,492 --> 00:27:39,973
So it was almost double-edged sword and
you both didn't realize you were feeling
638
00:27:39,973 --> 00:27:40,593
the same.
639
00:27:40,593 --> 00:27:42,434
Didn't realize that would make quite the
impact.
640
00:27:42,434 --> 00:27:45,556
And I think he's really sweet to kind of
hook us up as it were.
641
00:27:45,556 --> 00:27:48,877
And actually, I think that being a bit
unassuming is quite important, I think,
642
00:27:48,877 --> 00:27:49,717
for a leader.
643
00:27:49,758 --> 00:27:50,738
And I'm not putting myself as a leader.
644
00:27:50,738 --> 00:27:51,898
I don't feel like a leader.
645
00:27:51,898 --> 00:27:56,320
But I think that if I was to look at
leaders that I know, the strongest leaders
646
00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,121
are unassuming sometimes, yeah, rather
than...
647
00:27:59,945 --> 00:28:01,896
I'd say you're a leader, personally,
but...
648
00:28:06,166 --> 00:28:09,687
So that sound Nick, just in case you want
to drink, I'm sure you will.
649
00:28:09,967 --> 00:28:12,328
It means it's time for a rapid fire
question round.
650
00:28:12,328 --> 00:28:14,468
Put the cuppa down for the rest of the
time.
651
00:28:14,468 --> 00:28:15,508
Why am I not scared?
652
00:28:15,508 --> 00:28:16,509
You should be actually.
653
00:28:16,509 --> 00:28:17,289
Is it a bit?
654
00:28:17,289 --> 00:28:18,249
A little bit serious.
655
00:28:18,249 --> 00:28:19,069
Or not?
656
00:28:19,069 --> 00:28:23,511
We've explored your professional insights,
but now it's time to delve into the real
657
00:28:23,511 --> 00:28:24,131
Nick.
658
00:28:24,131 --> 00:28:28,752
To our regular listeners, you know the
rules, but if you're new and Nick, your
659
00:28:28,752 --> 00:28:33,453
challenge is to answer each question with
just one word.
660
00:28:33,453 --> 00:28:34,102
Or not.
661
00:28:34,102 --> 00:28:36,823
I don't think I've ever answered a
question with one word in my life.
662
00:28:36,823 --> 00:28:38,043
I do want to finish.
663
00:28:38,043 --> 00:28:38,763
Because I like you both.
664
00:28:38,763 --> 00:28:39,484
You have recruited me.
665
00:28:39,484 --> 00:28:39,884
Awesome.
666
00:28:39,884 --> 00:28:40,104
Right.
667
00:28:40,104 --> 00:28:40,704
Okay.
668
00:28:40,724 --> 00:28:44,246
We understand it's a tool order for those
in the hospital as well, particularly
669
00:28:44,246 --> 00:28:47,867
recruiters to keep it concise, but let's
see how you fare.
670
00:28:48,127 --> 00:28:53,850
We're judging on speed, weight and
succinctness, which I hope you can prove
671
00:28:53,850 --> 00:28:55,450
better than I can say.
672
00:28:55,571 --> 00:28:59,512
The one who's on top of the leaderboard at
the end of the season will receive...
673
00:28:59,512 --> 00:29:01,413
Are you ready for this, Nick?
674
00:29:01,413 --> 00:29:02,073
Yes.
675
00:29:02,073 --> 00:29:02,593
A...
676
00:29:03,018 --> 00:29:03,718
Amazon.
677
00:29:03,718 --> 00:29:05,920
Right.
678
00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:09,102
It don't care, it's the competition I just
did.
679
00:29:09,102 --> 00:29:10,364
Reward is irrelevant.
680
00:29:10,364 --> 00:29:10,964
Yes.
681
00:29:11,284 --> 00:29:14,747
So you geared up.
682
00:29:14,747 --> 00:29:15,628
Um, I'm going to, yes, I'm ready.
683
00:29:15,628 --> 00:29:15,948
I'm ready.
684
00:29:15,948 --> 00:29:16,348
Go.
685
00:29:16,348 --> 00:29:16,569
Okay.
686
00:29:16,569 --> 00:29:17,729
Let's get some answers.
687
00:29:18,030 --> 00:29:20,392
Zombie apocalypse, run, hide or join?
688
00:29:20,392 --> 00:29:21,192
Join.
689
00:29:22,233 --> 00:29:23,174
Airworm song.
690
00:29:23,174 --> 00:29:24,855
No.
691
00:29:24,935 --> 00:29:27,617
Super power choice, flight or
invisibility?
692
00:29:27,617 --> 00:29:28,498
Flight.
693
00:29:28,498 --> 00:29:30,579
Strangest spoon you've ever tried?
694
00:29:32,121 --> 00:29:33,001
Caterpillar.
695
00:29:33,194 --> 00:29:36,994
If you were a cocktail, which one would
you be?
696
00:29:37,215 --> 00:29:38,295
An old fashioned.
697
00:29:38,395 --> 00:29:40,535
Favorite word in the English language?
698
00:29:40,535 --> 00:29:41,076
Hospitality.
699
00:29:41,076 --> 00:29:43,356
Oh, that's good.
700
00:29:43,356 --> 00:29:44,356
That's good.
701
00:29:44,557 --> 00:29:47,657
If you could be any historical figure for
the day, who would you be?
702
00:29:47,657 --> 00:29:48,818
Winston Churchill.
703
00:29:48,818 --> 00:29:51,058
Which house or Hogwarts would you be?
704
00:29:51,819 --> 00:29:52,739
Never seen.
705
00:29:52,959 --> 00:29:54,759
Most unusual item in your home?
706
00:29:54,759 --> 00:29:55,579
A wok.
707
00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,920
If you had to yelp, what would you name
it?
708
00:29:59,301 --> 00:30:00,741
Appetite for adventure.
709
00:30:01,041 --> 00:30:03,121
Oh, I learned.
710
00:30:03,670 --> 00:30:05,671
Favourite sitcom character?
711
00:30:05,771 --> 00:30:06,892
Chandler.
712
00:30:06,892 --> 00:30:08,573
Best dish you could cook?
713
00:30:09,133 --> 00:30:10,494
Stove-Rite.
714
00:30:10,494 --> 00:30:14,257
If you could ban just one food forever,
what would it be?
715
00:30:14,257 --> 00:30:16,178
Mushy Bees.
716
00:30:16,178 --> 00:30:19,921
What was the last thing that made you
laugh out loud?
717
00:30:19,921 --> 00:30:20,761
This.
718
00:30:21,182 --> 00:30:23,003
Brilliant, we love that.
719
00:30:23,063 --> 00:30:26,045
Queen first or jam on a spoon?
720
00:30:26,045 --> 00:30:26,945
Oh jam.
721
00:30:27,406 --> 00:30:28,807
My mate, love it or hate it?
722
00:30:28,807 --> 00:30:30,288
Love it.
723
00:30:30,288 --> 00:30:32,109
Most unexpected hobby?
724
00:30:32,109 --> 00:30:32,989
Walking.
725
00:30:34,122 --> 00:30:35,242
That is unexplainable.
726
00:30:36,083 --> 00:30:40,887
If you could teleport anywhere right now,
where would you be?
727
00:30:40,887 --> 00:30:41,927
Australia.
728
00:30:43,008 --> 00:30:43,368
Favorite snack?
729
00:30:43,368 --> 00:30:44,269
Chocolate.
730
00:30:44,849 --> 00:30:50,273
If you could have the dinner with any
fictional character, who would that be?
731
00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:54,035
It would be Jack Nicholson from One Flew
Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
732
00:30:54,696 --> 00:30:57,978
Nick, why do round pizzas come in square
boxes?
733
00:30:58,198 --> 00:30:59,619
No idea.
734
00:30:59,619 --> 00:31:02,261
What do you call a boomerang that won't
come back?
735
00:31:02,261 --> 00:31:03,081
A ruler.
736
00:31:03,094 --> 00:31:05,270
Why don't you call a crocodile in a vest?
737
00:31:05,270 --> 00:31:06,072
Lost.
738
00:31:09,314 --> 00:31:13,215
The answer is of course an investigator.
739
00:31:13,355 --> 00:31:14,115
Oh dear.
740
00:31:14,115 --> 00:31:16,856
And the other one was a steed, but we
wouldn't take Runa.
741
00:31:16,856 --> 00:31:17,636
We wouldn't take Runa.
742
00:31:17,636 --> 00:31:20,397
That was good.
743
00:31:20,397 --> 00:31:23,938
Remember old schools that obviously we
wouldn't Runa anyway.
744
00:31:23,938 --> 00:31:24,038
Yeah.
745
00:31:24,038 --> 00:31:24,578
Thanks, Snags.
746
00:31:24,578 --> 00:31:28,479
Great to have you on now actually to get
some insight on who Nick Cloamer is behind
747
00:31:28,479 --> 00:31:30,360
all the bright lights.
748
00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:31,240
It's lovely to meet you.
749
00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:31,881
Yeah.
750
00:31:31,881 --> 00:31:32,241
No thank you.
751
00:31:32,241 --> 00:31:32,821
It's very kind.
752
00:31:32,821 --> 00:31:35,381
And this is the first podcast I've ever
done.
753
00:31:35,842 --> 00:31:36,902
Ever, ever, ever.
754
00:31:36,902 --> 00:31:37,923
So you know what?
755
00:31:37,923 --> 00:31:38,644
I really enjoyed it.
756
00:31:38,644 --> 00:31:42,106
I think you guys are great individually
and collectively and I can't wait to do
757
00:31:42,106 --> 00:31:46,589
more stuff with you in terms of, you know,
positive industry things to do our best.
758
00:31:46,589 --> 00:31:46,689
Yeah.
759
00:31:46,689 --> 00:31:48,190
Hats off, hats off.
760
00:31:48,190 --> 00:31:48,350
Exactly.
761
00:31:48,350 --> 00:31:49,251
Big lever in your message.
762
00:31:49,251 --> 00:31:50,072
Better together.
763
00:31:50,072 --> 00:31:50,392
Always.
764
00:31:50,392 --> 00:31:51,513
Thank you, Nick.
765
00:31:51,513 --> 00:31:52,073
Okay.
766
00:31:52,073 --> 00:31:52,473
Thank you.
767
00:31:52,473 --> 00:31:56,956
And thank you to our listeners for tuning
in to Talking Hospitality.
768
00:31:57,157 --> 00:32:01,119
Don't forget, you can get in contact with
us via our website, www.
769
00:32:04,502 --> 00:32:08,766
You can also contact us through socials on
Instagram, Facebook and TikTok by
770
00:32:08,766 --> 00:32:11,068
searching at Talking Hospitality.
771
00:32:11,068 --> 00:32:16,373
Our website offers more episodes, blogs on
the topics discussed and training that are
772
00:32:16,373 --> 00:32:20,457
specific to the hospitality industry to
help you and your team develop their
773
00:32:20,457 --> 00:32:22,039
hospitality careers.
774
00:32:22,099 --> 00:32:25,402
Your support makes these conversations
possible.
775
00:32:25,402 --> 00:32:28,702
Remember to like and subscribe wherever
you get your podcasts.
776
00:32:28,702 --> 00:32:32,353
Stay tuned for more engaging discussions
in the world of hospitality.
777
00:32:32,353 --> 00:32:35,741
Until next time, keep pushing boundaries
and stay awesome.
CEO, Owner, and Founder at Appetite 4 Recruitment; Otolo Director and Hospitality Jobs UK
Nick Clover is a prominent figure in the hospitality industry, known for his entrepreneurial spirit and leadership roles. As the CEO, Owner, and Founder of Appetite 4 Recruitment, Nick has established himself as a key player in hospitality recruitment, helping to match talented individuals with their ideal roles in the industry. His expertise and passion for hospitality have also led him to become a Co-Owner and Co-Director at Otolo, a platform dedicated to mentoring and community support within the hospitality sector. Otolo, under Nick's guidance, has been recognized for its innovative approach to fostering growth and development among hospitality professionals. With a career marked by significant contributions to the industry, including his role as Director and Co-Owner at Hospitality Jobs UK, Nick Clover continues to influence the future of hospitality through his commitment to excellence, innovation, and community support.