Supplier Profile - AJ Butchery

Our Creative Chefs gathered together this week to attend a group butchery demonstration arranged by our Executive Chef Bruce. After a tasty breakfast of sausage and bacon baps, the team joined Steve Turton, a butcher from AJ Butchery, to learn and discuss the different cuts of meat available to them and the best ones to use for their menus. Steve brought along the best beef, lamb and pork that they supply, including Black Angus beef, Suffolk-Texel cross lamb and large white-Duroc cross pork.

AJ Butchery is a family-run business based in Newton Abbot in Devon run by Steve, his son, Andrew and his mum Pam, they are obviously very passionate about the extensive work they do. They even work with lots of small independant farms in Devon and the surrounding areas, choosing the animals to develop the best meats that they then supply to their clientele, including some high class London restaurants and Winter Wonderland!

 

Royal Parks Marathon here we come!

We are all geared up and ready to scurry along to Hyde Park to begin the Royal Parks Half Marathon this Sunday!

So far we have raised a total £600.00 but it would be great to raise more for the Royal Parks Foundation, so please do sponsor us at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/CreativeTeamSquirrel

Good luck Team Squirrel!

 

Meet the Team - Rachel Smith

Name: Rachel Smith

Job Title: Finance Coordinator

Venue: All venues

Favourite Drink: Fizzy Vimto or Cider - depending on the time of day!

Favourite Meal: Moussaka

I started working for Creative... in 2006 at the NEC in Birmingham, I had just finished university so I was looking for a new challenge. I started off as bar staff then became a Bar Manager within a few months after which I became Staffing Manager. I had a few years off travelling and then came back as Office and Commercial Manager after the Olympics, which then turned into my current role in finance.

In a nutshell my role is... quite hectic! I process all invoices for the majority of our venues and outdoor catering department, and during the summer months I help out as a Commercial Manager by cashing up at busy festivals as well as helping out at other venues when they have busy shows on.

On an average day... I am processing hundreds of invoices!!

My most rewarding moment was... (I have a few!) Working at the Olympics, meeting Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver at the NE, watching my favourite bands at various festivals and getting to work with a great group of people.

My most challenging moment was... working long hours and for many days in a row at the Boat Show, Grand Designs and Travel Market at ExCeL Exhibition Centre. All worth it though!

I couldn’t cope without... great colleagues, they keep you upbeat when you need it most!

Best piece of advice... be nice to everyone, you may need their help in the future.

Meet the Team - Jennie Westoby

Name: Jennifer Westoby

Job Title: Senior Staffing Manager

Venue: All Venues

Favourite Drink: A long cold G&T

Favourite Meal: Has to be a hot and spicy curry.

I started working for Creative... in June 2013 on a 3 month contract to support the Outdoor Catering Department for the summer season. Before my contract was up, I was offered a full time position as Senior Staffing Manager.

In a nutshell my role is... to support the Staffing Team and ensure that the appropriate staffing resources are in place for all venues and events throughout the company.

On an average day... I am involved in a number of tasks from ordering food for an event to writing staff forecasts (there is always another one to do!), and from accounting to recruitment of new staff.

My most rewarding moment was... delivering my first ODC event with Luke Jones at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the summer of 2013. It was four weekends of concerts, back to back with retail and hospitality offerings.

My most challenging moment was... at YNOT festival in 2013 when we had an electrical storm one evening and all units were closed. I was responsible to ensure that all staff were evacuated from their units and kept warm and dry ready to reopen when the storm had passed.

I couldn’t cope without... Lily Hayter. A fountain of knowledge and experience. She is a tremendous support to me and a little crazy with it too!

Best piece of advice... is to always take a step back and look at the bigger picture. So often we can get wrapped up in the minor detail of what we do.

Team Photo Shoot

It's all go for our outdoor events team at the moment - signing up events, recruiting ready for the busy summer weekends, booking, planning, hiring, training, organising... planning... organising...!  At the same time we are creating a brand new website to showcase this part of the company that look after all the special events outdoors.  Watch this space for the new site but in the meantime here's a sneaky peak of some of our team at last weeks photo shoot!

 

Meet Team Creative - Lindsay Atkinson

Name...  Lindsay Atkinson

Job Title... Venue Manager

Venue... Olympia

Favourite Drink... Amaretto and coke, with a splash of lime

Favourite Meal... It varies, but generally anything with cheese in it or on it

I started working for Creative...  in 2005 whilst studying for my degree. I started out at the NEC in Birmingham working as bar staff, and loved how easily I could save money whilst having fun with my friends. I worked my way up the Creative ladder working in almost every role available!

In a nutshell my role is...  managing and maintaining our catering operation, and maximising opportunities whilst ensuring clients, the Venue and customers are all happy.

On an average day... there is always something to learn and take on board. No two events and organisers are the same and each one requires a different approach to make it successful.

My most rewarding moment...  is this moment right now. I have been given a great opportunity in my new role and I am proud of myself and what I have achieved over the years to come this far.

My most challenging moment... It’s hard to pinpoint one moment as each event provides its own challenges, whether it be developing the right food offering for the crowds at Chelsea Flower Show, ensuring that stock is planned accordingly for an Example concert or maintaining a high level of customer service on the shop floor during a busy run of exhibition events. As we all do in event catering I relish the challenges- it ensures the job never gets boring!

I can't be doing with... people that have no passion and don’t try.

I couldn’t cope without...  a latte every morning!

Best piece of advice... Never let your standards slip.

Meet Team Creative - Luke Barlow

Luke Barlow - affectionately known as 'tt' and therefore the 't' in our creative shoot last year is Creative's Group Beverage Procurement Manager.  He is renowned for his perplexing spreadsheets and of course very popular when the wine tastings come around!

Name...  Luke Barlow

Job Title... Group Beverage Procurement Manager

Venue... Central

Favourite Drink... Good red wine

Favourite Meal... Argentinian asado

I started working for Creative... 
Well my first ever shift was as a bartender in November 2000 at the Newbury Gold Cup.  I worked on a casual basis all through university. Then in 2005, after a year out following my degree, I joined the company full time just as we were beginning our contracts at Earls Court and Olympia Exhibition Centres. 

In a nutshell my role is... 
Deciding what drinks we stock across the business, where we buy them from, how much we pay for them and what we sell them for.  During the summer months a large amount of my time is spent planning the stock logistics of our outdoor festivals and events and managing the relationships between drinks sponsors, Creativevents and the event organisers. 

On an average day...  
It depends what time of year it is.  In the summer it could involve sourcing an ale supplier local to the boutique festival we are working at, or booking eight tankers full of lager for a heavy metal concert.  In the winter it could involve meeting a potential new drink sponsor, reconciling monthly accounts or developing the company wine list.

My most rewarding moment...  
Successfully managing the liquor planning and operation of the Big Chill festival.  The event had 17 different bars most of which were offering completely bespoke drinks menus which meant it was far more challenging than any other festival we had worked at.

My most challenging moment...  
The summer of 2012.  Making sure my areas of responsibility for our regular business continued to run smoothly whilst basing myself at the Olympics to control the drink stock levels of two London venues.

I can't be doing with... 
People who moan and complain without doing anything to change what they have a problem with.

I couldn’t cope without... 
My ipod when I am concentrating on figures.

Best piece of advice...  
It is not the mistakes you make but what you do to put them right.  Always have a contingency plan.

Meet Team Creative - Lyndsay Smith

In a new feature on the Creative Taste blog we are going to introduce you to some of the team that work so hard to make it all happen.  From the kitchen to staffing, logistics to business development we will cover it all!  They will all be answering a few questions to give you an idea about them,  their Creative world and what goes on behind the scenes.  Today we start with Lyndsay Smith our Special Events Manager...

Name...   Lyndsay Smith
Job Title...   Events Manager
Venue...   Special Events
Favourite Drink...   Wine (any variety)
Favourite Meal...   Anything Italian



I started working for Creative..   
January 2008 (which makes me feel old). As a fresh faced 22 year old I joined the company during Creative’s major growth spurt. Having won 3 new major festivals for that summer (Big Chill, Cornbury and Bloodstock) I had to hit the ground running and was thrown in at the deep end. 5 years on, I have learnt a huge amount, aged somewhat, climbed the career ladder and enjoyed every step.

In a nutshell my role is...
Plan plan plan. From the initial meeting to the execution and load out. One thing you can’t plan for is the weather!

On an average day...
There is no average day which is the reason why I got into events.  Every day is different, faced with diverse projects and challenges.

My most rewarding moment...
Too many to name, each season becomes more rewarding as we take on more and grow. From completing just a handful of events 5 years ago in a season to over 65 events this summer, seeing the team do well, winning new contracts and retaining old contracts.

My most challenging moment...
A few to name, but the biggest challenge to date has to be Summer 2012 with the Olympics. There was a noticeable shortfall in a lot of equipment, meaning that prices increased due to demand. I had to negotiate with suppliers and plan even further ahead than normal – often very tricky in events! It was also logistically significantly harder operating in and out of London as we had to move our whole HQ to a new base as our existing warehouse and office was an Olympic venue! That said, it was fantastic for part of the business to have been involved in a once in a lifetime event and it being right on our doorstep.

I can't be doing with...
Inability to react to change. The events industry is forever changing and events will forever change last minute. You must be prepared to roll with it and be adaptable.

I couldn’t cope without...
Coffee, wine and hand sanitiser.

Best piece of advice...
Always have a plan B and you are only as good as the people around you, invest in them.

Zoë Watts joins the Creative Team

We are very excited to announce that Zoë Watts has joined our team at Creative as Business Development Director.  Zoë is an experienced operator in the Culture and Heritage sector and has held roles as Head of Events and Catering at the Natural History Museum and more recently as Head of Business Development at Company of Cooks.  She was also an integral part of the original team who set up the pioneering catering service at the Tate Modern and Tate Britain.  Exciting times ahead!

http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/Event_suppliers/article/1183922/zoe-watts-joins-creativevents/