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.

A Butchery Masterclass with Executive Chef, Bruce Wilson

There's nothing like a hands on butchery masterclass with a group of chefs to bring added inspiration to autumn menu planning. And that's exactly what Bruce Wilson, our Executive Chef and Alex Hall, Group Head Chef had in mind when they brought together their band of chefs from each of our sites last week.

 

Bruce shared his in-depth knowledge about different cuts of meat, talked about all the different cuts of pork and also how to fillet different types of fish. It was also a great opportunity for all our chefs to integrate, share their ideas and discuss how we can make the most of the wealth of local suppliers available to us.

The chefs finished their day with a trip to Brixton Market to check out new street food offers which are becoming increasingly popular and to enjoy a tasty lunch together.

 

 

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.

Service with a Smile

Well done to the fantastic team at Excel who had a very busy event last week including functions in the The Boulevard Bar & Grill.  Happy, helpful and hardworking - thank you!