A North-east hotel is leading the charge to encourage more young people to consider the hospitality sector as a genuine career path.
Aberdeen’s country house in the city, Macdonald Norwood Hall recently appointed Katrina Wardrop as general manager. She is testament to the company’s strong commitment to developing its own people, having progressed from pastry chef to executive chef, then moved into operations and now to general manager.
In her previous role as operations manager at sister venue, the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness, Katrina played a pivotal role in creating weekly workshops to enhance skills, developing a culture that encourages staff to experiment, and introducing a modern apprenticeship scheme that retains and nurtures talented young people.
During this period, she also worked in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) to help encourage more people – including girls and young women – into the workforce; something she plan to continue at Macdonald Norwood Hall.
Katrina commented: “I come from a family of chefs and hospitality professionals. My dad still works as a chef and my mum used to run a hotel in the Borders, while both my husband and brother also work in the industry.
“I’m fortunate to have experienced all aspects of what it takes to run a successful hotel over the course of my 12 years with Macdonald Hotels and Resorts. Hospitality is a fantastic career path and one that has provided me with so many opportunities, which is why I feel so strongly about supporting young people to get a foothold in the industry.
Katrina Wardrop, General Manager at Macdonald Norwood Hall
“For too long, hospitality has been seen as a ‘fall back’ option and not encouraged enough as a genuine career path by schools. Finding young people, nurturing them and giving the opportunity to prove themselves are key to the success of any business.
“Over recent years there has been a shift in people’s perception with greater numbers seeing hospitality as a genuine career path and one that can be extremely rewarding professionally.”
Built in 1881, Macdonald Norwood Hall sits within the grounds of the 15th century Pitfodels Castle and offers 73 luxury bedrooms surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery and a tranquil location within close proximity to the city centre.
The award-winning hotel is proud to play is part in supporting the local community wherever possible, particularly the next generation of talented youngsters, by creating opportunities for people entering the industry.
Commenting on her own career journey, Katrina added: “Making the decision to step out of the kitchen and move front of house was hard at first, but it has opened so many opportunities, taught me new skills, and allowed me to stay in an industry and company that I love while having a second career.
“The longer I spent working in the kitchen the more I realised the aspects I enjoyed the most were planning, speaking to suppliers, organising people, and meeting clients.
“It’s still unusual to see a chef follow this path, especially within a large organisation. My experience means I understand all aspects of the business and can help bridge the gap between the kitchen and other departments.”