Hamish Forde, Finance Manager
I am a Finance Manager and work with a team of two people within the Master of the Household's Department, which is responsible for the organising, running and staffing of all hospitality and catering events. I have worked for the Royal Household for nine-and-a-half years.
How did you get your job with the Royal Household?
I studied Hotel and Catering Management at the Scottish Hotel School, Strathclyde University. A number of former students had worked for the Royal Household in purchasing roles for the catering section, and, when a similar vacancy arose, I applied. In 1999 I was promoted to deputy head of the catering section, before taking over the finance role for the whole of the Master's Department in 2004.
How would you advise someone looking for a job in hospitality and catering?
If you chose to study Hospitality Management at college or university you should back this up with as much practical experience in kitchens, bars, restaurants or hotels, as possible. If you can get an opportunity to work in an organisation that will allow you to explore the various disciplines, then this is helpful in deciding which area you might want to specialise in. Once you have made that choice then try and focus on the part of the market or type of organisation you would ultimately like to work for. Book-based learning will reinforce practical experience, but there is no substitute for getting your hands in the sink.
What training and support are available to you?
There are plenty of training opportunities available within the Household. Some courses can assist at a practical level - for example, IT training - whilst others are designed with career development in mind. I was lucky enough to be supported, both financially and in terms of study time, in order to gain a Master of Business Administration. However, the Household is very supportive generally and what was particularly helpful whilst studying was being able to draw on the expertise of colleagues from other disciplines for study subjects that were less familiar, such as financial strategic management.
What is the best thing about your job?
I enjoy working with so many colleagues from different disciplines across the Household in achieving a particular aim. There is always room for adapting, refining and change which keeps the job alive.
What opportunities do you get that you would not get elsewhere?
I have been lucky enough to be involved in a broad range of projects, ranging from kitchen and dining room design and build, to State Occasions and, more recently, a party for 4,000 children in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The experiences gained within the Household would take several careers in various industries and disciplines to achieve. Change is a constant and that is what makes it interesting.
