I joined the Royal Household in April 2003. I am Deputy Yeoman of the Royal Cellars and work as part of the Master of the Household's Department based at Buckingham Palace.

How did you get your job with the Royal Household?
I saw a vacancy for Senior Under-Butler in the Royal Cellars advertised on the Royal web site. I applied successfully and have recently been promoted to Deputy Yeoman.

What did you do before joining the Royal Household?
My first role in the hospitality sector was working part-time in a local hotel serving meals. Since then I have tried different career options but I've always come back to hospitality. Before I joined the Royal Household I worked as a sommelier on the QE2.

How would you advise someone looking for a job in this area?
My advice to anyone keen to pursue a career in hospitality is to work with people who are passionate about what they do and to keep pushing yourself to reach your goals.

What training and support are available to you?
During my first year I received extensive on-the-job training. I also had the opportunity to attend an advanced wine course, which has helped me enormously. There is also a range of internal training courses which are specifically designed to help you perform to your maximum potential within your role. 

What's it like working for the Royal Household?
There is a great deal of variation in what we achieve, due to the number of different households that we look after. They offer constantly changing situations. I feel huge amounts of satisfaction when I see for myself the end result of all the hard work which goes into large events such as State visits.

What does your job entail?
My main responsibilities are choosing, preparing and serving wine at royal events such as charity lunches, receptions and State visit dinners.

What is the best thing about your job?
Wine is one of my great passions. I am very fortunate to be able to work with some of the greatest wines of the world on a daily basis.

What opportunities do you get that you would not get elsewhere?
Knowing that I have personally checked that the wine to be served for the Royal Family and their guests is of the highest possible quality and in the most perfect condition.