A career in hospitality: providing women with true work/life blend
“Hospitality needs people with a sensible head on their shoulders and those with life experiences. It’s this combination that will make our independent venues great again!”
Meet Julie Gingell - our Managing Director at the Fox ExCeL - who we’re celebrating this month as we head towards International Women’s Day on 8th March and Mother’s Day on 30th March.
“I’m really excited about International Women’s Day this year,” says Julie. “I’m hosting a lunch for some of the incredible women in our company, and it’s going to be a truly international gathering with so many nationalities represented. I can’t wait to share stories about our journeys and how we all came to work together in London. Being an independent company gives us the freedom to create moments like this—here’s to the power of independents!”
Julie took up the reins as our Managing Director back in 2019 just before lockdowns severely impacted the hospitality industry. Nearly six years later, Julie reflects on the benefits of a career in hospitality for people of all ages and genders, and how her part time job in Macdonald's set her up to be a successful leader today.
Hospitality delivers a fantastic work/life blend
I truly believe that hospitality offers a fantastic opportunity for everyone but sadly, we’re often overlooked and the range of roles underestimated. From customer service and food preparation, to commercial roles such as purchasing, finance and HR, there are a raft of jobs which are challenging and deliver huge personal satisfaction. On top of that the hours are flexible and allow for a true work/life blend. If you can run a busy household or juggle multiple conflicting demands, then you have the skills that hospitality so desperately needs, whatever your age.
Personally, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my early experience at McDonald’s during sixth form and university. Working on the tills and in the kitchen taught me the fundamentals of customer service and teamwork. Combined with the skills I gained through their management training program, this experience has been invaluable throughout my career. From there, I moved into the sports and leisure industry, leading the retail division for a football club and running it as a standalone business with a focus on customer service and product development. Then I moved on to managing business support teams in a law firm, further broadening my experience.
The lockdowns brought new challenges, forcing me through a real-life business boot camp. I had to become resilient and quickly gain expertise in everything from virology to utilities to help reopen safely and navigate a turbulent market. Now, I draw on all those experiences to manage our independent venues for a family-owned company - and I love what I do!
For everyone in the hospitality industry or those interested in joining this thriving sector, visit the Food, Drink & Hospitality Expo at Excel between 17-19th March.
Pop into the Fox next door to the ExCeL and say hello! For real London hospitality served with a smile.
My advice to working mums and everyone working in hospitality
Sometimes you win; sometimes you don’t. Don’t beat yourself up about mistakes or things that happen to you. Rather think of it as a chance to learn or up your resilience quota!
Everyday is an opportunity to learn—so here’s one more lesson: be open to other people’s opinions. You don’t have all the answers, and you’re not expected to. Even if you ultimately disagree, taking the time to listen and consider a different perspective is always valuable.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it is worth repeating – especially for working mums. There’s no such thing as a perfect work/life balance. It’s simply not possible to keep work and home life separate. Instead blending two can make life feel easier and it’s certainly healthier. Rather than viewing work as something confined to Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 with personal life squeezed in around it, embrace both as equally important. Go to that assembly at school, book the dentist appointment, don’t feel guilty about working after 6pm. Of course, this balance is often easier to achieve in a smaller, independent business like ours, but the principle remains the same.
Mum eats free on Mother’s Day!
Choose to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Fox: your independently owned, family run restaurant and bar in the heart of the Docklands.
Our special Docklands offer means that mums eat free on Mother’s Day on 30th March.
Simply book a table for lunch or dinner with us on 30th March and Mum will enjoy either one Sunday roast or one main meal completely free of charge.
Please ask your server for more details on arrival and don’t forget to book in advance!
Choose the Fox for Mother’s Day in London
We’re situated right by Custom House DLR station; only a few minutes by tube or DLR from the West End, Canary Wharf and the O2, just round the proverbial corner in the historic area known as London’s Docklands. We’re actually housed in an old warehouse, which gives us a vibrant atmosphere and versatile spaces. The ExCeL Centre and all the entertainment and experiences on offer are a very, very short walk away and you will be blown away by just how much history is around us in the Royal London Docks.