Sean Wheeler

I began working in the hospitality sector when I was at school and found I really enjoyed the environment and atmosphere. I started out in operational roles, but was told I had a talent for getting the best out of people and was asked to become a training manager at TGI Friday’s. My boss was a great mentor and guide, and when he moved to Mitchells & Butlers I followed him to the company and into an HR role. I’ve stayed in the hotel and restaurant sector because it is such a large, diverse industry, and I was determined to show that you could progress. Historically, in the UK, hospitality had a bad reputation, with people seeing it as a job rather than a career.