Graduate profile

Richard Harrison

Analyst, Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants, Whitbread Court, Dunstable

Richard is a member of our Finance Graduate scheme who supports our stand alone estate, making sure our site accounts are a true picture of their performance. He says:

“I think being passionate about the brands is important to perform in your role to the best of your ability. A lack of understanding or belief in what the company sells or where the company wants to take itself will never lead to you achieving the best you can.

Visiting various sites, both in a work and social context, has been key to building this passion and understanding on what the sites are trying to achieve and provide for their customers; pushing me to endeavour to support them where I can in my role.

There is certainly a culture of one supportive team and togetherness throughout the various Whitbread functions; something I hadn’t experienced before at a previous company. I feel there is the ability and space to develop in your role and make it your own; you’re pushed to put your own stamp on what you do and are recognised when you do.

Every company will sell the line that you are given ‘real responsibility” in your role, but it is easy to question whether all firms will follow through on this. I can honestly say that I have been given this responsibility right from the word go; supporting 60+ general managers at site within my first couple of weeks was quite a challenge.

I’ll always suggest Premier Inn to my friends and family if they are looking for a hotel, and as a family we’ve always used the Beefeater brand, but I’ve introduced them to their other restaurant brands as alternatives as well. My girlfriend found the Costa Club card a great addition to her purse and now is a regular customer in the mornings.

As I’m based in the head office, it can be quite difficult to establish a link between how I can impact Whitbread’s customers sitting at my desk. I feel the best way I can help our customers is to perform my role of supporting our general managers at site as efficiently and as quickly as possible. This way they can spend more time on the shop floor, interacting with the customer, rather than in the back office worrying about the numbers. I always strive to go that extra mile in the work that I do.”