Ex-student and hospitality superstar Gabrielle returns to the pass

Gabrielle Le Roux, a UCB Hospitality Business Management graduate, has returned to the University to set students’ sights on a career in food service.

After graduating with a first-class degree in 2015, Gabrielle took on a graduate scheme at independent hospitality provider BaxterStorey, eventually being recruited full-time as a Programme Developer. While it’s a route she never thought of taking as a student, she fast found her calling in the company’s learning and development department.

Having just founded the BaxterStorey Service Academy, Gabrielle is also heading up WSET Wine & Spirits training across the business, making BaxterStorey the first Food Service Provider in the UK accredited as an APP (Approved Programme Provider) to deliver this qualification internally.

Gabrielle returned to UCB to talk to students about raising aspirations and broadening horizons when it comes to life as a hospitality graduate.

“There are so many jobs out there that students simply aren’t aware of,” said Gabrielle, who is based in BaxterStorey’s support offices on Gray’s Inn Road, central London.

“When I started out as a student, I had no idea about some of the avenues I could have taken – including all of the exciting careers there are relating to food service.

Joining BaxterStorey has made me realise the potential there is for someone doing a Hospitality Business Management degree to go on to do marketing, HR, learning and development, project management and finance at all kinds of companies. My degree has equipped me perfectly to understand and manage the way big businesses work – which is lucky, as our clients are often very large franchises.”

Gabrielle was also keen to encourage students to consider the graduate scheme route.

“UCB trained me to be a self-starter, which is perfect when you’re on a competitive graduate scheme like BaxterStorey’s and are constantly networking and building on your own projects.

“It’s great to start with a grad scheme as it gives you access to everything and everyone – so you can take the opportunity to see the kind of work you prefer.”

“There is an incredible amount of opportunities available to hospitality graduates,” added Rob Swinnock, Assistant Dean of the College of Food and Gabrielle’s former lecturer.

“What Gabrielle has shown is that this qualification is appealing to a range of employers – it all depends on the opportunities you take. It’s great to have her back to advise the next generation of top hospitality staff here at UCB.”