QM News 74 (pdf 1.58 MB) - Queen Margaret University

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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
Right time, right place, right skills set
Graduate Mark Docherty, Sales and Revenue Manager at Oak Hill Apartments, Edinburgh
Oak Hill Apartments’ interior
Mark goes from night porter
to luxury apartments’
manager
There is something to be said for being
in the right place at the right time.
However, it rarely all comes together
in one successful package unless the
graduate has the right skills set and a
great attitude.
Mark Docherty, a graduate of QMU’s
International Hospitality Management
degree had just the right mix of skills,
commitment and ambition. However, he
was also fortunate in finding a company
which recognised his potential and had a
structure able to support his rapid career
progression.
Incredibly, in less than 18 months,
Mark moved from night porter in the
Macdonald Hotel Holyrood to Acting
General Manager for Oakhill Apartments,
a group of five star luxury serviced
apartments in Edinburgh.
The economic downturn and constant
press reports of graduate unemployment
certainly don’t seem to have hindered
Mark’s career progress. So, what
does he put his success down to? He
explained: “Firstly, I was lucky to have
a degree from a university which is
extremely well respected in hospitality
management. There is an understanding
in the hospitality and tourism industry
that QMU graduates have great skills
sets. I know lots of QMU graduates who
are moving up the ranks very quickly,
particularly in the capital. It seems to
be QMU graduates who are getting the
promotions. As these graduates climb
the career ladder, they recruit other QMU
graduates, not because there is a bias,
but because there is a recognition that
QMU graduates perform to the highest
standards. I have already provided a
placement for a QMU student who has
gained invaluable experience across all
departments of the Oakhill business.”
Mark continued: “QMU has excellent
networks across the hospitality and
tourism industry and it’s extremely
helpful to have this solid reputation
behind your degree qualification. As
students of the course, we also carried
out a work placement in order to gain
first-hand experience of the industry.
I worked for Macdonald Hotels and
gained really good experience. QMU
also had collaborative links with other
institutions which allowed us to build on
our knowledge of the industry. It was
only through QMU’s collaboration with
an FE college that I was able to gain my
kitchen experience. It is vital for anyone
working in this industry to have a solid
understanding of the kitchen operation.
QMU also encouraged us to get as
much practical experience as possible to
back up our academic work. In my final
year I was approached by Fraser Suites,
located off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. I
spent five months there working as a
trainee sales executive.”
Of course, in order to get into a
management position, having the right
combination of academic and practical
skills is important. Mark said: “QMU
provided me with a really good grounding
in marketing and strategic management
and it was this which really gave me the
confidence and knowledge to go for my
current position as a Sales and Revenue
Manager with Oakhill Apartments. QMU
also had excellent modules in tourism,
which were particularly useful in helping
me really understand the tourism market
in Scotland’s capital city where our
business in based.”
Mark was also in the lucky position of
being in the right place at the right time,
when a vacancy within the company
allowed him the opportunity to act up as
Sales and Revenue Manager. However,
after only six weeks his talent for the
role was recognised and he was offered
the manager’s position on a permanent
basis. Mark now looks after the sales
and revenue department as well as the
overall running of the property.
When it comes to getting that all
important job and shaping your career,
what’s Mark’s advice to other graduates?
He concluded: “I took the advice of my
first hospitality manager. He encouraged
me to always look for opportunities and
to build on my skills in order to maximise
my experiences.”
Oak Hill Apartments’ interior
Special offer for ‘QMU
Friends’
Mark is offering ‘QMU Friends’ (staff,
students, alumni, QMU family and
friends) 10% discount on bookings at
Oakhill Apartments in Edinburgh. This
offer runs until the end of 2012 but is
subject to availability. To book your stay
contact Mark Docherty at
E: mark@oakhillapartments.co.uk, or
T: 0131 555 1567.
W: www.oakhillapartments.co.uk