Rising Star: Caroline Wintershaw
Every month we bring you an insight into the hottest catering and hospitality talent of the future in our Rising Stars section. This month South Downs College student Caroline Wintershaw talks about her inspirations and aspirations as she prepares for a career in the industry.
Name: Caroline Wintershaw
Age: 51
Course Title and College: NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery and NVQ Level 3 Pastry, South Downs College, Hampshire
When will you be graduating: July 2010
When did you realise you wanted to work in hospitality?: I needed a career change from exhibition design and construction and decided to pursue my hobby, gourmet cookery, which I was doing at night school at South Down College. I liked it so much I signed up to the NVQ fast track course to pursue my passion in a professional career. My ambition is to be to be a pastry chef.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?: Being part of the winning team for Restaurant magazine’s College Restaurant of the Year 2009 competition and being involved in a charity dinner at the College working alongside Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing, Angela Hartnett, Phil Howard and John Campbell.
Where would you most like to work when you graduate?: I did some work experience in House of Commons which was very enjoyable, and presently work at the Goodwood Park Hotel in West Sussex. Eventually I want my own business. I just need to identify the correct market niche for me.
Who do you most admire in the hospitality industry and why?: Heston Blumenthal, as he has inspired me to think about food in a different way which is exciting – like seeing in 3D instead of 2D. He makes me think about sight, smell, taste and sound. I have also been prepared and greatly encouraged by my tutors at South Downs who work very closely with us all to achieve fantastic standards in a real and busy work environment,
What are you looking forward to when you start work?: Enjoying going to work in this exciting and dynamic industry and learning new techniques.
What do you think will be the biggest challenges you will face in your career in the hospitality industry?: Starting out again at 50 was daunting because I was worried about the idea of studying with teenagers and that prospective employers might be age-ist. Neither have been a problem in my experience. My biggest challenge will be to start up the right business in these challenging times.
