1. Edge FoundationAmbassador – Edge Hotel School
Name: George BenjaminHiley-Jones
Date of birth:
Hometown:
Place ofwork: Wivenhoe House Hotel
Job title: Trainee Manager/Student
Practitioner
Qualifications: BA Honsin Hotel Management,Edge Hotel School –completing2016
7 GCSEs, The NewForestSmall School
3 A-levels,BrockenhurstCollege
George’s story
By the age of six George knewhe wantedtowork inhospitality butneverbelievedhe couldactually
pursue a careerin it.Thischangedwhenhe was at college and he startedworkingasa commischef
at the MichelinstarTerrace Restaurant at The MontaguArms Hotel inthe New Forest,fittingin
shiftsaroundhisbusycollege andsportsschedule.Workingalongside Roux Scholarandheadchef
MatthewTomkinson taughthimplentyaboutthe industry.
Althoughhe likedthe kitchen,he quicklydiscovereditwasthe interactionwithcustomershe
enjoyedmostandaftermeetingwiththe restaurantmanagerhe tookupa positionfrontof house.
Workingina Michelinstarrestaurant meantthatGeorge learntan incredible amountabouthigh-
quality customerservice andthe importance tostrive forperfectioninall aspectsof the job.
On leavingcollege George waskeen tobegincarvingouthiscareerandafterplentyof researchhe
decidedthatthe Edge Hotel School wasthe ideal place tobegin.Thiswaslargelydue to the
opportunity itoffers tocombine highlystructuredpractical workwithlecturesandassignments,
providingacompletedroundededucation andmakingEdge Hotel School graduatesformidable
opponentsinthe jobmarket.
It isthe practical side tothe degree thatGeorge believesisthe mostimportant.Workingand
studyingina four-starhotel allowsstudentstoputtheoryintopractice andbuildsuptheir
confidence whilsttheystill have the safetynetof theirlecturersandmentors.A keensportsman,
George isalso passionate aboutthe philosophybehindmotivatingteamsandfeelsthatone of the
mostimportantthingshe has learnedsofarat the Edge Hotel School isthe abilitytoheadupa team,
motivatingitandguidingittowardsa commongoal.
An expertintime management,George hasstrucka careful balance betweenhisstudies,shiftsand
extracurricularactivities.He is Vice Presidentof the Universityof Essex AthleticsClub –even
managingto applysome of the businessskillshe has learntonhisdegree toboost membershipand
profitswithinthe athleticsclub.
Lookingaheadto life asan Edge Hotel School graduate,George hopestobecome general manager
of a five-starhotel inLondon before progressingtomanagerial directorof afive-starhotel
consortium.Ultimately,he dreamsof openinga hotel with hisfather– whofirstsparkedGeorge’s
passionforthe industrywhenhe wasjusta child.