In this entertaining and insightful episode, I joined David Cochrane, the CEO of HIT Scotland (https://hitscotland.co.uk/), who shares his incredible journey through the hospitality industry. From his early days as a chef (with a few kitchen disasters) to leading a transformative organisation, David offers a mix of heartfelt wisdom, career insights, and laugh-out-loud moments. The conversation covers the importance of hospitality education, the camaraderie of the industry, and some unforgettable antics—like a management team performing a "Full Monty" routine at a Christmas party!
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Hospitality: David highlights how hospitality is not just a job but a way of life, full of opportunities and unexpected adventures.
- Project Minerva: An exciting new initiative focused on immersive learning in unique venues, bringing global experts to the industry.
- The Joy of Giving Back: Through HIT Scotland, David has helped raise millions to fund scholarships and develop future leaders in hospitality.
- Fundraising Meets Fun: Whether it's climbing Kilimanjaro, hosting high-profile events, or pulling off outrageous stunts, David proves that raising money for a good cause doesn't have to be boring.
- The Community Spirit: The industry is built on relationships, and David emphasizes the importance of supporting each other, celebrating success, and having a laugh along the way.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I joke that Edinburgh doesn’t go to Glasgow for lunch, and Aberdeen doesn’t go to Venice for dinner, but every region has its unique charm.”
- “We put blue tack on the spyhole so no one could see us rehearsing... and then performed the Full Monty in front of 800 people.”
- "Out of adversity comes innovation—during COVID, we pivoted to online scholarships, helping over 3,600 people.”
- "Our industry is so professional now; the old stereotypes are well and truly outdated."
- “I keep getting told off for watching too much TikTok... but imagine the ‘Phil Monty’ routine making a comeback!”
David really does have the lightest touch and his journey is a non stop anecdotal delight.
Enjoy!
The Guest
David is the CEO of the Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland, HIT Scotland. We are a Scottish charity that organises a number of key industry events, raise a bit of money through fundraising, and then give out inspirational and bespoke scholarships to the emerging talent of the industry.
Show Partners
A big shout out to Today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.
RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.
It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.
Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/phil
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
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