People Director, The Ned and Ned's Club - 'I banned the phrase 'you're being sent to HR'

From cabin crew to boardroom HR, via British Airways and a global pandemic, Chris Gilchrist's career has taken more turns than most. Now he's applying those lessons to moving one of hospitality's most talked-about brands, The Ned and Ned's Club, forward, as it expands and implements a people strategy that ensures it's hospitality without the notorious kitchen shouting.

Taking off: the cabin crew years

In 2002, Gilchrist graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a BA in Politics. "HR was not a first thought. I didn't know what I wanted to do," he smiles. "I've always enjoyed a good debate, and I've always had a passion for travel and aviation, so when a job opportunity came up at university with Air 2000, now Tui, offering six-month contracts as cabin crew, I took it. Aviation at that time had a strong allure, it was pre-low cost airlines and was still glamorous. It wasn't an easy job though, but I really loved it - that's stayed with me in terms of how important it is to be passionate about what you do."

He finished his degree while taking on cabin crew jobs over the summer, and on graduation it eventually led to a job at Gatwick, progressing through the ranks to flight supervisor. "There's no better place to learn about people than at 35,000 feet. You experience every type of customer, colleague and challenge imaginable. Looking back, many of the leadership principles that still shape my approach today were learned on aircraft rather than in a classroom."