Tara Gillam (Enterprise Europe Network SW)
Location: Bristol
European Business Support, European Tenders, European Legislation, Business Opportunities, European Funding, IP
| Last online | 12th Aug 2010 |
| Member since | 27th May 2008 |
| Number of views | 4479 |
| Number of posts | 1048 |
| Number of testimonials | 7 |
| Meetings attended | 114 |
| Accommodation |
| Business services |
| Corporate entertainment |
| Event organisation |
| Weddings |
| Enterprise Europe |
| Twitter - Business |
| Key Elements |
Enterprise Europe Network South West provides free support and advice to South West companies and research institutions interested in trading in Europe or participating in European research and development programmes.
With partners in over 40 countries, we can help you take your business to Europe by:
- Providing information and practical advice on trading in Europe
- Giving you guidance on accessing European R&D funding
- Helping you find suitable technology and business partners through our business co-operation service
- Working with you to develop your research and innovation capabilities
- Advising on the management of intellectual property
- Acting as your voice in Europe – we'll feed back your business issues to the policy-makers
For more information on our services please visit our website: http://www.enterpriseeuropesw.org.uk or call our Information Team on 01275 370 997
This year I am celebrating 20 years working in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry (I know I don't look old enough! 
), and started as many did back then working for Trusthouse Forte Hotels.
I went to college studing Sports Science and decided after my first year that it was the wrong path, so managed to get a full time position at the hotel I had been working at part time. With THF then, they had over 400 hotels in the UK, and to transfer to other hotels was pretty easy, so within 3 months I had left my home town of Bristol and moved up the M4 to Newbury at the tender age of 17 on a trainee receptionist position (Annual Salary of 6K).
I moved to several hotels with them over the next 4 years, and then moved back to Bristol, where I made my first venture into the Conference and Events market. I stayed with that hotel group for 5 years, and had the pleasure of managing the Events for the 1999 Rugby World Cup for their hotel in Cardiff.
From there I decided I wanted to move into larger events and went back up the M4 to Newbury, where I managed their conference business for 3 years (52 function rooms and a capacity to hold meetings for up to 1000 delegates).
I then decided to move into Account Management and a more Strategic Role, and moved over to the Heathrow Market, where there is so much competition and thrived on the challenges that were faced there.
I was then approached to move back into racecourses, and went to set up and manage a central sales office for Jockey Club Racecourses, to promote and manage events for their 14 Courses which included Aintree, Cheltenham, Epson and Newmarket Racecourses.
In 2008, I decided I wanted to move back to Bristol and work at a more independant venue where I can influence the business with all my experience along with getting a stronger work/life balance.
