Empowering Women in Hospitality: Insights from Lakefield College
In an enlightening discussion on the empowerment of women in the hospitality sector, this episode of Talking Hospitality features a live recording from Lakefield Hospitality College in North West London, where we engage with Frankie Strinati.
The college, founded in 1962 with the explicit aim of promoting female participation in hospitality, stands as a testament to the evolution of gender roles within this industry.
Frankie shares her insights on the strategies employed at Lakefield, which emphasise the importance of a supportive, all-female learning environment that enables students to flourish without the pressures often associated with mixed-gender settings.
Throughout our conversation, we explore the challenges that young women face in pursuing careers in hospitality, particularly in securing leadership roles. Frankie highlights the college's comprehensive mentoring program, which is designed to bolster confidence and equip students with the skills necessary to excel in their careers.
This initiative not only addresses the prevalent self-doubt among female candidates but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among the students, who are encouraged to support one another in their professional journeys.
The episode also addresses the broader context of the hospitality industry, which is currently navigating a transformative period due to external pressures such as Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frankie articulates the pressing need for employers to adapt their recruitment practices to attract and retain talent within the UK. By fostering an inclusive atmosphere and providing robust training and mentorship opportunities, employers can ensure that the next generation of hospitality professionals is well-equipped to lead and innovate.
This discussion serves as a crucial reminder of the role that education and mentorship play in shaping a diverse and equitable hospitality landscape.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the significance of empowering women within the hospitality industry, particularly through education and mentorship.
- Lakefield Hospitality College has a unique focus on female-only education, addressing the historical gender imbalance in the hospitality sector.
- The discussion highlights the importance of role models for young women aspiring to leadership positions in hospitality, showcasing successful female chefs and entrepreneurs.
- A pivotal point raised was that the hospitality industry must adapt to attract and retain female talent, particularly in balancing work-life commitments.
- The podcast illustrates the necessity of cultivating a supportive environment that fosters confidence and professional growth for young women in hospitality.
- Employers are encouraged to actively engage with educational institutions to recruit and nurture future talent, ensuring a sustainable workforce.
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Companies mentioned in this episode:
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Transcript
Welcome to another edition of Talking Hospitality where we look at issues in the hospitality industry and our guests have to bring solutions or advice to those issues.
This week we're recording live at Lakefield Hospitality College, so be prepared to listen for police sirens, the dropping of a tray and the random starting of a dishwasher. As we ask, how can we empower women in hospitality inspiration? Hosting for today's episode are me, Timothy R. Andrews and Tracy Rashid.
Today is the first time doing face to face recording away from online.
Tracey Rashid:And of course, what better way to celebrate than to record in the incredible. And it really is incredible, guys. Lakefield Hospitality College in North West London. And you may have already heard her cheer in the background.
I'd like to welcome the amazing Frankie Stranati, student and industry link, recruitment manager and teacher.
Timothy R. Andrews:Welcome, Frankie. It's great to be here and how are you today?
Frankie Strinati:I'm very well. I'm really well and it's great to be here. It's very nice for me to be talking to you.
I feel like we're old friends, even though we've actually only met a couple of times before. Yeah, I think we have something really in common, which is the hospitality industry. We're passionate about it.
Tracey Rashid:Yeah, that's the word, passion, definitely.
Timothy R. Andrews:We are recording at the fabulous Lakefield Hospitality College in North West London.
Frankie Strinati:Yes.
ou know, it's been here since:Yeah, we're very proud of what we're doing and trying to kind of get young females into the industry, females who will stay there, who'll be leaders, who'll be head chefs, who'll be head pastry chefs, restaurant managers.
Tracey Rashid:How do people respond to the college being female only?
Frankie Strinati:Do you know, actually lots of parents who come with their daughters to have a look around. That's one of the kind of unique selling points for them.
They say, I love the fact that you're all girls because actually girls learn differently from boys and it gives them the focus that they need.
I think also it gives them the confidence because I think young people are always comparing with one another and so it gives them the confidence to just be who they are and to develop themselves. It's in our favor. Obviously you have some that, you know, say, what, there's no boys here?
But, you know, we're sticking to our single six education plan because it works for us. Yeah. 100% of our students go into industry and work and stay there for at least five years.
This morning when I was showing Tracy and Tim around, the girls are looking up to Tracey. She's an entrepreneur, she's got her own cake business, Essence of Cake. And of course some of them are aspiring to that, that's what they want to do.
I think that kind of female role models in their lives are super important because you've been there and you've done it.
Tracey Rashid:Yes, yes. And whoever made the tasty cake that I tried earlier, well done. It was delicious.
Timothy R. Andrews:It was, wasn't it? But I'm not the expert.
Frankie Strinati:Tim, you ate it as well.
Timothy R. Andrews:Yeah, I did. I loved it. Yeah, it was definitely way faster than I did. Yeah.
What about your background and how did you get to where you are today and how did you get to be involved with Lakeville?
Frankie Strinati:Yeah, interesting questions. I actually trained as a primary school teacher. I didn't really want to go to university to be honest, but in my day.
Timothy R. Andrews:Everything was black and white.
Frankie Strinati:But in my day, well, I actually applied to do hospitality management and you know what? I didn't get in. So then I thought I am the wrong person for this, I need to choose something else.
One of my teachers at school said, why don't you do teaching, you'd be good at teaching. So I did teach him. I did a four year degree in education and I actually loved it and I'm glad I did it now I can use those skills.
So then after I taught for 15 years I thought hospitality is still in my mind. You know, I love being with people, I love looking after people. My grandparents actually had a cafe in Kings Cross.
Dad says he remembers as a 14 year old boy coming back from school and drying teacups behind the counter, serving, taking fish and chip orders, etc. It's probably in my blood.
Timothy R. Andrews:Sure.
Frankie Strinati:My dad was the chef at home and so it's always been there.
So then I applied for the job at Lakefield and they were looking at the time for someone who knew the education system and who could be a kind of student rep and go into schools and get young people into the college and recruit. I studied the food and beverage MBQ level 2. Then I did some cocktail training.
So I now teach cocktails and I've really found my niche and I'm really, I'm really happy here and I love what I do.
Tracey Rashid:That's amazing.
Timothy R. Andrews:I can't stop smiling. I know.
Tracey Rashid:My cheeks are actually hurting.
Timothy R. Andrews:Yeah, yeah, it's just great. It's just great.
Tracey Rashid: said Lakefield was founded in: Frankie Strinati:It was very obvious in the 60s that we had, you know, lots of male chefs, kind of middle aged white men who were taking the lead in everything. And there was no kind of female input there. And I think females have a lot to offer the industry. Hospitality is, is a life skill in itself.
Even if you don't go into it as a career, you know, lots of women will become mothers, you know, at some point, so they need those skills, how to look after their family properly.
And for me, that is a really kind of good thing to do for society to teach young women how to be mothers, how to kind of keep the family together, how to have those skills of homemaking, if you want. Family is where we, we, we nurture ourselves, where we develop, where we grow. It's so important. This is why we here doing this podcast. Yeah.
We want to encourage young people and not so young people to, to go into the industry and choose it as their chosen career.
We came about to empower young women to go into the industry and make a name for themselves and, you know, to be good team leaders, to look after their staff, which again, I think is another key issue. Let's face it, hospitality is about people.
It's about looking after people, you know, internally with your own team, but also externally with the customers that you're serving.
Timothy R. Andrews: ave things changed much since: Frankie Strinati:Our industry was a bit behind? We were a bit slow to recognize that. Why aren't women coming to our industry? Because we're not catering for them well enough.
They want to go and have families, you know, they'll need time to bring up their children and we have to accommodate that. Yes, we were slow off bandwagon, really. It's much better. You know, hours are, the hours are not so long, the pay still isn't equal.
Tracey Rashid:So that's, that's, you know, an ongoing, that's another podcast.
Timothy R. Andrews:Write that down.
Frankie Strinati:But I think it's better and I think it's changing. I mean, there's a few places that I've been to, a few venues where the kitchen brigade is all female. Wow, that's amazing.
And, you know, that works for them.
You know, a good balance, always a good balance of men and women is because we all bring different things to the table and neither one is better than the other. They're just different.
Tracey Rashid:Yes.
Frankie Strinati:But we all know that a great team is made up of, you know, lots of different types of people with different personalities, different talents, different skills and that's what makes a fantastic team.
Timothy R. Andrews:Yeah.
Frankie Strinati:And we have to embrace that.
Timothy R. Andrews:So in terms of the hospitality industry as a whole, obviously it's had a few knocks of late. We say knocks.
Tracey Rashid:Very tame. Yeah, very tame.
Timothy R. Andrews:What do you think some of the issues are in attracting and recruiting people within our industry right now?
Frankie Strinati:Do you know what, maybe the small knocks is actually a good thing.
I'm just thinking as you're talking, Tim, that actually maybe this is a wake up call for us, that actually maybe we need to look for our own industry professionals in the uk. We've been through Brexit, we've been through the pandemic, suddenly we're stuck because, oh, help. We've got no one coming from abroad. What do we do?
We have to look for them here and we certainly experienced that in Lakefield. I mean, the cohort I have this year are all British, British girls who want to do this as their chosen career and that's great. And you know what?
I think there's many more out there. Employers need to be doing a lot more to connect with education.
And I know, you know, some of the listeners may be thinking, who does she think she is? We're too busy. I know that. I understand that. I've worked in hotels and restaurants. I absolutely know you'll run off your feet.
But it's an investment and in the long term it's going to be to your benefit. Go out there, find them, bring them in, engage them, nurture them, mentor them, coach them and they'll stay with you.
Tracey Rashid:What are some of the solutions that Lakefield is providing and maybe more specifically providing for females?
Frankie Strinati:In terms of solutions, one of the things we're doing is a mentoring program because young girls and what I think maybe females in general, we always put ourselves down, we always say, I'm not going to be good at that. And I don't know, we're not very good at being confident. And in fact, you know, this is another interesting point, actually.
I'm going to put in here lots of male head chefs have said to me, do you know what?
The females don't apply for the jobs that are at the top because they always find the loopholes in what they can do and I won't be good enough, I won't be able to do it, I don't have enough skills. And so this is what we have to tackle. Actually, they're not applying for the jobs. Why?
So we thought the mentoring program was extremely important to build up that confidence from a young age. You can do this. It's all about growth, mindset. We've heard this before. Growth mindset. Why are you saying you can't do it? Who said you can't do it?
Only you're the only one who's saying you can't do it. You can do it. Yes, and I think so. I think for us, the mentoring program. So the girls meet with their mentor.
It's a professional mentor, and they will discuss, you know, how they're performing in the kitchen, you know, what they. What areas they feel they need to develop.
And I've got some lovely stories of girls who've kind of been with us and how they've changed from beginning to end. And a lot of that, you know, is down to the environment that we put them in that is positive. Yes. We tell them at times that's not good enough.
You can do better than that.
Tracey Rashid:It's constructive, though. You need that.
Frankie Strinati:Yes. It's all growth. It's all moving forward. That has been a really good solution to build the confidence from a young age and to follow that through.
We've also found that once they leave Lakeview, typically, most of our students stay for two to three years. Once they leave Lakefield, they want to stay in contact. They don't just go. And it's just amazing how they keep coming back. Hi.
Just came to say hi to everyone. And they go into the kitchen. The current students will say, oh, where do you work now? What's it like? Is it good?
Tracey Rashid:Oh, great.
Frankie Strinati:So, again, that. That is wonderful to see as well. And it happens very naturally, to be fair.
Tracey Rashid:Frankie, I want to come back. So I don't. I've only been here a day. I don't blame them.
Frankie Strinati:You can come at any time you want.
Timothy R. Andrews:Tracy and I have both worked with schools separately and young people. And one of the things that we've both noticed is that young people tend to be quite shy and reserved at the moment, particularly post lockdown.
Not so with your girls.
Tracey Rashid:No.
Timothy R. Andrews:Like they were. No one was hiding, were they?
Tracey Rashid:The eye contact was real, like it was there. And I love that. That shows confidence with someone. It shows the. They're comfortable in their being, that they're happy to look someone in the eyes.
It's a real skill to be able to do that.
Frankie Strinati:They're showing confidence, which is what we've just been saying, I think unless you put them in an environment where they feel accepted, they feel secure, they feel safe, that actually you've got their best interest at heart and you want them, you really want them to progress and to succeed. They can feel that. And so therefore, they're kind of happy to listen to the constructive criticism, to, you know, to work harder, to push forward.
So, yeah, definitely.
Timothy R. Andrews:What do you think as an employer? What do you think they should know about working with you or working with the girls? Is that something they should be aware of?
Frankie Strinati:I think that's interesting. So, yes, I've been working with employers now for two reasons, really. One is because they all do two placements every year.
So I'm looking for venues who are going to inspire these young people to work with them. And I think it's often on the placements that a girl will come back and she'll say to me, frankie, I'd really love to work there.
I just love the vibe, I love the. And then second is, obviously, when they leave here, part of my job is to have a conversation with them about, okay, what do you want to go?
Where do you want to work? The world is your oyster, you can go anywhere in the world you want. What do you want to do? And so the ball's in their core.
Now, obviously, I'm going to support them. I'm on LinkedIn and Instagram, so I'm aware of what's available, what's needed.
I'm constantly bombarded with friends, phone calls from employers saying, have you got anybody? We've got some commy chef positions available, but I have to say, I'm also selecting the employers.
Tracey Rashid:Yes.
Frankie Strinati:I want them to stay in the industry. I want them to have a good experience, especially in their first second year of working.
I want them to be looked after and treated as people and treated as individuals.
Tracey Rashid:Absolutely.
Frankie Strinati:So I've been around long enough now to know where I would like to send them and where I not so keen on sending them. I think employers have got a lot to answer for as well.
Ok, you're saying you've got no staff or what are you doing to actually recruit those staff and encourage them and promote your business? I've had girls who have left here and they've got, you know, four or five job offers. Which one do they choose?
I can tell very quickly the ones who just want to fill their staffing gaps and the ones that actually want to bring this student on board, make them part of the company and train them properly and help them on their career journey. Again, there's a difference.
Tracey Rashid:I Think in regards to employers, as you said, one of the key things you mentioned earlier about with the girls coming to your college is training the next leaders, how to manage your teams, manage yourself, how to move forwards.
And I think a lot of the industry, especially in the kitchen, you kind of rise up, but not necessarily get that management, that leadership part of the training. So it's really great that you're kind of sending out that new. That new batch of.
Of people in hospitality that will have that skill and then can nurture that next generation coming through as well. That's really so crucial. So crucial. So you've talked a lot about the employers and how do they get in contact with you?
Because I'm sure once they hear this, they're going to want to.
Frankie Strinati:If they come and see how we train, what we do, the atmosphere that we have here, the teamwork that we have here, if they see it for themselves, then I think they'll be sold. AakefieldTC TC Capitals on our website lakefield.org.uk.
Timothy R. Andrews:We'Re not done yet, Frankie.
Tracey Rashid:It.
Frankie Strinati:Oh, no.
Tracey Rashid:Don't look so scared.
Frankie Strinati:If it's a competition or a game, I'll love it.
Timothy R. Andrews:So it's a game and the game is. You have one word answers, we ask you a question, we alternate it and you have to say the first word that pops into your head.
Frankie Strinati:I love this game. Yeah, I love it.
Timothy R. Andrews:Frankie, what's your favorite color?
Frankie Strinati:Red.
Tracey Rashid:What's your favorite food?
Frankie Strinati:Spaghetti.
Timothy R. Andrews:What's your favorite thing to learn about hospitality?
Tracey Rashid:What's the best thing you have ever experienced?
Frankie Strinati:Cocktails at the Shard.
Tracey Rashid:Ooh, fancy.
Timothy R. Andrews:If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Frankie Strinati:Oh, I've always wanted to be like. Oh, it's one word. Spider Man.
Tracey Rashid:Spider Woman might be good.
Frankie Strinati:Yeah.
Tracey Rashid:Do you share food or is it best to be savored individually?
Frankie Strinati:Oh, shared.
Timothy R. Andrews:What about you?
Tracey Rashid:I don't share food.
Timothy R. Andrews:What's the last emoji on your phone?
Frankie Strinati:Oh, the hug.
Tracey Rashid:Aw. What makes you happy?
Frankie Strinati:Being with people like you.
Timothy R. Andrews:What makes you sad?
Frankie Strinati:If I don't succeed.
Tracey Rashid:If you were offered the role of Mayor of London, would you take it?
Frankie Strinati:Yes.
Timothy R. Andrews:What do you pour?
Tracey Rashid:Funding. Forget all the funding.
Timothy R. Andrews:What do you find really, really boring?
Frankie Strinati:Sleeping.
Tracey Rashid:What's your favourite thing about yourself?
Timothy R. Andrews:You can't ask me if a stratus cloud is flat and smooth and a cumulus cloud is light and fluffy. What does icloud look like?
Frankie Strinati:Technical.
Tracey Rashid:What is the punchline to the funniest joke you have ever heard?
Frankie Strinati:I never remember punchlines.
Timothy R. Andrews:Issuing yoghurt. Yogurt.
Frankie Strinati:Yes, it's yogurt.
Tracey Rashid:Have you ever had your eyes checked or have they always been brown?
Frankie Strinati:Hazel.
Timothy R. Andrews:Right. If you won a million pounds, what's the first thing you would spend it on?
Frankie Strinati:I'd invest it in Lakefield.
Tracey Rashid:Do you ever doubt the existence of others?
Frankie Strinati:Others are definitely. They definitely exist.
Timothy R. Andrews:You are off the hook. You can have a glass of water and you can breathe again.
Frankie Strinati:Frankie, did I get 10 out of 10?
Timothy R. Andrews:Well, what do you reckon? Scores are in. Let's just have a look. 77. Have you won? You're gonna have to find out at the end of the series. Thank you both so much.
I hope you've both had fun.
Tracey Rashid:Definitely.
Timothy R. Andrews:And I hope the listeners have had as much fun as we have. And please do check out the links below.
Tracey Rashid:Sadly, that is all of this episode, but tune in next week where we'll have another fabulous guest who will be Talking Hospitality. Don't forget to like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for listening and stay awesome.
Timothy R. Andrews:Bye, everybody.
Tracey Rashid:Bye. Adios.
Timothy R. Andrews:Don't forget. You can now get in contact with us via our website, www.talkinghospitality. via Instagram, Facebook and TikTok by searching Talking Hospitality.
Our website offers more episodes, blogs on the topics discussed and training that is specific to the hospitality industry, designed to help you and your team develop their hospitality careers. Your support makes these conversations possible.
Remember to like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and stay tuned for more engaging discussions in the world of hospitality. Until next time, keep pushing boundaries and stay inspired. Thank you for listening and goodbye.
