“I’m confident that our team can keep improving the brilliant service we offer our clients."

Meet our team: Zoë Fraser, Head of Account Management

If you thought the team here at Beacon couldn’t be more talented, think again. As you know, we’re here to help you create brilliant hospitality experiences for your own customers - but we’re also focused on creating brilliant experiences for you, too. And that’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Zoë Fraser has joined us as our new Head of Account Management, heading up our team of field-based Procurement Service Managers throughout the UK.

A true hospitality procurement specialist with over 20 years’ experience, Zoë has a passion for delivering tangible results combined with a genuinely empathetic and enthusiastic approach to service.

So when you add Zoë’s incredible talent to an already hugely experienced and successful team, we believe there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

As part of our ‘Meet our team’ series, we grabbed 10 minutes with Zoë to find out how her first few weeks have been, what kind of experience she brings to the team, and how she’s finding life at Beacon…

Morning Zoë! We’d love to know a little bit more about your background

“After attending the High School of Glasgow, followed by Food Technology College, and finally graduating at Strathclyde Business School with a BA in Hotel and Hospitality Management, I wanted to see more of the world. So, the early part of my career was spent living in Aspen, Colorado and Cape Town working ‘hands on’ in various outlets including The Ritz Carlton in Aspen.”

“At that point, I knew I'd found an industry I really wanted to be a part of, and I’ve since developed my expertise by working in roles at leading national wholesalers and even setting up my own Scottish procurement consultancy company. This experience has given me in-depth supplier and supply-chain knowledge, and I've connected with some fantastic catering expert contacts along the way too.”

“It's also taught me that it's the people that are the driving force behind any company. They are the most vital asset; I have learned never to lose sight of that. You can achieve anything if the passion, drive, and determination to achieve a goal are there. This ethos is particularly true if you have a team of people on the same wavelength willing to learn along the way. To me, it's an undoubted recipe for success. And this is what I've found at Beacon, which is why I'm so excited about what we'll achieve.”

So, is that what led you to Beacon?

“Yes! I’ve known Beacon for many years, and I've always been impressed by the company’s in-house expertise and knowledge. When I had the chance to join the team, I saw it as an unmissable opportunity to work with a great group of people who were also passionate about hospitality procurement and providing a tailored approach to customer service.”

“This is a team that knows the sector inside out and is committed to adding value and supporting their customers through what has been a devastating few years for the industry. I just knew I wanted to be part of it.”

And what do you think makes Beacon different to other hospitality procurement companies?

"Again, it's the people. Beacon has a fully multi-disciplinary team made up of analysts, procurement managers, and central billing professionals. The expertise and talent here at Head Office are second to none.” Coupled with the Field sales team, passion and determination to deliver great service to loyal and new customers.

“In fact, even I was surprised at the breadth of support available for Beacon customers - and that is saying something! Plus, we also combine national coverage with a genuine in-depth understanding of regional issues from the Highlands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall… and I think this local knowledge really sets us apart.”

What is it about your new role that gets you out of bed every morning?

“I’m still getting to know the systems, processes, and people. It’s early days so I don’t yet have a full understanding of the paths I need to clear for my team to help them deliver their very best performance. However, I’m looking forward to being able to do that. I love mentoring and coaching people and helping them to build their confidence, so they really appreciate the value they bring to the team, our customers, and the business.”

“I enjoy that side of my role immensely, and just from my brief meetings with the team so far, I already know we're also going to have a giggle along the way.”

“Hospitality is a sector full of personalities too, so I’m also looking forward to getting out there and meeting current and prospective customers. I know they're all incredibly time-poor at the moment, but there's nothing like face-to-face meetings to help cement existing bonds and develop relationships. They're always an excellent opportunity to get to grips with our customers' challenges, swap ideas and best practices, and to find out where we can take away some of the pressure.”

“I’m also really excited about working with our supplier base and supporting them in unlocking opportunities, and bringing ‘added value’ to the forefront, which will in turn help our wonderful customers.”

You’ve only been here a few weeks, but how are you finding life at Beacon?

"I absolutely love it. I feel the role was written for me! Everyone has been so lovely and welcoming! My goal is to continue improving on the excellent service that our clients have come to expect while also expanding our reach and increasing our market share, nationally. I’m 100% confident that we have the right team in place to achieve this - which means life at Beacon right now is pretty sweet!”

And finally, what do you think is the biggest challenge we’re facing today?

“Great question! I think the current cost-of-living crisis and the soaring commodity prices are probably everyone’s biggest concern at the minute. The hospitality sector has just been through a couple of really precarious years, and we all thought that once the government lifted the Covid restrictions, we could begin to look to the future more positively - so it’s especially tough having to deal with this.”

“As a sector, we could really do with a break - we’re all battling with rising costs, colossal energy bill increases, VAT back at 20% and the well-documented labour shortage on top. It's definitely still a worrying time for hospitality.”

“However, I believe that's where Beacon can really add value. Obviously, we can't wave a magic wand and make all of these problems suddenly disappear, but we can support our customers, help them stabilise their spend, and look for solutions to help mitigate some of these issues.”

“That’s what I love doing - and I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

Thanks Zoë - it’s great to have you (and your talent) on the team!

Like we said, we’re delighted that Zoë is on board, and we’re confident that she’ll be a valuable asset - not just to to Beacon, but to our clients, too.

If you’d like to know more about the improvements that Zoë is spearheading, or you’d like to chat about how we can help you find solutions to any procurement issues your business might be facing now or in the future, get in touch.

All you need to do is drop us a message via Live Chat or request a call back using this form - and Zoë and the team will be in touch.

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