Whether it’s a private dinner for eight or a gala dinner for 800, the principles are the same. Delicious food is just the beginning. We believe successful catering is as much about impeccable organisation and high quality service as it is about great food. It’s our ‘holy trinity’. We are also involved in our cooking school, kitchen shop, a branded range of preserves, a series of cookbooks and a weekly column in Wellington’s Dominion Post newspaper.

I have a passion for food and looking after people. I’ve always strived to make people happy and in catering we provide happiness even when we are catering a funeral. I originally began cooking professionally because I wanted my own business.

Ruth Pretty Catering employs several full-time, part-time and casual staff, in addition to having a large kitchen staff comprised of chefs, a kitchen manager in our commercial kitchen, a chef in charge of recipe development and a chef who is the recipe tester.

From time to time, we take on trainees and Apprentices. They come either direct from school via the Gateway programme, or through the industry training Apprentice programme. We have an in-house induction programme for our front-of-house staff and we help our staff up-skill whenever we can.

In hospitality no day is ever the same. You work closely with other people to form long and lasting friendships. You make people happy by cooking for them or serving them and your skills are wanted in every country.

I never felt there were challenges that could not be overcome. Even now, I have so many more ideas about what I could create and, if you are positive, the journey to reaching goals is exciting and stimulating.

I tell young people to take a job that offers you a structured training programme.  Don’t underestimate how valuable reading, writing and maths skills are to a career in hospitality. And finally, never skimp on your footwear!

For more information, please contact ServiceIQ on 0800 863 693 or email intel@ServiceIQ.org.nz