Acorn winner 2007: Jason Gutteridge

Jason Gutteridge
Age: 25

Position: Cluster sales manager, Ramada Jarvis Hotels, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Career to date…

Gutteridge began his long association with Ramada Jarvis back in 1997, working as a restaurant attendant while still a teenager, before his attendance on a trainee management programme was rewarded with a management position. Having successfully turned around the restaurant operation of one its hotels, he then spent time as a conferences and events manager, food service manager and operations manager, before moving into sales, rising from assistant account manager and regional account manager to his current position where, since late 2006, he has been responsible for 11 properties with a turnover of about £39m.

Why is he a winner?

Gutteridge's combination of passion, varied experience and knowledge of Ramada Jarvis makes him a highly valuable asset to his employer and he surely has an excellent career ahead of him. His career in management has gone from strength to strength since he first stepped up to the bar as a trainee manager at the Ramada Watford hotel, aged just 19, and turned the ailing restaurant into a more customer-focused operation and increased restaurant revenue from £10,000 to £18,000 a week in just five months.

Throughout his 10 years at the company, Gutteridge has consistently sought out new challenges and the time he spent in operations, food service and conferences and events has helped him excel in his sales career. He has proved to be a natural, demonstrating a rare aptitude for handling revenue, costs and business as well as keen negotiating and people-management skills, whether dealing with clients, customers or staff.