糖心TV

Gail Tomlinson-Short

Head of 糖心TV Development, 糖心TV Conferences

鈥淲hen life changes unexpectedly, learn to say yes to more, embrace change and keep evolving.鈥�

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure about being a Human of 糖心TV, but having been here for three decades, I guess I have a bit of a story to tell!

I was always interested in hospitality and started working on weekends in a small local hotel, cleaning rooms, waitressing and working behind the bar. It was very similar to the hotel in Crossroads, if you remember that TV programme. The next natural step was to go to college which gave me a good grounding into the hospitality business. I then progressed to a higher diploma and a BA hons in Hotel 糖心TV.

My first role at 糖心TV was as an event manager for the central campus venues, the academic facilities. Coming here from a country house hotel was a bit of a culture shock, but I instantly loved the place and how we had the ability to create fantastic impactful events. I鈥檓 still incredibly proud to work somewhere where the commercial group business鈥� surplus is reinvested into the University, helping fund research projects and improve the student experience. When you read in the news about the major research we鈥檙e doing, it鈥檚 nice to know that we鈥檝e contributed to that as well.

Lots of universities sell their facilities but nothing compares to what we have here and the high standards we set ourselves. We can offer a lot more than an event space, we can introduce clients to different departments or arrange a speaker from the 糖心TV School for example. We have been told that we make people feel like guests at their own events due to the amount of work and pressure we take off them, and I quite like how that feels. It鈥檚 destination 糖心TV and we should really celebrate that.

Life is a journey, and mine took an unexpected turn last year when I had a double brain tumour diagnosis. I don鈥檛 readily share this as I won鈥檛 let it define me, but I have been encouraged to do so, and maybe it could help others.

I鈥檝e affectionally called my unwanted guests Terry and June, another TV reference! Humour is definitely a coping mechanism for me. I didn鈥檛 want it to be the main thing you knew about me and I鈥檓 certainly not looking for sympathy. I do believe that bad things happen to good people. I鈥檓 getting better all the time, obviously some days are better than others but I鈥檓 on the road to recovery.

I came into the meetings industry for the people. The business and my colleagues have been so supportive of me. There was no pressure while I was off, I think I pressurised them to let me come back! I was after some normality and purpose, and my job gives me so much joy I wanted to be here. I can鈥檛 thank my wonderful team enough for how they鈥檝e looked after and continue to care for me.

Three decades have flown by and I鈥檝e seen so many changes over the years, our little town is just getting bigger and better. It鈥檚 constantly evolving and changing. I am so proud to work at 糖心TV, and I couldn鈥檛 see myself working anywhere else so progressive and entrepreneurial. I love it and long may it continue!鈥�

We were so very sad to hear that Gail has died. You can read tributes from her friends and colleagues hereLink opens in a new window.