Turning Points - A very tasty adventure

Turning Points, a series of interviews by Lisa Westbury. Dan Rose left a successful career in the music industry to set up Spade and Spoon - a new concept in great British convenience food.  He currently caters for public and private events in Sussex and Kent.

1.    What’s the big idea behind Spade and Spoon?

I want to provide high quality local food in a convenience setting that is British inspired and British led.  At the moment I’ve got a trailer called the great British mobile café.

2.    What inspired you to start it?

I’m very proud to be Sussex born and I wanted to connect with my local community in a creative and engaging way. As world traders, the British have a great food history, fusing different cultures and putting our own spin on it. Probably my biggest inspiration is Victorian pie shops which brought society together through every day food, with lawyers sitting alongside dockworkers.

3.    You’ve made a big “u-turn” in your career - tell us more about what happened

I left university with a degree in animal psychology and no idea of how I would make a career out of it. I had no connection with the adult working world. So I turned to my childhood love of music and became a self-employed music consultant to film and commercials. After 15 successful years and a change in my outlook on life I needed a change. The job was very isolating and I wanted to make more meaningful and fun connections with people.

4.    What helped you choose your direction?

I drew a Venn diagram about what was important to me:  Self Employment / Being passionate / Desire to connect locally / A more engaging and demanding business life. And I found food in the middle of it.

5.    What else is driving you?

I think good quality food should and can be every day with an informal atmosphere. I want to put local, quality and British into the fast food market.

6.    Any regrets?

Just that I worked by myself for too long.

7.    What can you do now that you couldn’t before?

Now I get out and meet the producers, make local connections and I enjoy bringing together a community of people.

8.    What helped you to make the change?

Having the trailer is a stepping-stone. It’s a chance for me to develop my brand, ideas and learn more about the food industry. Since I started trading, my plans for Spade and Spoon have drastically changed and it’s very exciting learning how and where my ideas can fit into the current market. The trailer is also a fun way to learn about food which is a massively important thing to hold onto when you start up something new.

9.    What do you find most challenging?

Understanding the processes of quality volume catering, marketing, accounting, customer service – having to be an expert in so many different areas.

10.    What’s your vision

Putting pride and Britishness back into the convenience food market with quality local ingredients - exceptional every day food on our high streets.

11.    What’s your top tip for other career shifters?

Have a clear understanding of what’s driving you to change and keep hold of this as a reference through the uncertain times ahead. A career shift can throw you into the unknown, which can be exciting but will test your resolve. Having a clear reason why will help you ask the right questions of yourself and make the right decisions about your future.

Turning Points is a series of interviews with Brighton Chamber members who are making change happen in their lives, their business or in the community – or all three!  Lisa Westbury is a career development and organisational coach helping people to create a positive impact through change. If you have a story to share with other members, please email lisa@lisawestbury.com.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk