Stephen Buchanan, Buzzworks

Stephen’s first taste of the hospitality industry came after university when he moved home and secured a job in the bar of The Piersland House Hotel in Troon. He quickly advanced to the position of bar manager and, keen to make a career in the industry, Stephen undertook an HNC in Hospitality Management.

While attending college in Glasgow, Stephen joined Jamie’s Italian. Thanks to the company’s ethos of believing in and empowering their staff, Stephen’s passion for the industry was sparked. He moved to London with the company at the age of 19 and rose through the ranks to become a general manager overseeing various locations across the UK, including an opening in Singapore. After his tenure at Jamie's, Stephen spent two years as an Operations Manager at G1 before joining Buzzworks in 2018 as Operations Manager for the East Coast. He now heads up all the company’s new openings as Operations Manager and continues to support the emerging talent of the industry.

His journey from grassroots to managerial roles, spanning nationally and internationally, has developed his passion for the industry's diversity and skill-building potential. His ambition to contribute to the industry's development led to Stephen being invited to join the HIT Futures Group and subsequently becoming a trustee of the charity in 2023.