Sarah Cooper, assistant manager at The Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus, has reached her thirty year service milestone at the popular venue, joining two other colleagues who have also completed thirty years plus service.
Having started in hospitality aged just thirteen, doing small Sunday shifts at The Royal Hotel in Coupar Angus, locally born-and-bred Cooper finished school at eighteen, then went on to study Office Management at Dundee College.
“I quickly realised that studying wasn’t for me,” she said. “I completed a year, before deciding enough was enough.
“Having known the Bannerman family, who own and run The Red House, pretty much all my life, I popped in to see Alan about a job. He started me a few days later, and that was it, I have never looked back.
“The last thirty years honestly seems to have gone in a flash,” she said.
“I am really grateful to have met so many amazing people that have come to The Red House Hotel over the years, not to mention the past and present staff.
“I would say I have loved working for the Bannerman family – they have treated me like an extension of their family, and have been extremely kind and generous to me in the last three decades.”
Sarah added: “I would say to anyone considering a career in hospitality that each day is slightly different. You never know what could happen, but I quite enjoy that.”
With the hotel’s front of house, Carol Anne Key, and chef, George Arnott, both on thirty two years’ service, Sarah said that she didn’t think it was any accident at all that The Red House has earned such staff loyalty.
“It’s the type of place where people tend to stick around,” she said. “Most of us are local to the area, which certainly helps. Alan and his family are such good employers, as I have said.
“Those of us who have been here for a while have hugely benefitted from working and learning together over the years.”
She concluded: “Despite the doom and gloom of late concerning the hospitality sector, with many businesses sadly closing, I would say to young people considering working in this sector, that you can still have a long career, with career progression, if you find the right place in which to work and put in the hard work and dedication required.
“Myself, Carol Anne and George are proof of this!”
Red House Hotel owner, Alan Bannerman, said: “We have been so lucky with the quality of staff that we’ve had here over the years, and Sarah exemplifies the friendly, personable service for which we have become known.
“She is so hard working, and an absolute treat to be around. Needless to say, she has always been very popular with staff and customers alike. I wish to congratulate her on this very special milestone.
