Tom makes assistant manager – aged just 20

A popular restaurant chain, which is opening a brand new venue in Staffordshire, has appointed a former UCB student as its assistant manager.

Twenty-year-old Tom Burbage so impressed the owners of Ego Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar group during his work experience, they invited him back to help run their most recent enterprise.

Tom, who completed a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Hospitality at UCB, combined his studies with work experience at Ego’s Lichfield restaurant. After completing his qualification he spent 12 months in Australia, where he worked at various bars in Perth, and along Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Ego is taking over Cannock’s landmark Tumbledown Farm pub. It will close on Friday (15 April) ahead of a £500,000 renovation. It is set to reopen under Ego’s management at the end of May – with Tom having special responsibility for the bar area.

Tom, from Whittington, shared his tips to inspire other students to succeed. He said: “There are a number of attributes students need to do well in the hospitality industry. From my experience the most important are confidence, the ability to take criticism well, passion and great social skills.”

Jacqueline Boyd, Hospitality, Food and Beverage Service lecturer at UCB, said: “It’s great to see one of our alumni fulfilling his career ambition at such a young age. It makes me proud to think UCB has helped to play a part in his success.”

Steve Jones, who will head up Ego’s Cannock site, said: “Tom came to us at Ego in Lichfield for a work experience placement more than three years ago as part of his course at UCB.

“It was clear from the outset he possessed many of the attributes to be successful within the industry. We were so impressed by his energy and enthusiasm we took the decision to offer him a part-time position once his work experience had concluded. He continued to work for us after he had completed his college course where he developed many of his skills and grew in confidence.”

Adrian Abbey, Ego Restaurant’s chief operating officer, said:  “At Ego we have a real passion for developing people; and Tom is certainly one of our bright stars. He is perfect for hospitality; he has a well-rounded personality, is genuinely warm and has a calm demeanour during busy periods.”