Meet The Team: Shaun Andrews-Close

Meet Shaun Andrews-Close, our First Aid Trainer and Training Consultant extraordinaire.    All the way from the UK, Shaun started with the CTA team almost 6 years ago.  He’s loved by the team and his students and nonetheless it’s always an interesting time in the office during the World Cup, The Ashes or Rugby – let’s just say any sport against the POMS really!       Tell us a bit about yourself (Interests, Hobbies)   I came to live in Australia in December 2016 from the United Kingdom with my Australian wife (Karen) who was moving home after 14 years. I went through the procedures of temporary visa, permanent visa and now I can say I’m a very proud Australian citizen, with the whole process taking around 5 years from start to finish.   We love taking our little 4½ year old miniature schnauzer to the beach which is her happy place. We love going to QPAC for shows and Gin distilleries whenever we can.  My favourite Gin is Bush Apple from Applewood Adelaide.  I have just purchased a new set of golf clubs but have yet to make it onto the course.   What was your career journey prior to starting at CTA?   When I left school, I was fortunate to become a professional soccer player and Tottenham Hotspurs as my first club.  I managed to make it into first grade EPL and also played for a team in Sweden called BFK Halmsted.   After 10 years of professional soccer and a few serious injuries along the way, it was time to retire and venture into hospitality so I purchased my own Public House (pub) and became a landlord for the next 9 years.    During that time I bought a children’s shoe shop and airport taxi business. When I left hospitality, I went into leisure and became a personal trainer, swimming teacher, lifeguard trainer and first aid trainer which then led into running my own First Aid company.   I worked for a primary school teaching swimming and soccer and this is where I met my wife (she was the Principal). We then moved to Australia and my first job was a swimming teacher at Plantation Gumdale and then I secured my role at CTA – and haven’t looked back.    What encouraged you to enter the hospitality industry as a trainer? I started as a first aid trainer and having a hospitality background I was trained up to deliver hospitality by CTA.   If you can only eat one type of food for the rest of your life. What food would that be?   Liver and Bacon.   What has been your favourite thing about the hospitality industry?    Going into all the clubs and venues I have had the opportunity to train in and see how they run on a daily basis.   What would you consider to be your hospitality superpower?   Knowing when a customer has had a good time but when it’s time to go.   How would you describe the future of hospitality in Australia?   As long as we keep training up-and-coming staff with new knowledge and skills then the future looks very bright!