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It’s fair to say that 59-year-old Julie Edwards from Langstone believes in the power of lifelong learning…
In her late 20s, while raising two children, she earned a bachelor’s degree and began studying for her Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) – which led to a long and fulfilling career as a primary school teacher.
But in 2013, when Julie had to give this up due to ongoing health issues, she wasn’t ready to stop working altogether. Instead, she wanted to move into a role that was fun and flexible – so she enquired at her local Fuller’s pub: The Ship Inn.
Five years down the road, Julie is still loving her role. So we wanted to know more about her switch to a hospitality career later in life…
“Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you love doing something, you have to make the decision to step away”
Julie started her career at a national banking organisation when she was 16 years old, but decided to leave when her children were born.
“It wasn’t the best environment for me, anyway,” she laughs. “I was a bit too boisterous for it.”
Fast forward a decade later – once she saw her youngest off to school – the mother-of-two studied for a degree in politics and economics at her nearby Portsmouth University. Julie then achieved a PGCE and began her career as a teacher in the late 90s.
Julie says, “I absolutely loved teaching. I still see many of [my former pupils around town] as successful and happy adults. It’s wonderful to think that you did something, even if it was something small, along the way to help them.”
But, sadly, in 2013, Julie’s teaching career was interrupted by serious health issues. “I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy 30 years ago,” she explains. “which damaged my immune system and lungs.
“I would have carried on teaching. But it got to a point where it all caught up with me, and I thought, ‘Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you love doing something, you have to make the decision to step away.’ So I decided to hand in my notice and concentrate on getting better.”
Dedicated as she was, Julie even tried returning to the classroom a few years later on a part-time basis. Though, soon, a tragedy changed her outlook.
She says, “One of my colleagues – a 29-year-old – had a brain haemorrhage over the weekend. She was in the classroom on Friday but, by Monday, she’d passed away.
“I just thought, I don’t want to be that teacher that works all their life and doesn’t get to spend their hard-earned pension pot. So I stopped – and when everyone asked me what I was going to do I said, ‘I don’t know, I’m just going to see which way the wind blows me.’”
“You know when you enter an environment and you just think: this suits me”
Julie’s decision to stop teaching was followed by a period of retirement. As well as taking a few holidays and enjoying plenty of time relaxing, she became a puppy parent for Canine Partners – a charity that provides specially-trained assistance dogs to people with physical disabilities.
But, as a self-described “hyperactive person” who was used to “juggling many balls in the air and generally doing far more than is humanly possible”, Julie struggled with having so much downtime.
She says, “I don’t think it’s very easy for some people to do very little – especially if you started working when you were 16. And after a few months, I needed to do something more than just walk the dog.”
So, in 2018, Julie decided to call The Ship Inn – which is located around 100 metres away from her house – to ask if they needed any help. Mark, the pub’s landlord, soon got back to her and offered her a role working on the bar and as a waitress – and she’s been part of the team ever since…
“I really enjoyed it right from the beginning. You know when you enter an environment and you just think: this suits me. It’s a nice atmosphere and it’s fulfilling to be part of something.”
“It’s great to have a job that fits around you”
Since working at The Ship Inn, Julie tells us she’s noticed a range of benefits when it comes to how she feels – both physically and mentally. She explains…
“When I wasn’t working, I could feel myself slowing down and I couldn’t really be bothered to do things, you know? And I knew that wasn’t me. I’m an active person and I’ve always believed that people should continue to learn new things their whole lives. If you’re not doing something with your brain and body, they’ll seize up.
“I’m also definitely fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been before. When I started at the pub, I think the heaviest thing I’d carried was a ballpoint pen or a few exercise books. But when you’re doing things like cleaning tables and carrying plates, you’re staying physically active.”
Plus, the flexibility of the role means that it fits around Julie’s life and other commitments. “To begin with,” Julie explains. “I generally worked three shifts a week of four hours each. Four-hour shifts work well with the dog – so I don’t have to leave her for too long.
“I suppose there are lots of people who have commitments they can’t leave for too long. You know, they might have an elderly relative or children. So it’s nice to have a job that fits around you.”
“[L]ife experience isn’t something that you can learn overnight”
But it wasn’t until the pandemic came around that Julie noticed how important her new role was to her…
“When COVID happened, I wasn’t able to work because of my health history. And during that time, I really came to appreciate how nice it is to have something to do. I don’t think you know what you’ll miss until it’s taken away from you.”
So when she returned to the pub after lockdown, Julie decided to take on a few more responsibilities. Not only did she start working more hours, but she also accepted a promotion to the role of Service Coach, which involves training new staff and continuously coming up with ways to improve the service for Fuller’s customers.
This new role suited Julie well, as it allowed her to use skills honed in her previous role as a teacher. She says, “My whole career has been about giving younger people the skills they need to make the most of their opportunities. And now, I can mentor and support young people at the pub as a Service Coach.
“It’s a lovely thing because while I might not be the quickest on the technology side of things, my life experience isn’t something that you can learn overnight.
“When you’re older, you have a broader range of experiences. And that doesn’t make me a wise old sage – we all make mistakes and we don’t stop just because we get past a certain age – but some mistakes are easier to avoid if you have someone that’s gone through it before.”
“It’s not about how old someone is, it’s about their attitude towards life”
But, as Julie explains, her relationship with younger members of staff is “a two-way street”, and she enjoys the banter and camaraderie that makes The Ship Inn a successful intergenerational workplace…
“The vast majority of the people at the pub are a third of my age. But they don’t treat me like a senile old aunt or anything like that,” she laughs.
“They might be going out to a nightclub after work or something and say, ‘Julie, are you coming along?’ and I say, ‘Oh no, I think I’ll give it a miss but thanks for asking.’ They’re really sweet and there’s a bit of healthy fun about it. And when we have the staff nights out and stuff, we’ll all join in together.
“I also think working with young people cuts down on their stereotypes of what ageing looks like. At school, when I was teaching drama, I’d ask the kids to be an ‘old person’ – and immediately they’d have stooped backs and struggle to walk because they have a stereotypical view of what an older person is.
“But old is anything older than you are! It’s not about how old someone is, it’s about their attitude towards life.”
Final thoughts from Julie…
To all those considering a move into hospitality, Julie says…
“I would just encourage people to give it a go. Hospitality isn’t just one thing, there are plenty of challenges here. And with a company like Fuller’s, it’s not just about working behind the bar or carrying plates – there are so many other roles.
“Ask yourself, ‘What skills have I got?’ And try to use them in a different context. I’m using all of my skills from my previous career and learning new ones. You’re never too old to learn something new and if you don’t try it, you’ll never know. So, why not challenge yourself to see what you can make of it?”
You can search for roles with Fuller’s using the button below. And for more inspiring stories from later-life career changers like Julie, head over to the jobs and careers section of our website.