“Viktorija is a key member of the business but her work is usually unseen. She is the one spending all the hours in the office, dealing with staff, rotas, training and The Bay on The Road, and she is the silent voice behind the Forked-up training programme.”
How long have you worked at The Bay for?
Four years. I came on board after selling my own cafe/restaurant. The original idea was to work less and spend more time with my family, but the business has grown so much since the day I started. But, still, running a family business gives you a lot of flexibility and now my stepchildren are teenagers, they are keen to learn the skills too.
What are your responsibilities?
Staff duties, such as training, rota and payroll, The Bay on The Road development and bookings, climate change commitments, the Forked-up training programme, and ensuring Calum is doing what he said he would!
What’s your favourite part of the job?
Spreadsheets, sticky notes and endless e-mails!
What’s your least favourite part of the job?
Honestly, I can’t think of one. Maybe the opportunity to eat all the delicious food Paul, Andrew and Calum make because then I have to spend some extra time in the gym!
What is it that you like about working at The Bay?
I love Team Bay. We have so many great individuals who work hard to maintain the standards of the business. Even after the busiest shifts you can see smiling faces all around. It’s inspiring. We are also blessed with the opportunity to meet so many amazing customers from all over the world, and we have many local supporters too. It sparks so much love into my heart when a customer comes in and remembers my name or the conversation we had last week.
How do you feel about being nominated as an unsung hero?
I am very grateful and I hope that the work I do behind the scenes inspires other people to stay in this industry, to work hard and enjoy the little rewards.
