Holiday Snaps from Sara Bertin
Shorefield Holidays - Finance Director
Working for the family-run company Shorefield Holidays since 1980, Sarah is the daughter of Dr Robert Pollock, who founded the first park in 1958.
What was your career path into the industry?
I trained to be a chartered accountant with Grant Thornton in Oxford, before going on to work as an audit manager in their Bedford and Bury St Edmunds offices. I joined Shorefield in 1980.
How has the market changed during your time in the industry and how do you predict things will change in the next five to ten years?
The season has lengthened from about ten weeks to all year round, but holidays are shorter. This is the age of the short break and worklife balance. Many of our customers work while they are away, so a good WiFi connection is critical. I think things will have to change soon because it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit staff. My vision is that we will be using technology more to solve this problem.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom?
My father always told us siblings to always do our homework – by which he meant to always check our facts and never take anything for granted. I like motivational sayings, and my current favourite is: every day’s a school day. I heard someone say it on a gardening programme – I like to learn new things all the time. I always tell my team it is important to look at what the customer sees and experiences.
What do you most like to listen to on the radio on your way to and from work?
I always listen to Radio 4 in the car. I like the science and technology programmes best. I like thought-provoking ideas and there’s always something new and innovative to think about.
What do you enjoy most out of working hours?
I’m a workaholic but when I’m not working I’m in my garden. I grow a lot of vegetables. I read and keep fit, and I enjoy classical music
Who would like most like to sit down to dinner with and why?
The Queen. For any working woman, she is the ultimate role model with her work ethic. I work in a family business and she heads a family business which is in full view of all of us. The Queen’s dignity is an inspiration to all of us. Bill Bryson, because of his storytelling and his humour. I think he and the Queen would have lots to say about all the interesting places there are to visit in this beautiful country of ours. Richard Dawkins would be my third guest. He is fascinating on the subject of evolution, and I think a conversation with the Queen about the church would be well worth listening to.
Do you have any claims to fame?
I was the first female articled clerk at Grant Thornton, and last year I was the winner of the Board Level and Senior Executive Women in Business 2017 Award.
Where do you prefer to take your holidays?
When I holiday in the UK, I usually head to the north coast of Cornwall to Mawgan Porth. I love the beaches. I aways try and visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. There is a lovely atmosphere there and I feel at home in the kitchen garden. If I am travelling abroad, I like to visit new places. I have been to every continent except Antarctica. I still haven’t been to South Africa, and I would like to go to Zanzibar. There are several places I would visit again – Easter Island, Venice, Hawaii, Biarritz, New Zealand and the Whitsunday Islands.