Acorn winners 2012 – Kerry Mabbley

Age 29

Position Head of ambassadors, the Springboard Charity

Nominator Sam Coulstock

Proudest career moment Winning the Young Gun Award 2005, which recognises hospitality students who have excelled during their placement period at university. I became the licensee, aged 21, during my placement at a pub.

Greatest inspiration The diversity of the industry and the knowledge that every day you can make a difference to someone's life no matter how big or small. The career opportunities are endless.

Ambition I'd like to spread the word to more people about what a great industry this is to work in, partly through training more industry ambassadors to promote careers in hospitality. My ultimate goal, though, is to own a café and bake my own goodies.

Kerry Mabbley first joined the Springboard Charity in 2005 as project manager in the Midlands. She arrived with a strong background in hospitality, having latterly been manager of the Premier Travel Inn Wakefield North. Kerry was quickly promoted to customer relationship manager at Springboard, working with 10 national employers. During this time she developed a keen interest in training and earned the chance to become an Ambassador Trainer.

In 2011, Kerry was made head of Springboard's 1,200 ambassadors, who promote the industry to potential recruits at career fairs. She is also responsible for the income and costs relating to her department, developing the programme that meets the needs of employers and learners, and promoting and delivering the training.