Staff Spotlight: Chris Rose, Director of Admissions and Marketing

Tell us a bit about yourself, what you do and how long you have worked at Gordonstoun?

I started at Gordonstoun in January last year therefore, I have just celebrated my first anniversary. Before working for Gordonston, I was the Chief Operating Officer at Leicester Tigers, a rugby club in the Midlands of England. I essentially looked after everything that happened on the day that wasn't rugby, including community interaction, ticketing of the stadium and sponsorships.

Having had an enjoyable 20 years in sports, successfully setting up the women's team at Leicester and working with youth teams, it was time for something new. Schools are facing new challenges, for example with VAT, and Admissions and Marketing departments are often at the heart of those challenges - challenges I was ready for.

What do you enjoy most about working at Gordonstoun?

I believe Gordonstoun has lots of the same traits as a Sports Club, which is why I've enjoyed moving here, and it really feels like a team. Colleagues, across the school, really support Admissions & Marketing and understand how important our role is within the school. Coming from a male dominated environment, where I introduced a female team, I now find myself in a department that is entirely female, so that has been really interesting too.

My biggest pleasure though has come this term, when you see the children you've helped come to the school, start their time here; listening to the student you brought in on a music scholarship getting up and playing to the school or seeing the child who was a little bit unsure in their first couple of weeks relaxing and enjoying themselves. Then there is the young pupil settling so well into boarding at the Prep School, having come from miles away. It's really exciting to be able to do that and a real treat.

A great positive is also being around the pupils and students as I think it helps you stay young.

What is happening in your department right now? Any new initiatives/exciting events for this year?

There are numerous strands to the Admissions and Marketing department and we have spent the last year pulling those aspects even closer together.

Across the school, there are brilliant new ideas flying left, right and centre at the moment; from sports academies to potential new buildings and sites. We're hugely excited about these and a new website coming soon, along with a 360° digital campus tour. These last two will further assist us in showing prospective families all that we offer. However, along with the exciting moments we don’t forget the everyday work. If you want marketing to work, and you want your sales to work, it is no different to 50 years ago - you do the basics really well. So, one of our big endeavours (you could call it an initiative) is to further improve the preparation work and family follow-ups. Therefore, we have been transferring over to a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that will enable our admissions team to strengthen communications with our potential families and ensure we're giving the best customer service to every enquiry.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Like many others, I would say my family. I am very proud of my wonderful children, and how they persevere with challenges.

Within my work life, there are two areas that I am proud of - setting up a women's rugby team and the change-management aspect of my role here.

At one of the clubs I worked at I started a women’s semi-professional rugby team and I really enjoyed the process. The club, initially, wasn't particularly open to the concept and so I had to fight against the tide. The amount of work that it took and the amount of money I had to produce, almost as a hobby on the side to make the team viable, was probably my biggest workpiece. So, starting a women's team is certainly something I am very proud of.

My biggest achievement at Gordonstoun so far would be coming in, managing a number of changes and still getting on well with everyone. If you can keep people on board while you're making lots and lots of changes, that shows you've got a really good team and a strong group of people that don't mind a challenge.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A walk at Roseisle with my dog and family, with perhaps a little bit of mucking about on the beach, and an ice cream before going home. Then, on the way back home, stopping at a nice pub for a beer and maybe some mussels.

What is something surprising about you?

Don't think there's too many surprises about me, but I did go to medical school for a little while, before I went into the sport industry.

Oh, and here you go - I hate sweet potatoes. You've got carrots and you’ve got potatoes, so there's no need for sweet potatoes in anything. I will literally eat anything in the world apart from sweet potato, and butternut squash too.

What talent, real or fictional, would you most like to have?

The strength and metabolism of The Hulk and Wolverine. I'm quite a passionate human being, and although he’s a bit green and capable of destroying the world, the Hulk shows a softer side and becoming him could be fun. Additionally, being able to eat and drink as much as I wanted and still look like Wolverine, would be great.

Is there a quote or saying you live your life by?

Does it make the boat go faster?

What is your guilty pleasure?

I don't tend to feel guilty about any of the pleasures I have because life is short, and I believe in enjoying every moment to the fullest.

Thank you Chris for taking the time to chat with us!

Want to find out more about how Gordonstoun nurtures every child to reach their full potential, and the incredible staff that make it happen?

Why not join us for a Virtual Taste of Gordonstoun Webinar?