After secondary education in Edinburgh & studying hospitality at Sheffield Hallam University, David started working for Norfolk Capital Hotels at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh. He left there to join Gardner Merchant as a chef manger, progressing to District training Co-ordinator covering the central region.

This training experience led him into the Hotel and Catering Training Company, working with Youth Training and unemployment projects. Whilst working with the HCTC the role evolved into the Industry Training Organisation (HTF) and he undertook a Leonardo da Vinci European project to help implement Vocational Qualifications in Scottish prisons!

David has been the Training Manager at the internationally renowned Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire where he implemented the Tailored Awards, nationally recognised training programme. He developed his passion for developing people to their full potential at Gleneagles, and this led him naturally to take on the role as Director of Springboard Scotland.

With this role, he worked hard to promote the positive image of the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industry as a career of choice to a wide-ranging audience in Scotland.

Most recently, David was awarded the Industry Award from the Hospitality Industry Trust for Scotland, for services to the hospitality industry in Scotland. He has now joined the Trust and is shaping its direction for the next phase of development.