FROM THE NEWS DESSC | INTERVIEW
HARNESSING OPPORTUNITY Earlier this year, we were excited to announce Harness Foods as our new catering service at DESC. Starting out as a small team of three, Harness were committed to serving top quality food to top quality schools. Now a 24-strong team, Harness founders and father-son duo, Rob and Chris Riding, share their story and plans for the future…
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hris is an ex-student of DESC. Having studied Economics at university and with a strong passion for entrepreneurism, he is excited to be back at the College pursuing a career in catering. “At Harness, our purpose is our people and our goal is to create a welcoming, family-orientated environment. When referring to ‘our people’ this goes beyond our Harness employees. Our people are our customers, our clients and all our stakeholders who help make our company one that you want to be a part of. The environment that DESC creates is so unique and we are excited to be a part of its operation. It is a bustling school with nearly 2000 people – staff and students – yet it still has the incredibly warm, welcoming feel to it which it had when I started at the College back in 2009, when there were only 500 students and far fewer facilities. It is truly an amazing environment to work in. From the friendly receptionists who greet everyone with a smile, to the hardworking site staff who work tirelessly to keep the College spotless, the fact that DESC has not only grown to be the top school in the region but done so in such a humble manner, proves it’s still firmly connected to its roots. This has given me huge inspiration on how a company should
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FROM THE NEWS DESSC
be run and serves as an important reminder that as a business, people will always be at the core of its success.” – Chris Riding, Co-Founder Previously an Airbus 380 pilot for Emirates, in May last year, like many others, Rob lost his job after 18 years working in the region. Despite this and the added pressures of a global pandemic, Rob decided to reinvent himself by launching a company founded on one of the very values that allowed for its conception: adaptability. “At Harness we are firm believers that the College belongs to its students, which is why we have designed the next chapter with their needs in mind. One of the most
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