From closing her business to forging new partnerships - Hattie Mauleverer

30 Oct

At the start of 2020 Hattie Mauleverer had a successful catering business, TopHat, a diary full of events and a team of creative chefs and event professionals. Within just a matter of months, this all changed.

How was TopHat looking at the start of 2020?

TopHat was looking brilliant at the beginning of last year - we had just won best small caterer in London and were riding the wave that it was taking us on - we were set to cater at Opera Holland Park for the summer season as well as work in other new venues such as Blenheim Palace and the International Arbitration Centre.

We had a strategy meeting to get us out of the first quarter slug in mid-March. Throughout that one meeting we had nearly all of our events cancel on us - it was heartbreaking.

How was your business affected?

Initially, I went into a blind panic - I had bills and staff to pay.

Come May when I realised that the Events Industry was not going to get any support - after another rejection from the council - I wrote a letter to Boris Johnson and asked people in the Industry to support me - I received hundreds of supporters. The letter was picked up by the press and soon I was interviewed by a number of media companies.

Despite the turmoil of the last 12 months have there been any positivity you have taken from what has happened?

I have really enjoyed the team spirit and coming together of the Events Industry. We are all in the same boat and we are better together.

Due to the pandemic, I have forged new relationships professionally and feel in a much stronger position than previously. I have teamed up with EP Magazine to deliver events.

What are your hopes for 2021 and coming out of lockdown?

I think that all the pent up party energy is going to create a great vibe. I think that there will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person events moving forward. The gig element of the industry will be stronger as companies are probably less likely to commit to salaries to start with. We are predominately positive people and will be able to ride this wave.