Meet Caroline Wilson, Founder of Taste and Tour 

Tell us about your role and your organisation
As with any small business owner, I do what I have to do.  Rolling up the sleeves and digging deep is the role of any small business owner.  I usually work on system improvement, strategy, sales, sourcing guides, any issues negatively affecting the business, contract set up, tour creation.. lots of things!  Taste and Tour offer 5-star rated food and drink tours in Belfast and Edinburgh. Our signature tours include Belfast Food Tour, Wine Wander, Crafty Beer and Tasty Bites, Holywood Food Tour, City Cocktail Circuit, Whiskey Walk and 5 Stop Brunch.  

Our corporate experiences have gone from strength to strength.  We provide corporate entertainment with a personal touch.  Our clients trust us with their most crucial relationships including those with their staff, customers and potential customers. We have 38 brilliant guides and can tour with up to 200 guests in a group. 

As well as this, we also have The Spirit Circle.  It has two experiences, Sensorium and Belfast By The Glass.  This operates in The National Building in Belfast across 4 floors and it's a world first!   The Spirit Circle also offers interactive corporate/delegate activities off site for up to 1000 guests. 

Give us a brief overview of your career journey so far
I was a solicitor for 15 years, then decided to start a food tour in Belfast.  The Belfast Food Tour was born and two years in, I took the leap and resigned.  I told my mum I had taken a career break but she found on listening to me being interviewed on Radio Ulster that that wasn't exactly the case! But I could see the potential and what was there to lose, I could always go back to law.. 

What is one skill that helps you most in your role and why?
Loving food!! Joking :)  Apart from being able to touch type (thanks to my mum who thought computers were going to be a big thing and also knew how bad my handwriting was), I am very level headed, can usually see the big picture and really focus on the important issues.  It also helps to be able to make people laugh in my job! 

What advice do you have for women in your sector/industry/type of role?  
Just do it! 

Are there any exciting plans in the year ahead in your organisation that you can share with us? 
Well we have a Women In Business food tour coming up, we are very excited about that and I am guiding!  It will be the perfect way to make new connections.  Not been launched yet, but we will be working with Translink on a new project this summer.  The Spirit Circle has a whole new experience coming and it involves food!   Finally, continuing with my work on the Grow It Programme with my mentor.  I can't wait to see where we are at the end of this year! 

Who has been your biggest career inspiration and why?
Oh my.... Is Nigella an answer.  I couldn't cook until I got her cookbook!  

If you had to pick your soundtrack song to get you through the working day, what would it be?
This is sooooo hard!  Right now, 'Jump in the Line', Harry Belafonte just to get you shaking and moving but also to inspire my scaling journey! 

How can our members best connect with you?
caroline@tasteandtour.co.uk

Don't miss the Women in Business Summer Social x Taste & Tour on Thursday 3rd July in Belfast City Centre. Book your place now!