I started work at Hothouse Media in 1995 after graduating from University with a degree in French and Spanish language. I work/ed on the sales side of Study Travel Magazine and love it so much I've been here ever since! Now a Director and able to get involved in the company overall, I cannot think of a better industry to work in. A great part of the job is the travel to workshops and conferences – there are so many fun people in this industry with great stories, what's not to love? Most of my spare time is spent with friends and family cycling through the countryside (great pubs en route..), helping at my kids' school, feeding my guilty Starbucks habit or beating anyone that will play with me at Monopoly.

Sales Administrator, Laura McLean, +44 (0)207 440 4038, laura@hothousemedia.com

I moved to the big smoke from my hometown of Glasgow at the beginning of 2012 to join my husband to be.  Loving London life and enjoy exploring the city every weekend... discovering the many pubs along the way!  I am the Sales Administrator for the magazine, helping all our lovely advertisers with their bookings. I follow Glasgow’s lesser known football team, Partick Thistle (who I hear you say?), love travelling - my favourite countries being Cambodia and Vietnam and of course I love irn bru!

I was born a Newfie but after a few years in Canada grew up in the garden of England (aka Kent). I spent my uni years studying French and Spanish at Cardiff University, which confirmed and encouraged my love for languages and rugby (and even, i'll admit, the Welsh). I've been at Hothouse Media since 2011 and work on the sales side of Study Travel Magazine. Outside of work I am both a sun and ski worshipper and in my time off can be found on the slopes or bronzing on the beach. I love cooking, am a bit of a baking fanatic, and have a dangerous penchant for sour sweets and cupcakes!

Having graduated from the University of Leeds with a French and Philosophy degree, a spell in South France and then a few twists and turns eventually brought me to Hothouse Media. I'll happily chuck my hat in the ring for any business trips abroad and have firmly established my status as the office's most prolific tea-maker. Outside of work I enjoy tennis, football and basketball (with varying degrees of success), discovering new music and intend one day soon to learn another language (safe in the knowledge I can find a decent school pretty easily these days!).

A Yorkshire lass born and bred, I grew up in the north of England in West Yorkshire. After studying French with German at Aston University, Birmingham, I lived in France, Austria and Canada managing ski resorts for a UK tour operator. In between winter seasons I have worked in Sardinia, tried my hand at property developing and travelled around Central America. In my free time I am normally playing netball, hockey or tennis. I love soaking up the sun on a beach, skiing black runs and off piste in the Alps or walking, running or cycling around my rural Oxfordshire home.

I studied modern languages at undergrad level and then did an MA in Latin American Cultural Studies – both in Manchester - and as reluctant as I am to be defined by what I studied, these two courses do a pretty good job. I love languages and I love Latin America. I spent a couple of years living in Mexico and travelled quite a bit through Central and South America. I have also spent some time living in France and Italy but now I've decided it’s time to give London a go. I like the sea, Pedro Almodóvar films, accordion music, charity shops and anything with aubergines in it and my philosophy in life is to approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Originally landing in London while on a pit-stop during my mission to wind my way through Europe, I've now ended up a fully-fledged UK resident. Slowly, I'm making my way through all the fun European destinations (the coastal destinations first of course), my absolute favourites being Hvar (probably the coolest place on Earth. Ever), Greece, San Sebastian and Morocco. If I'm not googling my way to another quick-fix diet (sorry, "healthy eating plan"), I'm looking after all of our higher educators making sure they're coming to Alphe! Whilst I find it hard to be away from the sunny shores of Perth, Australia, I've no current plans to leave England and will most likely be here until they forcibly remove me (kicking and screaming of course).

Born and raised in South East London, after school I ended up going straight into work and luckily got the chance to join Hothouse in June 2012 following a couple of years at a surveyors. My role at Hothouse is to assist the Alphe team in all ways possible and I’m thoroughly enjoying learning about the industry and experiencing new things. On a weekend you will find me either shopping, at the beach (when the sun decides to come out) or out with friends for a 'casual' drink or two! I love music and try to attend as many gigs and festivals as I can through-out the year. I also love going on holiday and would love to travel the world one day!

Although originally hailing from Glasgow, I grew up in Manchester and so I am yet another Manchester United fan in the Hothouse Media team. I studied Spanish and Portuguese at university, which was a good excuse to spend a few months travelling around South America and moved to London in October 2010 for the next adventure. At Hothouse Media I take care of the agents for our Alphe workshops and enjoy organising Alphes with the rest of the team. When I’m not holidaying in exotic places, I can be found cooking with friends, eating with friends and relaxing with a gin and tonic in my hand.

Just a small town girl from China, I took a mid-day flight to the UK three years ago and luckily joined the Hothouse Media gang in London in July 2012. Within the lovely gang of us, I take care of the agents for Alphe Conferences. Being a former agent myself, I find it quite interesting working with agents from a different position. Outside the office, it is very likely that you will catch me stretching or dancing my heart out in a studio somewhere in London. Dancing is a huge part of my life. I spend years performing and even had my own class for a while. As I moved to London, I made myself a schedule full of the theatres and dance studios that I am going to visit. Tag along if you are around!

I was born in Lisbon, Portugal and moved to London in January 2013. People often describe me as communicator, outgoing, optimistic, curious, responsible and people oriented. I studied History, than Management, which may seem makes no sense, but has helped me think outside the box most of my career. As most people around Hothouse, I love a good pub!

I was born and brought up in Bournemouth, so witnessed first hand the impact of the language travel industry from a very early age when competing for beach space with a range of matching backpacks. I have degrees in English and Environmental Conservation and briefly taught English in Russia in the 1990s. I have worked at Hothouse Media for over 10 years, despite leaving for a year to go travelling around Australia. I am a keen gardener and dream one day of having an enormous walled garden in the country. Until then I will have to make do with an allotment in a distinctly clayey area of South London.

Born and raised in London, I decided to go to university down by the seaside where I graduated with a degree in English and Theatre & Performance Studies in 2001. Affectionately nicknamed Hanky or Hanks by my Hhm colleagues, I've been a part of the editorial team since 2007. According to TravBuddy.com I've only managed to visit 10 per cent of the entire world so clearly need to acquire a few more stamps in my passport! I'm still trying to improve my Spanish language skills which gets increasingly better with a couple of cervezas. Things I love: beer, reality television and fish finger sandwiches. Things I hate: running, bad manners and on occasion, umbrellas (dangerous).

Born and raised in Kent, I studied Politics & Sociology at the University of Leeds, before deciding I was going to teach English abroad. Sticking a pin in the map led me to Japan, where before I knew it one year had turned into six, and I had a wife, a son and a karaoke repertoire. I’ve been freelancing for Study Travel Magazine since returning to the UK a couple of years ago and was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when a full-time editorial position became available in June 2011.

I moved to London in January 2011 but I grew up in Worcester, a much smaller city. I tend to get itchy feet and enjoy discovering new places, but luckily I landed an editorial job at Hothouse Media in February 2012 and there is a lot to do in London, so I will definitely be sticking around! Prior to this position I did a postgraduate course in Multimedia Journalism as well as some freelance work. Places I have travelled to include Africa and India – it amazed me how both places were so colourful in completely different ways. I also love lazy Sundays, and hate gyms.

I was born and raised in China and graduated with a degree in economics and statistics from Beijing. I lived in Singapore during 1999 and 2000, and moved to London in 2000 and have been here ever since. I've been at Hothouse Media since November 2001. In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, reading, practising yoga, and spend most of my time taking my son to different lessons during weekend.

I was born and educated in Australia, taking degrees in economics and accounting. I've worked with Hothouse Media since 1992, having been a corporate banker in my previous life. I speak some French and Spanish and have spent a lot of time holidaying in Latin America. I enjoy cycling, theatre, film, beer, poker, going to the gym and on the weekend you'll likely find me on the golf course.

Born and raised near Brighton in the UK, with various periods living in Blackpool and Manchester as a boy. The latter being the reason for my love of all things United! I went to Central St Martins College of Art and Design where I trained as an Industrial Designer. I have worked with Hothouse Media since 1993... when there were only 4 of us. I'm up for most things but enjoy, football, tennis, golf, skiing and boozing... in no particular order!