Leading and Developing the Sales and Network Development function of YHAHighlights:In excess of £10,000,000 of business generated by the sale team during the Covid-19 Pandemic by forging new links and partnerships with Local Authorities, Central Government and Charities to allow YHA to repurpose itself to support the National effort.Negotiated and implemented a multi-year Government contact to support young people in life skills and to help them gain confidence in themselvesImplemented a structured selling culture to create a results focused, high performing Sales and Trading functionYHA resulting in 2 record breaking years of growth and also impact on young peopleCreated and implemented a pricing strategy for all customer types giving a clear communicable price for all YHA properties

Working alongside the Chief Operating Officer to lead on Strategic Projects to enhance the User Experience within YHA mainly focusing on Educational Groups

• Leading the smooth and efficient day-to-day running of the North region, comprising 37 busy properties with an annual turnover in excess of £9.4 million delivering a 34% profit return.• Initiating strategic partnerships with key organisations including Leeds Metropolitan University and AdidasKey achievements• Successfully securing £1million in investment to develop the introduction of camping and glamping within the YHA network• Creating a new role in Business Development, which resulted in increased revenue of over £300,000 per annum• Spearheading a project to roll out action-adventure products across the network, including standardised pricing, creation of a sales team and a new brochure• Achieving growth in profit in 2012-13 against the previous year, and exceeding budgeted targets against a general decline across the business as a whole• Project managing a major redevelopment, including creating the business plan and securing £1.4million in investment, to achieve a 20% increase in food sales and 15% growth in overnight stays• Recruiting a Developmental Operations Manager, and providing development opportunities and support through a programme to enable them to win a permanent position as Operations Manager• Recruiting and developing a Regional Group Manager to achieve a position as the company’s first Business Development Manager• Driving the operational management of a key change programme and facilitating communication with the operations team on all aspects of the changes• Developing an Operational Excellence programme for the region, focusing on hospitality, sales and attention to detail

• Driving revenue and growth across 7 stores, with responsibility for the strong leadership and direction of over 240 staff and 40 managers• Developing new systems to improve efficiency and performance, including an Area Manager score card, a total quality and care audit, and a quarterly moving forecast overview for sales• Developing a new Tequila Bible to strengthen the Mexican brand, whilst increasing staff knowledgeKey achievements• Overseeing the opening of 3 additional stores• Successfully increasing sales to over £6.5million in a challenging economic climate, accounting for £728,000 EBITDA• Leading two of the highest-performing stores to consistently surpass demanding targets and achieve the highest sales in the brand’s history, and additionally turning around one of the lowest-performing stores• Achieving exceptionally high levels of management staff retention, by supporting staff with internal promotions and providing mentoring opportunities• Planning and implementing trials of a new concept within 10 key stores, resulting in positive feedback from both staff and customers

• Utilised advanced business skills acting as Regional Figure Collaborator and Training Coordinator• Strategically and operationally responsible for driving internal standards, including management of the Health & Safety audits, financial audits and the training of Managers on a web-based stock package• Achieved exceptional results within the role, including 92.75% on a Health & Safety audit, over 90% on Mystery Shopper evaluations and 92% on a financial audit• Delivered exceptional sales results within an 18% growth in revenue in comparison to the previous year’s figures, in addition to the achievement of three store records for sales• Initiated an innovative programme of healthy food and drink visits for inclusion in local schools syllabus• Applied high-level leadership skills in the training and development of an entirely new kitchen team• Received a variety of awards including; Store of the year Award 2007 for the Chiquito Brand, Local Marketing Award 2007, Most Improved Store Award for Health & Safety in 2006 in addition to the Brand Award for Health & Safety• Promoted the restaurant effectively through the implementation of key marketing techniques, including the involvement in the Cinco de Mayo festivities of 2006 (garnering support of Emmerdale stars to take part in a charity auction) and association with local initiatives e.g. Food, Drink and Jazz Festivals • Helped to raise over £6K for charity through effective project management of the Presfield Spring Ball

• Utilized strong financial acumen in the accurate forecasting of periodic and quarterly sales, streamlined internal processes improving productivity levels and designed an in-house P&L spreadsheet system to track the weekly operating profits• Successfully developed the skills and knowledge of key staff, including training a Waitress to Store Manager proficiency and a Chef to Trainee Manager proficiency• Pivotal in the implementation of an in-house operational standards team, which led to average score increases from 85% to 93% and Health & Safety from 73% to 91%• Acted as the General Manager for six weeks during a sabbatical absence; recorded the highest ever sales in the five year history of the restaurant during this period• Managed staff performance, leading to a 94% score on a Mystery Shopper evaluation

• Achieved the first ever 100% score for a Mystery Dinner for the new Zizzi brand • Undertook a wide range of extra responsibilities when required, including the position of Deputy General Manager whilst awaiting placement within a unit• Applied outstanding leadership skills as the Cover & Relief Manager for the Midlands area, covering 11 restaurants from Oxford to Leicester• Assisted the Operations Manager with designing and printing company forms and a weekly takings book

• Delivered excellent results within one of the most troublesome and least profitable of the Whitbread pubs, building strong relationships with the local police, resulting in a substantial reduction of violence• Exacted immediate results within the role, including a sales increase of 150% within the first 3 months • Implemented key marketing initiatives to the pub in order to expand its clientele, including the introduction of a lunch time menu that brought in a client-base of students and business people

• Achieved promotion following successful tenures as Bar Manager and Restaurant & Kitchen Manager• Designed and implemented a highly successful table and bar menu, with further responsibility for marketing the menu features within the local area, leading to sales increases of 50% on the ground floor

• Increased staff morale, leading to a rise in Mystery Diner standards from 78% to 93% average• Obtained a thorough grounding in all aspects of the restaurant trade, working across the kitchen, the restaurant floor and administration areas and playing a key role in the opening of two new branches