Ben Mercer Email & Phone Number

London, England, United Kingdom

General Manager for Runway East London - helping support the community teams with day to day operations across 6 sites.

London, England, United Kingdom

5 Screen Cinema, Café & BarGiven stewardship of four of the company’s sites during closures in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time I ensured sites were secure, closely monitored energy usage to make savings through powering down equipment and attended site for any emergency callouts. Shortly before reopening in July 2020 I helped create training plans and risk assessments in the run up to reopening to ensure that cinemas were COVID-19 compliant. I refocused F&B offering with bespoke POS and operational changes resulting in a 7% increase in concession revenue 2019 YOY despite a 9% slip in admits and a 24p uplift in SPP. I monitor monthly and feedback to line/site management on P&L, savings highlighted, objectives communicated and any costing queries followed up with relevant suppliers. Membership revenue increased 14% 2019 v 18 through monthly team communications and devising incentives. I updated the cinema to keep it in line with the Picturehouse brand through a combination of high attention to detail, clearing away equipment, sorting soft furnishings and implementing the use of staff created artwork to help promote team engagement.

East Dulwich Picturehouse & Cafe

3 Screen Cinema & CaféGenerated new methods of on-site communication to refocus business in line with changing company policies to create better standards in compliance, staff attitude and team engagement. I implemented tough new rota models to help control costs and create a more interlaced team to fluidly switch between different roles. Durning my time at the site I drove it to greater profitability in 2018 during a challenging market, we ended £50k up on 2018 EBITDA YOY despite a 12% downturn in admits. I was Operations Co-ordinator for the company’s West Norwood Cinema opening and Project Lead on the opening of the company’s Bromley Cinema which required me to oversee the training process for staff, set up opening contracts and advised on the day to day run up to trading. Finally, East Dulwich was awarded the company’s internal ‘Cinema of the Year’ award in 2018.

South Woodford

7 Screen CinemaDeveloped weekly feedback and incentives to drive customer service for the 15 site-strong region working closely with upper management to hit targets. Achieved a 31 point increase at the site in the Organisation Health Index survey – this took the site from one of the lowest performing cinemas in the estate for team engagement to the top 15 in 2017.

Covent Garden

4 Screen Cinema w/huge events turnoverBettered operational and customer standards by improving sites aesthetically focusing on simple, cost-effective yet impactful methods to bring a premium feel. Drove site to end £65k above EBITDA budget and hit the customer service NPS target for 2016.

Covent Garden

4 Screen Cinema w/huge events turnoverWorked closely with events team on BAFTA/corporate hire, including personally welcoming clients and ensuring smooth running of said events. Lobbied the central resourcing department with regards to the allocation and usage of site-specific budgets.

Surrey Quays

9 Screen CinemaEfficiently ran the floor daily through delegation and deployment. Created film times, endeavouring to maximise revenue through careful selection and spread. Sourced new business contacts through local marketing and cross-promotional activities to increase market share. Regularly conducted staff performance reviews using KPI data.

Surrey Quays

9 Screen CinemaSolely responsible for the weekly team rota covering the whole site using analytics to generate reports as to best implement staff resources.

Surrey Quays

9 Screen CinemaTicket sells and membership sales, product recommendations and ushering screens in a timely manner.

London, United Kingdom

Budget creation and effective use of social media channels to engage an existing and potential fanbase.

Creative Music Technology, Music

2.1 Hons

Btec National Diploma, Drama

Gcse, 9 A - C (Inc English And Maths)