I co-founded Mothership Group with Andy Maddocks in 2008, with the aim of running culturally relevant events for the Facebook Generation. We started with Queen of Hoxton and a team of 15, turning over £1million in the first year and by 2021, we have grown to a £10million group of companies with four sites, including The Book Club, Colours and Patterns in Brighton. We make around £1m EBITDA per annum , employ 120 lovely staff, we put on 1200 events a year, we're featured regularly in the press and we reach up to 500,000 people a week through press and social media. We've won a number of industry awards.Along the way I have led fundraising from friends and family, a brewery, then later a £4.6m loan from Santander Growth Capital. I have also won several offers from private equity. We have opened sites all over London and after some buying and selling, we currently own and operate three leasehold sites in London and a freehold property in Brighton. We have specialized in buying underperforming sites, then breathing new life into them through a combination of strong branding, current design, great products and service and fun, engaging events, all promoted through social media and strong PR. The events are mix between live music, DJ-led club nights, arts, exhibitions, film and talks and debates. We are very current and socially relevant for our mid-twenties audience. We have organised some flagpole events for national landmarks such as the Royal Wedding and Jubilee and the Olympics with attendance of up to 5000 people as well as programming events at festivals.I have managed minority shareholders towards a successful EIS exit, a successful exit for our brewery partner and an ongoing relationship with Santander for the last five years. I have assembled a challenging board with a non-executive chairman and other specialist advisors.

Helping this lovely start-up wage war on toilet paper and wet wipes. End the fatbergs!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/7KfoEDoWtPUXRXYm/?

Originally invited in to manage this under-performing DJ bar by the company’s directors. Through a combination of recruiting and training a stronger team and introducing a strong and focussed brand, I managed to turn the losses into profits, buying out the original partners to become sole director in May 2003. Dust won various awards, including the coveted Superbrands ‘Cool Brand Leader’ award with National press coverage. Dust was sold in 2010 as we moved our operations to Shoreditch.

Prior to setting up my own business I trained in a wide variety of roles, from bar-back, barman, cocktail barman, waiter, head waiter, assistant manager, sous chef, head chef, door supervisor and finally general manager. In this period I worked for the Conran Group, the Slug and Lettuce, Whitbread and various independent pubs and restaurants. I picked up a number of hospitality qualifications and passed Wines and Spirits Education Trust Certificate top of class.

Developed core skills in thinking about problems in lateral ways to devise effective business solutions. Responsibilities as a senior analyst included project planning, performance measurement and managing a small team of client and consulting staff. Developed teamwork and broad technical skills and learnt about prioritising tasks, managing time and the necessity of maintaining a flexible approach to new ideas in a supervisory capacity, often under intense pressure.

Joined on the Graduate Training Scheme and spent time in a number of different roles. The job began with six months in overseas operations in Ibiza, followed by U.K. based placements including posts in product planning, direct marketing, brochure design and production and late sales. Developed a broad insight into the ex-U.K. leisure tourism industry and the fundamentals of marketing.