Tom has been with Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) for over five years, gaining experience in both front and back of house roles. Starting his kitchen career two years ago as a pot wash, he has now climbed the career ladder to Team Leader and number two in the kitchen at the Anderton Arms. When the Kitchen Manager is on holiday, Tom confidently takes the reigns, making sure everything including stock, food orders and cleaning is running smoothly.

Embracing individuality at M&B

Tom has Asperger’s syndrome and moderate learning disabilities, which means it takes him slightly longer to process things, but this hasn’t stopped his ambition to succeed. He embraces his individuality, and so do we. Our diverse teams make us stronger, and we want everyone at Mitchells & Butlers to feel comfortable being their true self.

Tom is very open about having Asperger’s and additional learning needs. He knows that with his own hard work and dedication, and ongoing support from his team, he will drive his kitchen career forward. Through completing his apprenticeship, Tom has pushed himself to improve his Maths and English skills, supported by the encouragement of his lifetime trainer. One of Tom’s favourite things about his role and his apprenticeship is that he is constantly learning new things on the job every day.

To get where he is today, Tom previously completed Production Chef Level 2 and is currently working towards his Team Leader qualification whilst also keeping on top of his daily responsibilities. He found that an Apprenticeship boosted both his confidence and his career, and says he’d definitely consider more to further his progression. We can’t wait to see where Tom goes next!

Listen to Tom discuss his career journey and experience of doing an Apprenticeship with Asperger’s

Why start with an Apprenticeship?

If you have a passion to learn new skills and you’re a team player, an Apprenticeship could be for you. At M&B, kitchen experience isn’t always necessary to have on your CV, because we’ll teach you the key skills you need to progress and unlock opportunities .

Whether you’re looking to work in a kitchen, behind the bar, or as a manager, an Apprenticeship is a good place to start. If you’re worried about finding a job with extra support, have a listen to Tom’s inspiring story above, or find out more about how we make our teams feel valued and encouraged at M&B.

Discover where an Apprenticeship with M&B can take you

With us, it’s more than a job. We’re a family, and we’ll welcome Apprentices from all different backgrounds, because there's a place for everyone in our kitchens. Right from the day one, we’ll support you throughout your entire career with us, because we know it’s our people that make our pubs, bars, and kitchens such great places to work.

Read more diversity content or kitchen stories from our teams or browse our available Apprenticeships today.