How Kyle rose the ranks from Kitchen Porter to Operations Manager
How Kyle rose the ranks from Kitchen Porter to Operations Manager
When Kyle first joined the hospitality industry, he didn’t know it was just the first step in a very successful career. But it wasn't long before he started thinking about his development, and soon after that, he noticed that there were some exciting paths he could follow.
Learning and development (L&D) were important then, and they matter even more now. In fact, 64% of people agree that L&D jumped from 'nice-to-have' to 'need-to-have' in 2021.
To mark this National Hospitality Day, we spoke to Kyle, who started his hospitality career as a Kitchen Porter and is now Operations Manager at Mitchells & Butlers. Read on to hear about his career progression with us, what advice he'd give to his younger self, and who his dream dinner guest would be.
What made you join M&B?
At 16 years old I took on kitchen porter role with no real vision of where it would lead me. Over the years I took on various roles, including a cocktail waiter and general manager, before joining an operations graduate program in 2010. It was in 2015 that my journey with M&B began.
It was always clear to me, even from the outside, that M&B was the place to be in our sector. The portfolio of brands that M&B operate – including Harvester, Miller & Carter and All Bar One – highlighted it as a place that could offer lots of different experiences and opportunities.
Tell us about your career journey at M&B
I started as an Area Manager within the Harvester brand. Through the company’s talent development programme, I have had so many opportunities to perform roles and work on projects outside of my day job. Employee benefits like these matter now more than ever, and the hands-on experience has helped me understand the bigger picture of the organisation.
The company has a fantastic people development culture - something we refer to as “The High Potential Programme”. This programme helps everyone set their career up for success, and it helped me secure my promotion to Operations Manager for Harvester in 2019. As for the next stage of my development, I will be moving to our sister brand, Suburban, in October 2021.
What has kept you working here for all these years?
M&B strives to be industry-leading, always. Being a part of a company that aims to be the best is both infectious and exciting. This ambition is also something that resonates with my personal goals.
Normally, when you have a company with such a high desire to compete at the top level, the drive for results can diminish the role that people play in this process (profits over people, if you will). This is not the case at M&B. We're a company that understands that driving results comes down to the cumulative effort of every person in the organisation, from the kitchen assistants and waiting staff to the head chefs and general managers.
Can you tell us a bit more about the development opportunities at M&B?
M&B has structured the internal development programmes to be based on two things -performance and potential. The team receive regular development updates, which will discuss a person's career ambitions. From this, they'll build tailored plans to help you to achieve your personal goals. They spot potential early and nurture this so people can progress their careers without any roadblocks and even relocate to find a better position in the company.
I am continually blown away by the number of people in this business that have developed through the ranks. Whether that's someone working in the kitchen, out serving guests, or leading their team. M&B really is a place where you could take a part-time weekend job and end up being the CEO.
What is one bit of career advice you'd give to your younger self?
There is a scene in the very last episode of the American ‘Office’ where one of the characters looks at the camera and says, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them”. This line really is true of anyone looking to develop their career. I have been guilty of fixating on that next step and failing to stop and appreciate just how good things are. Be ambitious, but constantly remind yourself to stop so you don’t miss all the really good stuff that happens along the way.
If you could prepare a meal for anyone, who would it be, and what would you make?
I would probably cook something like a Wellington for Bill Murray. The food would be average, but the conversation would be awesome!
Where could a career with M&B take you?
If Kyle's story has inspired you to find your next job with us, then what are you waiting for? We have a whole host of jobs that are yours for the taking. Check out our kitchen jobs, bar and waiting jobs or management jobs and take that one step closer to joining the M&B family.
Or, if you want to learn more about #LifeAtMAB, you can check out our latest M&B culture blogs.
Receive articles like this
Looking for more related content to feast on?
If you like what you're reading but you're hungry for more, we've got a little something for you.
Some articles you might like
Teaser
ManagementContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/04/2024
Summary
Thinking about becoming a General Manager? Here’s what you’ll need to succeed The path to becoming a General Manager is as rewarding as it is challenging, but success doesn’t happen by chance. I
by
Laura Kelly
Teaser
CultureContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/04/2024
Summary
At Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), our General Managers are the heartbeat of our business, driving excellence in hospitality and creating unforgettable guest experiences. We believe in celebrating su
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
ManagementContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/28/2024
Summary
Temporary Christmas jobs are a great way to earn extra cash for the holidays while gaining valuable work experience. They offer the chance to build new skills and try out roles like bar, waiting
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
KitchenContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/28/2024
Summary
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to lead a buzzing kitchen team, create memorable dining experiences, and make your mark in hospitality, you’re in the right place. To give you a better ide
by
Laura Kelly
Teaser
CultureContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/27/2024
Summary
As we approach St Andrew’s Day, it’s the perfect time to celebrate not only the rich culture and history of Scotland but also the opportunities available within Mitchells and Butlers. What is St
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/22/2024
Summary
In today's busy world of pubs and bars, it's not just about the drinks. What really sets a place apart is how well they treat their guests. At M&B, we believe that every interaction is an opportu
by
Katie Handy
Teaser
ManagementContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/06/2024
Summary
At Mitchells & Butlers, we pride ourselves on the growth and development opportunities we provide to our employees. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christian, General Manager of th
by
Rebecca Houseago
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/01/2024
Summary
Christmas is coming, and we can hear Santa's bells fast approaching. That's right, it's almost time to dust off the Christmas jumper and get the decorations out of the box. If you're not excited j
by
Rachel Weaver
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/14/2024
Summary
A live-in job, you say? Right, well, before we go any further, let’s break down the basics: What is a live-in job? Simply put, it’s a job that includes live-in accommodation as part of the benefi
by
Rebecca Houseago
Teaser
Bar and WaitingContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/07/2024
Summary
So, the job search is on. Many people dread the process and see it as a race to the finish line where they’ll receive the prize of a job. While that should be your ultimate goal, there’s no sens
by
Sue Bayley
Jobs you might like...
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
O'Neill's Carnaby Street, London, W1F 7JF
Departments
Chef
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
O'Neill's
Location
London
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! As a Chef at O'Nei
Reference
2350499
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Discussed at venue plus tips
Location
Harvester - Griffin, Taunton, TA1 2PX
Departments
Kitchen Team Leader
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Harvester
Location
Taunton
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! As Kitchen Team Le
Reference
2350447
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Discussed at venue
Location
Three Hammers, London, NW7 4EA
Departments
Chef
Hours
Part Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Ember Inns
Location
London
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! As a part time Che
Reference
2350452
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Fancy an
award winning apprenticeship
Ever thought about an apprenticeship? Fire up your career with one of our multi-award winning apprenticeship programmes which are designed to give you the skills to become a hospitality pro.
Perks of the job...
Love dining out? You'll love it even more with a massive 33% discount across all our brands when you join us. Whether it's date night at Miller & Carter or family roast at Toby Carvery, we’ve got you covered. See what other tasty benefits we offer…