How Kyle rose the ranks from Kitchen Porter to Operations Manager

How Kyle rose the ranks from Kitchen Porter to Operations Manager

Emily Smith our consultant managing the role
Date posted: 22/11/2021

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.

List #1

Some articles you might like

rising star - general managers at M&B
Essential skills for becoming a successful General Manager at M&B

Teaser

Management

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Laura Kelly

by

Laura Kelly

Laura Kelly

by

Laura Kelly

General Manager of the year awards - three people smiling on stage
Celebrating M&B’s General Managers of the Year: Inspiring Stories of Growth and Success

Teaser

Culture

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

image of kayleigh
How a temporary Christmas job at M&B kickstarted Kayleigh’s career in hospitality

Teaser

Management

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

two men and one woman working in a kitchen in their chef whites and smiling
Everything you need to know about being a Kitchen Manager at the different M&B brands

Teaser

Kitchen

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Laura Kelly

by

Laura Kelly

Laura Kelly

by

Laura Kelly

Image of scottish hills and lake
Celebrating St Andrew’s Day: Job opportunities in Scotland

Teaser

Culture

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

Rebecca Skeet

by

Rebecca Skeet

waiting staff greeting guests at M&B - customer service in hospitality
Crafting memorable moments: The importance of customer service at M&B

Teaser

General

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Katie Handy

by

Katie Handy

Katie Handy

by

Katie Handy

Christian from Stonehouse
Can you go from Chef to General Manager? Yes, you can!

Teaser

Management

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rebecca Houseago

by

Rebecca Houseago

Rebecca Houseago

by

Rebecca Houseago

girl holding a tray of food standing in front of a restaurant
Five reasons to choose a Christmas job at M&B

Teaser

General

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rachel Weaver

by

Rachel Weaver

Rachel Weaver

by

Rachel Weaver

live in job - two people smiling at the pub
5 unmissable perks of our live-in jobs you need to know!

Teaser

General

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

Find out more
Rebecca Houseago

by

Rebecca Houseago

Rebecca Houseago

by

Rebecca Houseago

smiling lady on laptop sitting at pub
The dos and don'ts when writing your hospitality CV

Teaser

Bar and Waiting

Content Type

Blog

Publish 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

Teaser

CV writing a chance to figure out your core skills, which pub and restaurant job is right for you and which type of company you want to work at.

Find out more
Sue Bayley

by

Sue Bayley

Sue Bayley

by

Sue Bayley

Jobs

Jobs you might like...

Part Time Chef

Salary

Competitive Salary

Location

Grosvenor, Cleethorpes, DN35 0PH

Departments

Chef

Hours

Part Time

Vacancy Type

Other role

Brand

Sizzling Pub & Grill

Location

Cleethorpes

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

2351485

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply Add to shortlist
Chef

Salary

Competitive Salary

Location

Harvester - White Hart, Hockliffe, LU7 9NB

Departments

Chef

Hours

Full Time

Vacancy Type

Other role

Brand

Harvester

Location

Hockliffe

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 the W

Reference

2351468

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply Add to shortlist
Kitchen Assistant

Salary

Competitive Salary

Location

Toby Carvery - Enfield, Enfield, EN1 3PN

Departments

Kitchen Assistant

Hours

Full Time

Vacancy Type

Other role

Brand

Toby Carvery

Location

Enfield

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!  With your suppor

Reference

2351459

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply Add to shortlist
 

job search