Celebrating Mother's Day: Ella tells us how she manages being a General Manager and a mum
Celebrating Mother's Day: Ella tells us how she manages being a General Manager and a mum
In celebration of Mother's Day, we wanted to highlight all the amazing mums who work in our businesses, whether as leaders, general managers, as part of our amazing front and back of house teams or supporting from our head office.
We caught up with Ella, General Manager of the Talbot - one of our Vintage Inns, to hear all about her experiences returning to work after becoming a mum to Aurora. Read below to hear how she managed the return from maternity leave and how we she juggles both motherhood and being a general manager...
How long have you been at work since returning from maternity leave?
I have been back since November fully (I did 10 KIT days in October which was SO useful). So much has changed in 13 months! I had some wonderful help from Alice Walker who showed me the ropes and helped me settle straight back in!
How did you find the transition to working mum - how have your team supported you with this?
The transition was daunting – it is just me and Aurora and I had spent all day every day with her but after getting back into the swing of things my confidence is high again and I truly do appreciate every day I get to spend with my daughter.
The team I have, have been wonderful. They all see Aurora most days and they can see how well she is doing (now tottering around asking them for Fruit Shoots!). My team are great at understanding that my time off is devoted to quality time with Aurora – and I can see that they have come such a long way themselves and they should be so proud as, as much as I hate to admit, they don’t need me as much as they thought they did! My team do me proud every day and I can’t wait to see where our journey leads for all of them!
What do you think the best parts of being a working mum at Mitchells & Butlers are?
The best parts of being a mum while working for M&B is the flexibility. If you work in hospitality, it is in your blood and it’s something that never leaves you! M&B supported me through my pregnancy and maternity and it is a pleasure to come back to a job that I thoroughly enjoy! I may not have weekends off – but I have two days in the week where actually play centres or parks are quieter for our adventures!
What are your favourite parts of motherhood so far?
My favourite parts of motherhood – where to begin!? Aurora is one in a million (I know we all say this) but she truly is. I adore my daughter and it’s so nice for her to see me so happy not just with her but with my colleagues.
Do you have any top tips for other working mums?
Do what makes you happy. It’s not easy to be a working mum or a single working mum but you can do it. Your child will see you doing the best you can for them and they will never stop respecting you for working hard to make sure that they have the best start in life. Enjoy every moment and cherish the time you have with them, we might not have every weekend off but our time with them is our weekend – the best part of the week!
How will you celebrating Mother’s Day this year to make sure that you get some special time with your daughter, as well as delivering a brilliant day for our guests?
This year I am going to be working Mother’s Day, I am very lucky as my Mum (Lala!) will be having the cheeky monkey. But I will make sure that on our days off after, we will do something special together. I wish all the working Mums a wonderful Mother’s day and just remember yours will be when you make it!
Ella's Area Manager, Nick, has also been impressed with how Ella has handled returning to being a General Manager...
"Since Ella returned from maternity leave, she has been a breath of fresh air with her can do attitude and positive energy radiating at all times. Being a brilliant mum and a brilliant GM are two very hard jobs, and Ella manages to do both! As an area manager, it is a pleasure to manage someone like Ella, and there's the added bonus of having the lovely Aurora join us for occasional business meetings!"
We're proud to be able to offer flexible and support environments here at Mitchells & Butlers. Why not take a look at our live vacancies and see if there's a role that can support you?
Receive articles like this
See what we're all about
We're shaping a workplace where everyone thrives. Explore the heart and soul of Mitchells & Butlers by checking out our guiding principles.
Some articles you might like
Teaser
KitchenContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
Think that being a Kitchen Assistant is a boring job with no career progression? Think again! That’s just one of many big myths about working in a kitchen. There’s much more to being a Kitchen Assista
by
Rachael Langley
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/24/2024
Summary
Evenings are staying lighter for longer and the days are growing warmer. Dare we say summer is on the way? If you’re thinking “How can I make money as a student?” and are keen to make some extra cas
by
Jess Birch
Teaser
Life at M&BContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/19/2024
Summary
22nd April marks Earth Day internationally so this year, we caught up with Amy DeMarsac, Director of Investor Relations and Sustainability to talk about our continued focus on all things sustainabilit
by
Nicki Hodson
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/08/2024
Summary
Looking to make this summer one to remember? Part-time jobs might just be your ticket to a season filled with flexibility, fun, and new connections. You still get to soak up those sunny days with
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
KitchenContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/05/2024
Summary
Step into the kitchen with us as we delve into the world of sous chefs! You know what a sous chef job is all about, but have you ever wondered what it takes to be a great sous chef? When it comes
by
Rachael Langley
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/18/2024
Summary
So you’re eyeing up area manager jobs? Firstly, a big congratulations to you! Reaching this point in your management career is no mean feat. You’ve dedicated time, weathered storms and basked in suns
by
Amandeep Chahal
Teaser
Company updateContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/06/2024
Summary
In honour of International Women's Day, we're celebrating the remarkable journey of our very own Martie Smit, who has recently secured her second director-level role within M&B as Food and Drinks Trad
by
Nicki Hodson
Teaser
Life at M&BContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/05/2024
Summary
In celebration of National Careers Week, let's chat about the rich diversity of career paths available in the exciting world of hospitality. Whether it's serving up drinks in lively bars or dishing ou
by
Steven Miles
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/28/2024
Summary
Welcome to your go-to guide for mastering hospitality interviews! Working in a pub, bar or restaurant is like no other job. It’s a whirlwind of excitement, human connection and showing guests a good t
by
Amandeep Chahal
Teaser
Pub and restaurantContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/27/2024
Summary
“Sous chef” literally means “under-chief”. But enough with the language lesson. Let's get to the juicy stuff. Being a Sous Chef is all about keeping the kitchen humming and the food steadily flowing
by
Amandeep Chahal
Jobs you might like...
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
Smithys Forge, Brownhills, WS8 6HR
Departments
Chef
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Sizzling Pub & Grill
Location
Brownhills
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 S
Reference
2169432
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
White Horse, London, SW6 4UL
Departments
Chef
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Castle
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 the W
Reference
2169439
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
White Horse, London, SW6 4UL
Departments
Shift Supervisor
Hours
Part Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Castle
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 Part Time Shift
Reference
2169438
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…