From sous chef to a corporate hospitality job: Neil’s career path at M&B

Kicking things off in the kitchen

Neil’s journey with M&B began back in 2008 when he stepped into the buzzing kitchen of a Cheltenham pub as a Sous Chef.

He was full of passion for food and hospitality, and eager to see where it could all take him. 

Spoiler alert: it took him on a seriously exciting ride, all the way to a corporate hospitality job he never expected.

Climbing the ladder (and stirring the pot)

Neil’s talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Before he knew it, he’d landed a head chef role, leading a busy team and keeping the kitchen running like clockwork. 

From the daily hustle to steering the business forward, he embraced every challenge. 

Then came a curveball, in the best way. After years of Head Chef experience, Neil made the leap into an operational role following M&B’s acquisition of the HAHA group. 

It was a whole new world. He helped bring those venues into the M&B family and got a taste of how the company ticks beyond the kitchen. Plus, it was a great chance to meet people from all corners of the business.

Stirring up success through training

Next stop: training and development. Neil took on a role helping chefs across brands like Castle, All Bar One, and Browns. 

Over more than a decade, he worked closely with teams, boosted food quality scores, and played a major part in shaping the next generation of kitchen stars. His passion for growth (and tasty food) made a big impact, and not just on the plate.

A bold move into a corporate hospitality job

In 2023, Neil jumped into something totally new: procurement. Yep, you read that right, from chef whites to corporate life! 

Thanks to his deep knowledge of operations and training, he brought real-life experience to the table, literally. Now he’s earning new qualifications and learning the ropes, proving that switching things up is 100% possible with the right support.

So, if you ever thought a corporate hospitality job was out of reach from a hands-on role, think again.

Championing inclusion

On top of his day job, Neil’s also co-chair of the M&B Unified Group, a team dedicated to supporting colleagues from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

He’s all about making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and celebrated. And in a diverse city like Birmingham, that work really matters. He’s helping shape a more inclusive culture across M&B, and loving every minute of it.

Neil’s top moments

From working the line to working in procurement, Neil’s story shows just how varied a career at M&B can be. 

A corporate hospitality job doesn’t have to mean starting with a suit and a briefcase. It can begin in the kitchen, the bar, or anywhere you’ve got passion and drive.

How to step into a corporate hospitality job, no suit required

So, why M&B? For Neil, it’s simple. M&B is full of opportunities to grow, try new things, and work in a fast-paced, fun environment. 

It’s a place where you’re encouraged to bring your whole self to work and where your journey can take all kinds of turns.

From kitchen roles to corporate gigs, training to ops, there’s loads of room to explore at M&B. So if you’re dreaming about something different, we say go for it. Neil did, and look where he is now.

Explore our: 

• Bar and waiting jobs 
• Kitchen jobs 
• Head office jobs