Assistant Manager Review

I run the business on my shifts, supervising both the front of house and kitchen teams. I answer the phone, deal with guest issues and open and close the business. I have also been given responsibility behind the bar, such as ordering and performing counts. I have also been in charge of team files and hiring.

In my first place of work I was given a lot of help developing my communication and management skills, I was taught stock management and team leading. I was given training in how to run the business and the confidence to do so. In my next and final Mitchell’s and butlers place of work I was ignored and given no training.

My final trainer was excellent and I cannot give them enough praise for the time and effort they put into my course. However they were the final of 5 trainees I was passed to before getting my final one. Whilst Covid did interfere with the process I found the whole thing very frustrating and not something I would wish to take part in again.

Not well at all, as I have found out in my final assessment, I spent a year learning something that makes up a quarter of my final assessment and had no training or structure given to any of the rest. For example no one has ever talked to me about writing a business project, or what a business project presentation is.

I cannot stress enough how I received no support from my employer. It was not an apprenticeship so much as a qualification I did in my own time. I was never given time to do anything at work and my employer had no interest in helping me do anything. They would not even fill out my skills endorsement for me.

My final trainer was excellent, and has helped chase up with my employer on multiple occasions, they are always available for a chat and are a huge advocate for me, the problem has not been then but the company which I worked for. As for the training provider as a company, I have had no contact and cannot speak about them.

Not particularly as I have managed to gain promotion far quicker than the qualification has taken, therefore the role I am in now has very little bearing on the qualification I am undertaking, I am aware that Covid has gotten in the way but I do believe that more time needs to be taken to match people to the correct qualification. For instance there is no need to put someone who has a degree on a level 3 course.

Obviously, like every M and B employee I have access to Mable, but I have never been given the time to use it at work. Therefore I have not been able to access things except on my day off. As for any other social events, no, I have worked at 2 different M and B restaurants and never had a team night out.

No

The company is poorly managed, no time is given to employees to do the things they say they are keen for you to do, prime example being this qualification. I myself have now left and will never go back. There is no care for the individuals working for them. Also, the hours have become ridiculous, I had a 48 hour contract and regularly worked over 60, with no days in lieu or any other compensation. They also break employment law, frequently giving you shifts that mean you don’t get 11 hours between shifts.

Quite simply, do not, look for an independent employer, they will provide you with better hours, fairer working conditions and a better work life balance. If you must work for them, try to find a business with an experienced and caring manager, too many are just looking for an easy ride.