Neil Preston (MCIPD)

Experience

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  Peoples Palace Restaurant - Capital Hotel Group

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1995

  Trainee
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  The Strand Palace Hotel

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1999

  Restaurant Supervisor
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  Woods River Cruises-Silver Fleet

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2005

  Event Manager

  Woods River Cruises is one of the leading event companies providing hospitality and production services on their fleet of chartered boats. My role encompassed all elements of event management from coordinating with clients regards the catering, production or logistics. Manage the delivery of the event with a large team of staff for each event as well as being the key point of contact to clients. Clients would include the corporate market, private celebrations and was fortunate to manage high profile royal occasions and well regarded celebrities. Pokaż mniej

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  Clapham House Group

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2006

  Head of Marketing for The Real Greek restaurant Group

  Working for the established restaurant group Clapham House my main role was to increase revenues for each restaurant through promotional activities to build up brand awareness through a variety of marketing activities. • Was part of the team in the opening and promotional campaigns of three restaurants, the largest being the Thames restaurant in Bankside. • Managed data capture tactics with reservations, group booking protocols using the reservation system Opentable. •Set up promotional offers through online partners to increase bookings for all restaurants., . Pokaż mniej

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  Clos Maggiore

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

  Head of Marketing

  My move to Corrett Restaurants was one of my most successful times in the restaurant industry. Heading up the sales and marketing for three restaurant brands where my main focus was Close Maggiore. • The re-branding of French fine dining restaurant Clos Maggiore, formerly Maggiore’s, with all marketing collateral, point of sale material and online presence including the launch of a new website. • Successfully marketing new promotions with online booking partners which saw an improvement in trade during the quieter periods. On average contributing to 50% of sales with the Big Easy and Italian Kitchen. • Set out separate marketing strategies with KPI’s for each restaurant with the Ops director each year, with a focus on incremental sales through promotional offers, group bookings and private dining. • With the Ops director held regular training sessions and coached reception staff in guest protocols to improve the customer journey and streamlined the data capturing process in taking reservations. Pokaż mniej

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  Albannach Brands PLC

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2009

  Head of Marketing

  Working closely with the owner and a senior management supported the commercial development of a London’s premier Scottish bar and restaurant.• Established sponsorship deals with drinks suppliers to finance promotional activities and collateral. • Direct and manage relations with PR agents to improve market position and brand awareness.• Content manage company website and all marketing collateral for data capture for CRM system Opentable. • Work with the events team on campaigns to increase private dining, group bookings and incremental sales. • Devise and deliver a marketing plan including the integration of a new CRM system to build a database that saw an increase in business retention in sales, feedback and or a greater number of group bookings. Pokaż mniej

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  Off to Work

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2015

  In April 2011 with the directors of OTW successfully won the tender for the catering franchise at the venue the London Irish Centre which totalled a maximum capacity of 650 from five spaces. In partnership with the venue owners a percentage of all food and beverage sales would be donated to the charity. Given my background was promoted to a new role setting up event catering at the venue then commercial development of venue hire, retail catering, banqueting and conferences under the brand Sliced Events. My task was to establish the viability of a re-branded venue in a mix of operational management and business development which included:• Implement and maintain oversight of the various systems and venue operational infrastructure. • Oversee and provide leadership to the operation and event team of 10 full time staff and up to 50 casual staff a during peak times. • Ensure profitability of venue hire, catering retail, conference and catered events through financial management and commercial modelling. • Developing marketing strategies and implement tactics to retain and attract new business.• Sustaining charity relations through continued support and patronage of regular users of the Centre maintaining our Corporate Social Responsibilities. • Write and maintain budgets procuring operational costs, setting retail and event sales targets and defining budget ratios. Pokaż mniej Heading a team of staff I commercially develop a hospitality Academy with two sites based in West London and the West End. With trainers specialising in different areas of hospitality I too train individuals on a variety of front of house skills from beginner to management. Assisting in the delopment of the OTW consultancy wing I look to establish links with a variety of companies seeking support in operations, marketing, man management, sales, benchmarking and brand re-development. Within the Academy we deliver 26 courses some with accreditations and work with restaurant groups training the in-house staff in order to maintain standards and raise the abilities of individuals. With a keen eye on social enterprise I support a number of welfare to work schemes and the homeless sector with training leading on to the potential of permanent employment. Having established a strong partnership with the House of St Barnabas and Quintessentially I support their life skills program through subsidised training, employment and career advice. Through my connections I also help with the placement of full or part time roles in hospitality. Pokaż mniej

  • Commercial Manager - Training & Events Venue

    Jan 2011 - Jan 2015

  • Training Academy Manager

    Jan 2009 - Jan 2011
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  Edible Stories

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2016

  Event Director & Business Owner

  Edible Stories is a carefully curated and themed dining experience and event company, where we take some of your favourite written stories and bring them to life exclusively through the use of food. It is the perfect combination of role play, food and story. The stories are broken down into chronological order and presented as individual courses.With an extensive background in events and hospitality I draw from my experiences to create special events ranging from small to large scale private dinners or receptions, promotional branded event, bespoke corporate entertainment/incentives, personalised weddings or special occasions and pop up restaurant projects or partnership residencies in central London. As business owner and Director head up event operations and business commercials to further establish the brand Edible Stories. From April 2015 as resident event caterer, at private members club Library in Covent Garden, delivered six book themed pop up restaurant experiences, as well as privately catered member and corporate events. In addition, have won external event business delivering at Shoreditch Town hall, The Look Out in Hyde park and Box Park in Shoreditch to name a few. The role encompasses: • Managing operational and administrative functions to ensure projects are delivered efficiently. • Setting and maintaining all project budgets, through commercial modelling, from start to finish.• Provide employment, motivation, leadership and direction of a team of 15 regular staff and casual staff on a project by project basis. • Oversee the development, production and delivery of events or projects from proposal to delivery.• Setting, communicating and maintaining timelines and priorities with my team and through client relationships. • Delivery of all events on time, within budget, ensuring excellent customer service and quality delivery. • Managing supplier relationships and procurement of all costs to the company. Pokaż mniej

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  Harbour & Jones

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2017

  Event Operations Manager

  Heading up operations for Harbour & Jones Events winners of Event Magazine Caterer of the Year 2014/15 and part of the dynamic and fast growing Harbour & Jones business providing catering and hospitality support to a number of sites in London and areas of the UK. Providing catering to a number of Central London venues as well as being accredited in many Unique Venues of London. Supporting a wide range of high profile blue chip clients with bespoke, elegant and experiential events to the highest level of service.http://www.harbourandjonesevents.com Pokaż mniej

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  Renard Resources Ltd

  Jan 2017 - Mar 2020

  Training Director

  Heading up the Learning and development for hospitality operations, strategically implementing training tactics for the consistent recruitment of staff working in the hospitality sector. Managing the HR functions within the operation of a casual workforce.

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  Royal Lancaster Hotel

  Mar 2020 - Jan 2022

  Learning and Development Manager
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  MAPAL Group (en)

  Mar 2022 - now

  Human Resources Business Partner - Learning & Development

  An established SaaS technology company supporting the hospitality sector Globally with learning solutions and technological support.As senior a manager on global level, delivering the Centre of Excellence for L&D, strategically with the global delivery of Learning and Development within a 500+ employee technology organisation supporting hospitality with SaaS. Providing HR and L&D consultation at executive level and key stakeholders to align business initiatives, compliance and culture to align with organisational goals.• Strategic planning and execution of L&D within a global HR team.• Develop comprehensive L&D programs , focused on leadership and management, core and technical skills internally and with external partners.• Foster a learning culture part of the core values setting objectives to engage talent development through coaching and development, aligned with business objectives.• Identify learning needs through a consultative, data-driven approach, building business cases and offering innovative, solution-oriented recommendations.• HR operations for the UK within a global HR team collaborating on global initiatives whilst being the driver for L&D initiatives and activity globally. • Built and leads the strategic growth of global Onboarding setting up the company LMS and external platforms. • Consult and devise learning activities, leveraging Mapal technology, to build learner engagement and culture. • Collate business data with L&D metrics to evaluate impact and inform C-suite with recommendations. • Manage company compliance on company policies through HRM and L&D tools.• Consult at board level on HR and L&D initiatives to improve workforce performance and efficiencies. Pokaż mniej