Head Chef/ Area Lead Chef Review
at Marstons
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Hospitality Management
Newark-on-Trent
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4.5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
As a Head Chef, I'm responsible for preparing meals, back office management and training my team to follow law and Marston's specification.
As an Area Lead Chef, I'm responsible for training and supporting our Head Chefs in my area of work which is part of the East Midlands and contain16 pubs.
As an Area Lead Chef, I'm responsible for training and supporting our Head Chefs in my area of work which is part of the East Midlands and contain16 pubs.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I like a challenge and that's why I enjoying LVL 4 NVQ Management, to improve my skills and looking forward to a Business plan as that is a new thing for me and I really appreciate help from my trainer. We all learning every day something new and the biggest challenge for some of the managers is to adapt to a different situation. This course explaining everything about how to adapt and change your leadership style to motivate and challenge our team. I would definitely recommend this course to our management team.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I'm in a middle of a partnership, but since I start I develop several of my skills and learn new techniques on how to train my team and in some of the areas I feel more confident as I was ensured my knowledge is outstanding in some areas of my job. Of course, I looking forward to doing a busyness plan as I don't have experience in this area.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The program is very organised and I need to say, I feel I repeat some of the answers, but that because the program is designed that way and sections following each other. Sometimes I feel I can combine some sections to the one, as question/answer are same/similar and if you already have most of the knowledge about the section, it is just about your confidence.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
Unfortunately, we are still in the post-COVID situation and it is hard to get the support that you need. For now, I'm still in a section where I feel really confident, but the following sections require Area Operational Manager knowledge and supervising. Hopefully, AOM will find time to see me and go through those areas with me, otherwise, I will struggle.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
As I mention, in most sections which I finish I don't struggle with knowledge, as I already passing knowledge from those topics to my Head Chefs. But I passing myself to start Business Plan and my trainer is fantastic with support, motivation and her knowledge. Also, any of my missing knowledge is mentioned and explained.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My trainer supports me all the time and I enjoying going through my previous experience from business and applying my actions in answers to different questions/answers, as I believe it is better to use your own Experian than search for an answer on the web. I already applying some of the suggestion from my trainer in my area of work.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
Unfortunately, I'm not involved in such activities, as my team is mostly younger members and spending time playing games on PS or XBOX. Only one thing that can go through my mind is, I'm involved on the LinkedIn social network. Otherwise, I don't trust social media as a Facebook and I keeping distance as I don't want to share my personal information with everyone.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Marstons to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Marston's is different from than competition. I worked for Green King and eventually I quit. Marston's don't focus just on a core menu or drinks but also allow to target customers with specials. Drinks and food. An as different area of England has different types of customer. Of course, there are areas where Marston's is behind of competition, and I believe they keep a promise and ketchup in those areas of business and support.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Marstons?
Marston's is a really friendly Employer, but from a manager point, for people who apply for a senior management position, there is not a really good bonus scheme for the senior management team set from Marston's compare to the competition as Green King or Withbread. Also, there is a wrong pay raise equivalent, as Assistant managers had a pay raise every year but unfortunately Head Chefs stud on the same hourly rate with bigger responsibility. But that is just a personal opinion.
