Area Support Manager Review
at Aspens Services
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Catering
Gravesend, Kent
Review Submitted: February 2026
Overall Rating
4.8 /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
4.6/5
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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
I oversee 16 school catering kitchens which encompasses about 45 staff. I am responsible for the training - from onboarding to ongoing development, ensuring that all company policies and procedures are being followed, working to budget, and ensuring that by following menus and recipes - children in the schools we service are fed a healthy nutritious lunch that is appealing to them. On a monthly basis, I support in the billing process, which starts with checking the weekly paperwork from each site to ensure that all costs are being recovered. I also work alongside the kitchens in offering added value events to the schools - tasters with parents, student council review sessions etc. - ideally resulting in an increase in sales at the school.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I was really skeptical about re-entering education after being out of the classrooms for 45 years. However, the tutors that we have - they have made it very welcoming and taken the edge off of any nerves that I initially had. Because they are approachable, they explain everything in a way that is really easy to relate to, and they keep the lines of communication open with updates, regular check ins - it really does feel so much better than a classroom that I remember! It's alot of work to do my regular job and then learning the material along the way. Because it is enjoyable - it does not seem such a task though. It's even better when we cover a topic, and I can take that knowledge right back out into the field and put it into practice.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yesterday we had a day of sessions on Leadership and Management. Today, I had a situation where I was able to put some of it into practice - methods of dealing with different individuals and acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses - I was able to properly deal with a situation that I had this morning. While dealing with an uncomfortable situation, I came out knowing that I had handled it the best way possible. This was thanks to some of the information and practices that were shared with us yesterday.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Being in my 60's.....it took a moment to grasp the IT portions of recording information etc. However, there is always help available and it now making sense to me as to where to find information, seeing what I have to do next etc. When I look at it, it is well organised and structured, but with room to breathe! When the classroom days were initially set up - a couple of dates interfered with billing dates where we are basically unavailable for that two days in the month. The Academy quickly amended those dates to accommodate us, and ensured that we were free for those tasks, but rescheduled the training days for the following week. So yes, organised and structured - but with flexibility where it has been needed.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer is very supportive. My line manager introduced me to another Ops manager who has also done the course - so she has been a good support in offering her guidance in what she found helpful on her course. He allows me the time to do what I need to do without harming my job requirements in my role.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The support has been tremendous. We receive a regular newsletter which I really enjoy - it's informative about what they are doing, sharing successes of graduates of the course we are doing etc. If I have had to contact anybody they have been helpful and positive, and particularly at one time where I was feeling overwhelmed between work and the course - it was great to be able to offload and receive guidance in that instance.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
It is already assisting me in performing better. As they relate it to our current roles, it is making every bit of information 'useful' right from the start. We are able to share real life scenarios, without names or identifiers, in seeing how different situations can be handled with the information we are learning. This helps me to be able to relate what we are learning to how I can use it on a daily basis.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
As we are home based, we are all over the country. This does mean though that when we get together at head office, we will have a meal together so we are getting to know each other. There are a few events throughout the year that are social. It's hard to have sports teams etc. when we are all over the country.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Aspens Services to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Their number one core value is 'Respect', and this is lived and breathed every day. I love that I work for Aspens - I am proud to be working for a company who treats their staff with the respect that they do. We are still expected to carry out our role properly, and to company standards. However, when a problem arises, if someones performance is an issue - I am guided by HR to handle in an appropriate manner to ensure that we are enabling all staff to have the tools they need to do their job. But the respect - is why I'm proud to be Aspens.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Aspens Services?
Go for it! They are a company who value their staff - who will say that 'without our staff we are nothing'. They encourage staff to train up and have a wonderful learning and development platform - many courses that don't relate just to kitchen work, but there are lots of training opportunities that we can simply sign up for and complete. Looking for an employer who will respect you as a person? I've found them.....and my advice would be to come and join us!
