What does an Operations Management Graduate scheme in the hospitality industry look like?

Through our personally tailored graduate programme, you can get a complete picture of how our business fits and works together. From being guided through your first management role, to placements in our head office, and regular training courses, we’ll ensure you don’t miss out on any critical learning experiences.

Working for one of the UK’s most famous restaurant and pub brands, including All Bar One, Miller and Carter and Harvester means that there is never a dull moment! Although the work is challenging, we believe it is important for all of our graduates to have fun, feel valued, enjoy what they do and get rewarded and recognised along the way.

Sound like a bit of you? In this blog, we will uncover what it really means to be an Operations Manager Graduate from previous grads who have since cooker up a career here at M&B! 

Employed at M&B for 12 years

What made you choose to apply for the M&B Operations Management Grad Scheme?

I was working at Toby Carvery at the time and had been since I was 17. I really enjoyed the hospitality industry and wanted to mix this with my Business Management degree. I was starting to apply for graduate schemes but felt they were not really ‘me’ until I found out that M&B offered one. I originally applied for the Marketing Graduate Scheme but during the recruitment process, was asked how I would feel about the Operations Graduate Scheme – it wasn’t something I had really thought of but was happy to move over on the basis that it was a challenging, yet rewarding role.

What was the best thing about the M&B Grad Scheme?

 It was perfect as I could use my degree, my general day-to-day work and my love of the industry too. I loved seeing the job from all sides and never realised what was behind the running of a restaurant or a pub! I learned so much on every placement and genuinely never thought I would have come out of the scheme with the skills, knowledge and experience that I did.

How did your time on the M&B Grad Scheme shape your career?

 During my time I met a variety of people in every role that affected/supported life on the frontline and having spent 5 years at Toby Carvery, it really made me see how I could also affect future team’s work & career. During my different placements, I got to see the detail of head office roles/support roles and from my past experience, it meant that now during my role, I am able to balance both sides and be the ‘middle man’ and the voice of our team running our sites.

What advice would you give a student considering joining M&B on the Operations Grad Scheme?

 I would say it is very fun, rewarding scheme however it is challenging and does test you (but in a good way!). No day is the same as the next, both from a location side but also a task side and one that you will definitely not get bored of! If you want to learn everything around the hospitality industry, from finance, marketing and recruitment all the way to opening and running a restaurant on a busy Saturday night then this scheme is for you.

 It’s a role that isn’t for the faint-hearted – you need to be able to keep up with the fast-paced environment, ever-changing guest’s expectations and able to juggle the world of pubs & restaurants from the other side.

What is your role within M&B now?

 I am currently RBM for Miller & Carter looking after 10 restaurants ranging from Grantham, all the way down to Bedford. Within those restaurants, there are 400 team members working within the district that have the love for Miller & Carter and are all working together to move the brand forward and share the M&C experience for our guests.

Does the M&B Operations Management Graduate scheme sound like the perfect fit for you?

Applications for our 2023 Operations Management Grad Scheme open in January! For more information on the scheme including updates on when applications open and a look at our prospectus visit our dedicated Graduate Scheme page.

If you are tempted to apply, why not take a look at our graduate application tips… If you’re not quite ready to apply, see if we have a suitable role for you whilst you’re at university.