How Dan moved between brands at M&B to progress his career

In celebration of National Careers Week, let's chat about the rich diversity of career paths available in the exciting world of hospitality. Whether it's serving up drinks in lively bars or dishing out culinary delights in restaurants, there are endless opportunities to learn and grow.

When we heard about Dan’s move from Assistant Manager at Toby Carvery to General Manager at one of our Ember Inns pubs, we had to find out more. Dan shared his story, revealing that ‘Progression was always on my mind ever since day one of joining Toby Carvery’.

He also credited his success to the rock-solid support he got from his managers and the amazing Talent Team, who are dedicated to helping everyone grow in their careers.

Curious to learn more about Dan's inspiring journey? Keep reading to discover how moving to a new brand at M&B has propelled his career!

Can you tell us about your journey at M&B so far?

I joined the Toby Carvery Marton in 2019 as an Assistant Manager. I started speaking to my managers about growth opportunities, and that's when I learned about the General Manager opening at The Denton, an Ember Inns pub. I know this was the right move for me. I felt the Ember Inns brand suited me perfectly as I absolutely love the classic pub atmosphere.

With two years of experience under my belt, I was a strong candidate for a Holding Manager role, where I learnt the ins and outs of running the pub. That same year, I secured the position of General Manager.

How did the Talent Team support your move?

I had fantastic support from Sasha Lloyd-Wickham in the Talent Team, my then General Manager and my current Area Manager, who encouraged me to explore all my options. 

Was it a hard transition, moving to a new brand?

The brands do operate differently - there are unique identities, distinct priorities as well as different cooking styles and kitchen environments.

But the biggest challenge was coming in as a Holding Manager - it was a jump from Assistant Manager. I was also moving to a new home in a big city, so there was a lot of change!

What did you find easier than you thought it would be initially?

The systems, values and expectations are the same across all the brands, so you don’t feel like you’re moving to a brand-new company. 

Also, I knew the support teams at Head Office from my time working at Toby Carvery, so I could just pick up the phone if I needed anything. This support was a massive help in those first few weeks. Plus, the team at The Denton are fantastic, which made my job so much easier.

What has been your biggest achievement in the new role?

Where to begin!? Since the move, The Denton achieved an all-green scorecard - a great win for the team. And a major personal achievement was winning Ember Inns’ “Rising Star” at our annual PRIDE awards.

We also progressed one of our kitchen team at Ember Inns into a new role as Kitchen Manager within Vintage Inns, another M&B brand. This just shows how much opportunity there is across the company. 

What have you learned about yourself through working in a variety of brands?

How resilient I am and how open to change I have become.

I took a good amount of time for self-reflection to work out how I'd adapt to my new role. Moving to The Denton as the Holding Manager came with its fair share of hurdles, from tackling recruitment (the toughest part, no doubt) to driving sales and boosting guest scores to hit that green scorecard. But, I got there!

What advice do you have for others thinking about moving to a new brand?

Go for it! I found that if you have drive and passion, you can succeed in Mitchells & Butlers as it’s a company that clearly has a focus on internal development. 

I was nervous about moving brands, but the support you get really sets you up for success. Before I made the move, I participated in P&L and business reviews. So I’d say taking the time to work out your knowledge gaps is a great start.

Can you share some recommended resources for career development at M&B?

I would reach out to your line manager, and the recruitment and talent teams to see what opportunities are out there. I was enrolled on the AM HIPO programme whilst at Toby, where we planned the move over three months. I gained a lot of knowledge from this, so joining one of these cohorts could be a good start if you’re in a similar position.

Map out the career that you want with us

Feeling inspired to also take the next step in your career?

With so many brands, businesses and roles at your fingertips, along with clearly structured and accessible learning paths, there’s no better place to learn and grow than M&B. 

Explore our management opportunities and discover how embracing a new challenge with us could lead to great things in your hospitality career!