Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Hobbies & Interests & Achievements
References
Timeline
Generic

Benjamin Thomas Flight

Whyteleafe,Surrey

Summary

Accomplished professional with expertise in leadership management, workflow optimisation, and contract negotiations. Demonstrates a strong understanding of profit and loss, operational excellence, and customer relationship management. Proven track record in vendor and supply chain management, budget development, and operational leadership. Committed to driving organisational success through strategic planning and effective resource management.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
4007
4007
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification

Work History

Head of Operations

GlobalData / Arena International
London, London
05.2024 - Current
  • Company overview: GlobalData is the leading business intelligence provider, creating trusted intelligence on the world's largest industries by leveraging its unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions. www.globaldata.com
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing optimal pricing and terms.
  • Coordinated & streamlined cross-departmental initiatives to achieve overall business objectives.
  • Improved team workflow and dynamic for enhanced productivity.
  • Developed supplier partnerships for improved supply chain and cost management
  • Introduced cost-saving measures to reduce overheads.
  • Implemented new technology to bring company up to industry standards (App, webpage, software, physical infrastructure)
  • Build company P&L from the ground up (up to £10m) to help form strategic plans for driving company growth and expansion
  • Carried out on an International scale - New York, Miami, Chicago, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Scandinavia, Hyderabad, Singapore,

Venue & Facilities Lead UK & IRE

Fever / Fever Up
03.2022 - 04.2024
  • Company Overview: Fever are at the forefront of the live entertainment market (exhibitions, immersive experiences, interactive events) as well as marketing and ticketing. Website: https://feverup.com/en/london
  • Venue searching, liaising, negotiating, site visits
  • Collaboration with joint venture partners, productions companies, curators on an international landscape
  • On site management of suppliers, works, landlord relations until projects begins installation
  • Working with National and International land & real estate developers and owners, to provide new partnerships for future collaboration
  • Projects including - The Stranger Things The Experience London, Bridgerton live experience, Sistine Chapel The Exhibition, Dopamineland, Small is Beautiful, Harry Potter Forbidden Forest, Van Gogh Exhibition
  • Budgets have been excess of £1 million

Director of Operations

Seasoned Events
London
12.2021 - 02.2022
  • Company Overview: Seasoned Events are one of London's leading event suppliers with exclusive contracts at Livery Halls, Tower Bridge, Merlin Entertainment (Sealife centre, Madame Tussaud's, London Eye) as well as other prestigious venues. Reporting directly into the company Managing Partner.
  • Managing events over 2000pax
  • Full P&L ownership
  • Management of company warehouse, staff, stock, external venues, new & existing supplier relations
  • Reason for short tenure: The company retracted all confirmed commitments for the then birth of my first child and upcoming wedding.

Head of Operations

The Eventist Group
06.2021 - 12.2021
  • Company Overview: The Eventist Group is one of the leading event management and catering companies in London and the UK. Tobacco dock has over 50 event spaces covering 16000 sqm of space for hire and can host thousands of people at any one time whether it be for one buyout event or multiple events. Website: https://eventist.group and https://www.tobaccodocklondon.com/
  • Managing the operations (FOH & BOH) team as well as larger events from end-to-end - largest event over 3000pax
  • Liaising with all other in house suppliers (venue {sales, facilities & ops}, cleaners, security, production) and external suppliers (staff, beverage, food, equipment, entertainment, facilities, traffic management, medical teams, police force, council)
  • Management support across other Eventist sites - London in the Sky, Thames Luxury Charters as well as weddings and events across other iconic London venues and UK wide.

Event Operations Manager & Logistics Manager

Rhubarb Food Design at The Sky Garden
06.2016 - 07.2020
  • Events Operations Manager from June 2016
  • Logistics Manager added in Jan 2018
  • Company Overview: The Sky Garden is an iconic tourist attraction in the city of London with over a million visitors in 2018, spanning the top three floors of the Walkie Talkie building, comprising of two bars, two restaurants, with all four areas available to hire for private events up to 850pax. Website: https://www.rhubarb.co.uk/locations/sky-garden and https://skygarden.london/
  • Events revenue (gross) of between £2-3million with average staff operating levels at 11% of F&B/Package revenue and 6% of total event revenue
  • Working with the building management, insurance, security, cleaning, maintenance and loading bay teams
  • Compiling all information into Packs, consisting of - contracts, floor plans, production & supplier information (risk assessments, method statements, public liability insurance, fire test documents, building schematics, PAT test certificates, power requirements, fire alarm isolation and more)
  • Team briefs for up to 100 staff, including all levels of RFD/building staff up to director/CEO level
  • Events Managed: international banking/finance/marketing/manufacturing companies, fashion shows, cosmetic product launches, sporting events and Governments. The highlight being the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April 2018, which involved working alongside the British Government, City of London Police, Media, Security and City of London Council.
  • Client worked with: BBC, ITV, Tourism Boards from Mexico, Italy, Cyprus & Gulf States, Bentley, Google, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Adobe, Bulgari, UEFA, Vodafone, Bouteiller Wines, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Barry's Bootcamp
  • Running and organising other external events for RFD including: London Fashion Weeks, Awards shows, Royal Ascot, Henley Festival, BAFTAS at venues such as: V&A Museum, Wallace Collection, Old Billingsgate market, The Store Studios. As well as Belvedere, Moet Hennessey, Barry's Bootcamp, Grey Goose pop-ups/charity events.
  • Health and safety, risk assessment, PPE, SOP creation, COSHH and site-specific training for department and other staff applicable
  • Redundancy due to COVID-19

Meeting and Events Operations Manager

Sofitel Luxury Hotel - Heathrow
London
04.2015 - 10.2015
  • Company Overview: Sofitel Heathrow is a luxury hotel with 605 bedrooms connected to Terminal 5, with 45 meeting rooms with a capacity of 1000 for a gala dinner and 2500 plus for standing events. Website: https://sofitel.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-6214-sofitel-london-heathrow/index.shtml#origin=sofitel
  • Financials - payroll: forecasting and actuals (£50k+ a week) and revenue: (£450k - £1m monthly)
  • Management: teams of over 100 staff (20 permanent plus agency) for single large events.
  • Department generated in excess of £7m a year on its own and with the bedrooms revenue included over £10m
  • New weekly revenue records set of £100k one week and then over £115k the following week. Single function invoices have reached over £750k.
  • Events include: worldwide technology companies, international sports bodies, vehicle launches, award ceremonies, religious gatherings, international communication broadcasters, fashion shows, multi-cultural weddings, global confectionary suppliers, high profile pharmaceutical companies and senior business conferences. Dealing with senior VIPs, all levels of corporate clientele and high-profile celebrities from within all industries.

Senior Operations Manager

8.Northumberland Avenue / Alchemy Live
London
12.2014 - 03.2015
  • Company Overview: 8 Northumberland Avenue is London's most central iconic event space with two function spaces catering for gala dinners for 500 and receptions for 1200 guests, with budgets in excess of £500,000. Website: https://www.8northumberland.co.uk
  • 3 month contract

Assistant Meeting and Events Operations Manager

The Runnymede-On-Thames Hotel and Spa
Egham, Surrey
10.2013 - 12.2014
  • Company Overview: The Runnymede is a 4-star hotel and spa on the banks of the river Thames with 13 functions rooms (for up to 350 guests), 2 wedding suites, 2 restaurants and 180 bedrooms. Website: https://www.runnymedehotel.com

Operations Manager (Deputy GM)

The Crown
Amersham, Buckinghamshire
02.2013 - 09.2013
  • Company Overview: The Crown is a 4 Star modern day Coaching Inn with two functions spaces, a bar, a 1 Rosette Restaurant/Chop House and 38 bedrooms. Website: https://www.thecrownamersham.com
  • Internal promotion from The Olde Bell, Hurley

Conference and Events/Banqueting Supervisor

The Olde Bell
Hurley, Windsor and Maidenhead
05.2012 - 03.2013
  • Company Overview: The Olde Bell is a 5 Star Hotel/Coaching Inn built in 1135, with seven function/meeting rooms, 2 wedding venues (a Malt House and a Tithe Barn), a 2 Rosette restaurant and 48 bedrooms. Website: https://www.theoldebell.co.uk
  • Clients have included: several high profile T.V. professionals, international sports stars, international film stars, highly decorated chefs, car & press launches and a Formula 1 team

Company partner

Pigs Might Fly Spit Roasting Events Company/ All Seasons Catering Events
10.2009 - 05.2012
  • Consultant until October 2013

Pub Manager

The White Hart, West Hoathly
03.2011 - 10.2011

Pub Manager

The Royal Oak, Crawley Down
04.2009 - 11.2010
  • Internal promotion November 09

Education

Degree - Forensic Science with Criminology

University of Derby
Derby
01.2004 - 01.2007

1st Year of Architecture and Environmental Design Degree -

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
01.2003 - 01.2004

A-Levels -

Lancing College
2000 - 01.2002

GCSE -

Lancing College
1997 - 01.2000

Skills

  • Leadership management
  • Workflow optimisation
  • Contract negotiations
  • Customer relationship management
  • Profit and loss understanding
  • Operational excellence
  • Vendor and supply chain management
  • Budget development
  • Operational leadership

Certification

Personal Alcohol License Holder, Mid Sussex District Council, since 2014

Languages

German
Elementary

Hobbies & Interests & Achievements

  • Sports - Golf, Darts, NFL, Pool/Snooker (Captain of Royal Oak pool team (2009 - 2011) in West Sussex leagues, County Pool player for Sussex 2016 - 2018), Boxing, Formula 1, Poker - University Champion 2007
  • Football - member of East Grinstead Mavericks FC (2006 - 2019) in Mid Sussex football leagues
  • Gaming - Team PlayStation
  • Music, Festivals, Gigs (Comedy and Music)
  • Film Industry
  • Freeman of The City of London (2008) & Member of the Worshipful Company of Loriners (2008)
  • IT literate (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Photoshop, Delphi, Opera, Selima, Forth, Micros, Verteda, Google sheets)
  • Member of steering group at Sofitel for implementing and working alongside Project Search to help mentally disabled students get into the workplace on a year's placement.
  • Karnival / Millennium Volunteers (Nottingham) - organisation set up for young people to volunteer to help and benefit other people and the local community by raising money at charity and sponsored events.
  • Travelling: holidaying local and abroad as well as experiencing other cultures, particularly:
  • Malawi Expedition (2000). Fundraising and donations for a shelter for patients' relatives and the building and equipping of a fully functional labour ward at a local hospital. Other donations were also given to a Rhinoceros Sanctuary, Chilanga School for the Blind, local tribe's families and Stephanos Children's Home
  • Ghana (2002). Whilst visiting Accra I joined up with an existing project to help manufacture, build and refurbish a playground for an Orphanage as well as taking lessons and childminding.

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Head of Operations

GlobalData / Arena International
05.2024 - Current

Venue & Facilities Lead UK & IRE

Fever / Fever Up
03.2022 - 04.2024

Director of Operations

Seasoned Events
12.2021 - 02.2022

Head of Operations

The Eventist Group
06.2021 - 12.2021

Event Operations Manager & Logistics Manager

Rhubarb Food Design at The Sky Garden
06.2016 - 07.2020

Meeting and Events Operations Manager

Sofitel Luxury Hotel - Heathrow
04.2015 - 10.2015

Senior Operations Manager

8.Northumberland Avenue / Alchemy Live
12.2014 - 03.2015

Assistant Meeting and Events Operations Manager

The Runnymede-On-Thames Hotel and Spa
10.2013 - 12.2014

Operations Manager (Deputy GM)

The Crown
02.2013 - 09.2013

Conference and Events/Banqueting Supervisor

The Olde Bell
05.2012 - 03.2013

Pub Manager

The White Hart, West Hoathly
03.2011 - 10.2011

Company partner

Pigs Might Fly Spit Roasting Events Company/ All Seasons Catering Events
10.2009 - 05.2012

Pub Manager

The Royal Oak, Crawley Down
04.2009 - 11.2010

Degree - Forensic Science with Criminology

University of Derby
01.2004 - 01.2007

1st Year of Architecture and Environmental Design Degree -

University of Nottingham
01.2003 - 01.2004

A-Levels -

Lancing College
2000 - 01.2002

GCSE -

Lancing College
1997 - 01.2000

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Benjamin Thomas Flight