Charlie Aspinall
Liverpool,Merseyside
Summary
Commercially focused, hands-on operational leader with experience across visitor attractions, hospitality, live entertainment, team supervision, recruitment and independent business ownership. Most recently founded and independently led a commercial production business, taking end-to-end responsibility for people, budgets, suppliers, scheduling, risk management, stakeholder relationships and commercial decision-making. Built its principal project into a 34-date UK touring operation, before transferring the complete operational package to another company to fulfil. Brings more than two years' frontline experience within Knowsley Safari Park, alongside supervisory experience leading high-volume hospitality operations at Chester Racecourse. An accountable, people-focused leader who leads visibly, develops others, maintains high operational standards and takes ownership of results. Now seeking to bring this combination of visitor-attraction experience, commercial responsibility and operational leadership to the management of a high-performing leisure and entertainment venue.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work history
Founder, Producer & Director
CAJ Productions
2025.03 - 2026.07
- Founded and independently led a commercial production business, holding overall responsibility for people, finances, commercial planning and operational delivery.
- Built the company's principal project from initial concept into an established 34-date UK touring operation, personally securing and coordinating relationships with venues across the tour.
- Held direct responsibility for a £10,000 project budget, controlling expenditure and making commercial decisions to balance quality with financial sustainability.
- Personally recruited the complete core team, including the performer, Company Stage Manager, lighting/sound operator and designer, freelance marketing support and PR professional.
- Led and coordinated the core team while working with a much wider network of venue professionals across programming, marketing, technical and operational departments.
- Managed complex scheduling, venue requirements, suppliers, risk assessments, technical requirements and logistics across a geographically distributed operation with fixed delivery deadlines.
- Maintained professional relationships with numerous external stakeholders and coordinated the different parties required to keep the project progressing.
- Held ultimate accountability when operational challenges arose, making decisions under pressure while balancing people, financial, customer and commercial considerations.
- Developed the production and established 34-date tour into a complete operational package which was subsequently bought out by another company to fulfil.
Coffee Cart Supervisor
Hospitality Agency
Chester Racecourse
- Selected through hospitality staffing agency to supervise coffee operations across two separate carts during high-volume Chester Racecourse events.
- Coordinated team of four colleagues across two floors, maintaining oversight of both operations during demanding race-day service.
- Briefed team members ahead of busy trading periods, allocated responsibilities and ensured colleagues understood expectations before service began.
- Managed required pre-service staff declarations and sign-offs and enforced company procedures and operational standards throughout shift.
- Coordinated staff deployment, stock, service priorities and workflow across both coffee carts to maintain efficient service during peak demand.
- Led from front, working directly alongside team when required while retaining responsibility for wider operation.
- Handled customer queries and operational issues directly, making decisions to maintain service standards during busy periods.
- Following successful assignments, was personally requested to return for subsequent Chester Racecourse events to supervise coffee operations, reflecting confidence in my leadership, reliability and performance.
- Casual Race-Day Assignments
Hospitality Team Member
Knowsley Safari Park
2022.07 - 2024.12
- Built more than two years' frontline hospitality experience within a high-footfall visitor attraction, including demanding summer and seasonal trading periods.
- Routinely entrusted to open and close the ice-cream parlour, preparing the outlet for trading and completing end-of-day procedures.
- Completed and signed off required opening, closing, food-safety and allergen documentation, helping ensure company procedures and operational standards were consistently followed.
- Helped coordinate day-to-day staffing during shifts, including organising colleague breaks while maintaining appropriate service coverage.
- Trained approximately four new team members across two summer seasons, supporting them in learning operational procedures, food-safety requirements and expected customer-service standards.
- Operated tills and handled customer transactions accurately in a high-volume environment.
- Responded directly to customer queries and issues, remaining calm and professional while protecting the overall guest experience.
- Maintained efficient and friendly service during periods of significant customer demand while adapting to changing operational priorities.
- Earned increased responsibility through reliability, operational knowledge and a willingness to take ownership.
Education
Business Studies
Cronton Sixth Form College
LiverpoolSkills
Team Leadership & Development
Health & Safety / Risk Management
Visitor Attraction & Hospitality Operations
Recruitment & Training
Opening & Closing Operations
Commercial & Financial Management
Budget & Cost Control
Customer / Guest Experience
Operational Compliance
Food Safety & Allergen Compliance
Staff Deployment & Scheduling
Stakeholder & Supplier Management
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Name & contact
Charlie, Aspinall, Liverpool, Merseyside, cajaspinall@gmail.com, Full, clean UK driving licence, 07895 597732
Affiliations
- Theatre & Live Entertainment
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Travelling
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
St Helens Theatre Royal, Volunteer Front-of-House Operations, At a young age, was entrusted with coordinating interval refreshments for an organised group of approximately 150 taxi drivers and their accompanying families., Prepared stock and service trolleys in advance and coordinated another team member responsible for an additional trolley., Planned how service would be delivered efficiently within an approximately 20-minute interval window., Developed early experience of delegation, preparation, organisation and time-critical customer service. Went on to receive the Front Of House Award within 6 months of volunteering, chosen out of a team of 40.
QUALIFICATIONS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Level 2 Food Hygiene
- Allergen Training
- Alcohol Licensing Training
- Full, clean UK driving licence
- Based in Liverpool, Merseyside
- Available for full-time management opportunities
- Comfortable working across the operating hours required within a busy hospitality environment
Timeline
Founder, Producer & Director
CAJ Productions
2025.03 - 2026.07
Hospitality Team Member
Knowsley Safari Park
2022.07 - 2024.12
Coffee Cart Supervisor
Hospitality Agency
Business Studies
Cronton Sixth Form College