Denise Sheridan
Devizes,Wiltshire
Summary
Results-driven Operations Manager with a strong foundation in operational management. Achieved significant turnover and profit margin increases through strategic leadership and effective compliance management. Mentored teams to enhance performance and problem-solving capabilities in dynamic environments.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Operations
PS91 Hospitality Ltd
11.2024 - 04.2026
- Oversaw operational management, providing regular updates to directors and owners.
- Maintained compliance with food safety, health and safety, and building standards through effective equipment servicing.
- Redesigned operational policies and procedures to enhance organisation and support sales growth across sites.
- Delivered financial reports that improved directors' daily insights into business operations.
- Implemented KPIs to enhance service quality, realise cost savings, and ensure compliance.
Business Development Manager
Roundstone Catering
01.2024 - 11.2024
- Established business partnerships, enhancing customer acquisition and revenue generation.
- Negotiated contracts with new clients, securing profitable deals and expanding the company's client base.
- Maintained client relationships, contributing to achievement of sales targets.
- Identified cross-selling opportunities through customer needs analysis, facilitating increased sales potential.
- Analysed market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for business expansion.
- Supported risk management processes for offsite catering engineers.
- Devised health and safety policies for company.
Operations Manager
Swoon Gelato
05.2021 - 12.2023
- Led operational management across the business, ensuring seamless functions from production units to gelato bars.
- Strategically managed budgets, forecasts, and business development plans.
- Drove a 30% increase in profit margins through outstanding sales strategies.
- Championed site launches and upgrades, enhancing strategic growth and profitability.
- Pioneered new product development to optimise sales and maintain high product standards.
- Formulated weekly financial reports for board insights, focusing on trading and wage metrics.
- Redefined HR policies to enable store managers in effective recruitment and retention.
- Steered brand recognition as UK's top gelato bar by The Guardian.
- Achieved numerous Great Taste Awards for our gelato and cakes.
Safety Manager
Wadworth & Co Ltd
06.2019 - 12.2020
- Devised and implemented comprehensive food safety and health & safety policies and procedures to ensure full regulatory and company compliance.
- Applied expertise and in-depth knowledge of the business incorporating 56 managed pubs with overall responsibility for food safety, compliance, and health & safety including property refurbishments.
- Established and conducted unannounced safety audits for 56 pubs based on risk assessment, ensuring consistent safety standards and compliance across all locations.
- Created and led ‘Covid Crisis Team’ in March 2020, evaluating government guidelines and implementing company policies. Developed site-specific risk assessments prioritising safety of team members and customers. Issued daily briefing notes to keep team informed of changing regulations.
- Provided safety training to management and employees, analysed online training reports, identified gaps and take appropriate action where deemed necessary.
- Devised and delivered training programmes for Tenanted Division, equipping new business partners with essential knowledge on food safety and health & safety regulations.
- Conducted food poisoning allegations and accident investigations and liaised with the insurance company.
- Collaborated with the Food Development Manager to ensure all menus complied with the Food Information Regulations 2014.
- Created a progressive and effective relationship with local authority officers to maintain high levels of food safety compliance in the business.
- Developed strong external partnerships that supported the business strategic objectives.
- Established all supplier approval arrangements and audited nominated suppliers for quality assurance or 3rd party accreditation.
Operations Manager (Managed)
Wadworth & Co Ltd
01.2014 - 06.2019
- Core role to direct all aspects of operational performance for thirteen sites, with an overall management responsibility for driving £12 million of sales lines and delivering £3 million in profit.
- Evidenced exceptional sales performance across the managed house estate.
- Boosted like for like sales by 9.4% in 2016.
- Spearheaded an annual capital expenditure programme and budget for area which resulted in a minimum return on investment of 16%.
- Spearheaded new concepts and repositioned customer offers to optimise return on investment across capital investments.
- Expertly managing budgets, forecasts and the development strategy for the area.
- Enabling and empowering the managers and teams to take full accountability for their sites and allowing them to deliver strong growth through exceptional customer service and guest experience.
- Successfully relaunched refurbishment of 11 sites between 2014 and 2018.
- Contributed to customer experience behavioural charter, Magical Places, Legendary Pubs, transforming business strategy from transactional to experiential, driving sales, profit, and net promoter score.
Retail Food Audit Manager
Wadworth & Co Ltd
04.2007 - 06.2019
- Created, developed and implemented a comprehensive food safety management system, enhancing compliance and operational standards.
- Designed and implemented full working HACCP system and comprehensive safety policies and procedures.
- Direct Responsibility for 44 managed sites with regards to food safety and health & safety.
- Trained staff in food safety and health and safety protocols, achieving certification for level 1, 2 and 3 awards in food safety and principles of manual handling.
- Devised and executed inhouse training programmes for the managed and tenanted divisions.
- Liaised with tenanted business development managers, advising and supporting food safety initiatives across 200 additional sites.
- Carried out unannounced technical safety inspections on a risk basis.
- Conduct scheduled hotel inspections to adhere to company standards and maintain Visit Britain status.
- Developed written procedures for hotel standards and implemented principles.
- Successful track record in the negotiation of company service providers to ensure best price and quality of product.
- Conducted full access audits to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
- Through quality of training delivered of level 3 award in food safety 100% of students passed examination of which 87% gained a merit score.
Safety Consultant
Self Employed
12.2002 - 04.2007
- Provided continuous analysis of safety data, identifying repetitively weak safety barriers and recommended potential solutions.
- Inspected workplace to determine required improvements to eliminate hazards.
- Investigated incident claims, outlining findings in comprehensive reports.
- Managed safety communication and awareness campaigns, increasing employee engagement in safety initiatives.
QA Manager
Haydens Bakeries
09.1998 - 12.2002
- Conducted internal audits of quality procedures to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.
- Design and implementation of quality procedures and documented control systems to meet the requirement for customer and legal requirements.
- Prepared comprehensive customer technical specifications to meet client needs and regulatory standards.
- Provided full training for production employees to ensure quality standards were adhered to.
- Directly managed 5 employees over a 24 hour shift pattern.
- Site liaison for BRC technical audits and customer visits.
- Deal directly and indirectly with consumers and customers with regard to customer complaints.
- Conduct environmental hygiene swabbing to ensure compliance with technical specifications.
- Conducted microbiology assessments on finished products to ensure safety standards.
- Analysis of weight and traceability documentation.
- Developed new products based on market research and concept testing to align offerings with customer preferences.
QC/Laboratory Supervisor
Hazlewood Foods
01.1992 - 09.1998
Education
7 GCSE’s -
Devizes Comprehensive School
DevizesHND - Food Technology/Applied Biology
Cannington Collage
RIPHH Diploma in Food Hygiene & Safety – Advanced Level (with Honours) -
City of Bristol College
CIEH Professional Trainer Certificate -
City of Bristol College
Training and Development NVQ Level 3 -
City of Bristol College
National Certificate for Personal License Holders -
BIIAB
Operational Inspection of Children’s Playgrounds -
RoSPA
National General Certificate Level 3 with Credit -
NEBOSH
Wines and Spirits, Level 2 -
WSET
Level 2 Award in Beer and Cellar Quality -
BIIAB
Skills
- Operational Management
- Performance Management
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Change Management
- Compliance tracking
- Auditing
- Food hygiene
- Health and Safety
- Leadership
- Employee Engagement
- Staff Development
Timeline
Head of Operations
PS91 Hospitality Ltd
11.2024 - 04.2026
Business Development Manager
Roundstone Catering
01.2024 - 11.2024
Operations Manager
Swoon Gelato
05.2021 - 12.2023
Safety Manager
Wadworth & Co Ltd
06.2019 - 12.2020
Operations Manager (Managed)
Wadworth & Co Ltd
01.2014 - 06.2019
Retail Food Audit Manager
Wadworth & Co Ltd
04.2007 - 06.2019
Safety Consultant
Self Employed
12.2002 - 04.2007
QA Manager
Haydens Bakeries
09.1998 - 12.2002
QC/Laboratory Supervisor
Hazlewood Foods
01.1992 - 09.1998
7 GCSE’s -
Devizes Comprehensive School
HND - Food Technology/Applied Biology
Cannington Collage
RIPHH Diploma in Food Hygiene & Safety – Advanced Level (with Honours) -
City of Bristol College
CIEH Professional Trainer Certificate -
City of Bristol College
Training and Development NVQ Level 3 -
City of Bristol College
National Certificate for Personal License Holders -
BIIAB
Operational Inspection of Children’s Playgrounds -
RoSPA
National General Certificate Level 3 with Credit -
NEBOSH
Wines and Spirits, Level 2 -
WSET
Level 2 Award in Beer and Cellar Quality -
BIIAB