Ian Parrott
Horsham,England
Summary
Motivated Catering Operations Manager offering over 25 years experience in the food industry. Focused on high standards for taste and quality, while maintaining profitable margins. Superior communication and leadership skills. Expert in managing kitchen staff and preparing foods at reduced cost without compromising quality and taste.
Overview
1
1
Certification
25
25
years of professional experience
Work history
Regional Operations Manager
Olive Dining Ltd
London & Home Counties
2025.12 - Current
- Allocated budgets to support cost-effective operations across regional branches daily.
- Built high-performance culture through continuous improvement and shared quality commitments.
- Created open communication channels for ideas, concerns, and suggestions without fear.
- Streamlined operational workflows to raise efficiency across day-to-day activities.
- Managed supply chain performance by strengthening vendor relationships in each region.
- Maintained health and safety standards across all regional branches consistently.
- Developed seasonal menus for diverse events and gathered positive participant feedback.
- Optimised inventory management processes to prevent wastage and reduce costs.
- Delivered client satisfaction by keeping food quality and presentation consistently high.
- Implemented waste management practices to reduce overall costs across regions.
- Devised marketing strategies to increase brand visibility in the target market segment.
Operations Manager
Chapter One
Woking, SRY
2023.01 - 2025.11
- Led and coached team leaders to meet performance targets and deliver operational excellence.
- Monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
- Maintained outstanding hygiene levels for optimised customer safety and continued regulatory compliance.
- Sought out and implemented methods to improve service and team performance, boosting business sustainability with continuous enhancements.
- Designed catering packages to increase sales and customer experience.
- Established clear budgets and cost controls strategies to meet objectives.
- Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication skills, problem solving capabilities.
- Operational Responsibility for 19 Independent Schools with annual turnover in excess of £10m.
- Maintained health and safety standards across all regional branches.
- Managed regional teams to ensure alignment with company objectives.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations whilst maintaining operational excellence.
Operations Manager
Olive Dining
Westerham, Kent
2021.11 - 2023.01
- Regularly monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
- Controlled operations costs in line with budget targets, substantially reducing excess spending.
- Met with clients to outline desired goals and to prepared quotes for overall catering costs.
- Quickly identified problem situations, skilfully resolving incidents to maintain satisfaction of involved parties.
- Effectively managed payroll and HR processes, including paperwork completion for new hires and terminations.
Group Manager
Chartwells
South East, West Sussex
2021.08 - 2021.11
- Worked actively with management team to create daily and weekly sales plans based on weekly sales trends.
- Increased efficiency and team productivity by promoting adherence to operational best practices and company policies.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Met with clients to outline desired goals and to prepared quotes for overall catering costs.
Operations Manager
Thomas Franks Ltd
Banbury, OXF
2018.08 - 2021.06
- Providing Operational Management to multiple catering operations across South East and Central London, principally in the Private School Sector covering nursery through to 6th form children.
- Responsible for Food Safety, Allergens, Health & Safety Compliance and Internal Operations Audits and COVID compliance.
- Supporting each site in their catering journey, building and managing operational budgets, whilst supplying the highest quality food for all guests.
- Managing high profile 'special' events including banquets and balls.
- Area financial reporting and statistics.
- Enhanced DBS certification and Safeguarding Children certification.
- Responsible for 100 + staff, their recruitment, training and development.
General Catering Manager
KUDOS Catering
Crawley, West Sussex
2017.12 - 2018.08
- Managed kitchen staff by recruiting, selecting, hiring, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and enforcing discipline when necessary.
- Prepared food items consistently and in compliance with recipes, portioning, cooking and waste control guidelines.
- Maintained a skilled kitchen staff by properly coaching, counselling and disciplining employees.
- Developed menus, pricing and special food offerings to increase revenue and customer satisfaction.
- Achieved and exceeded performance, budget and team goals.
- Prepared operational reports and analyses and made appropriate recommendations about progress and negative trends.
Operations Support Manager
Baxter Storey
South East
2011.06 - 2017.12
- April 2014 - December 2017
- Operations Support Manager
- Providing Operational Support to 21 Catering sites across South East.
- Responsible for Food Safety, Health & Safety Compliance and Internal Operations Audits.
- Supporting each site in growing their business.
- Area financial reporting and statistics.
- Guidance at all sites on Retail Presentation.
- Staff Training.
- June 2011 - April 2014
- Chef Manager at Elekta Oncology in Crawley
- Positively engaged with customers, offering menu information, providing suggestions and showing genuine appreciation for their business.
- Created and managed budgets for operations and capital equipment.
- Developed menus, pricing and special food offerings to increase revenue and customer satisfaction.
- Maintained a skilled kitchen staff by properly coaching, counselling and disciplining employees.
- Managed kitchen staff by recruiting, selecting, hiring, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and enforcing discipline when necessary.
Chef Manager
Charlton House Catering
Horsham
2007.09 - 2011.06
- ISO 14001 Certification
- Personal BII License
- Prepared food items consistently and in compliance with recipes, portioning, cooking and waste control guidelines.
- Managed kitchen staff by recruiting, selecting, hiring, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and enforcing discipline when necessary.
- Instructed new staff in proper food preparation, food storage, use of kitchen equipment and utensils, sanitation and safety issues.
- Ensured all staff understood expectations and parameters of kitchen goals and daily kitchen work.
Head Chef / Chef Manager
Compass Group
South East
2001.11 - 2007.09
- Prepared food items consistently and in compliance with recipes, portioning, cooking and waste control guidelines.
- Managed kitchen staff by recruiting, selecting, hiring, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, supervising, evaluating and enforcing discipline when necessary.
- Maintained a skilled kitchen staff by properly coaching, counselling and disciplining employees.
- Actively involved in cost control, sanitation, menu development, training, recruitment, private dining and catering.
- Maintained smooth and timely operations in preparation and delivery of meals and kitchen sanitation.
- Prepared operational reports and analyses and made appropriate recommendations about progress and negative trends.
Employed in various positions during this period with Compass Group.
Positions ranging from Head Chef at Whitgift School, Catering Manager and Chef Manager.
Education
Secondary Education Exam - Catering
East Surrey College
Redhill1989
Skills
- Strong attention to safe food handling procedures
- Extensive catering background
- Menu marketing expertise
- Institutional and batch cooking
- Effective planner
- Hospitality and service industry background
Certification
Managing Food Safety - Level 3
Managing Health and Safety - Level 3
COSHH
Allergen Champion
British Institute of Innkeepers
D32 / D33 NVQ Assessor
Timeline
Regional Operations Manager
Olive Dining Ltd
2025.12 - Current
Operations Manager
Chapter One
2023.01 - 2025.11
Operations Manager
Olive Dining
2021.11 - 2023.01
Group Manager
Chartwells
2021.08 - 2021.11
Operations Manager
Thomas Franks Ltd
2018.08 - 2021.06
General Catering Manager
KUDOS Catering
2017.12 - 2018.08
Operations Support Manager
Baxter Storey
2011.06 - 2017.12
Chef Manager
Charlton House Catering
2007.09 - 2011.06
Head Chef / Chef Manager
Compass Group
2001.11 - 2007.09
Secondary Education Exam - Catering
East Surrey College