James Slater
Hucknall, Nottingham
Summary
A driven, ambitious and innovative strategic leader and senior manager. Experience within the hospitality and events sector spanning over a decade. Specialising in commercial services, general management and also a key player in Nottingham's night-time economy. With a focus and know-how for driving footfall and online traffic for commercial growth. Heading up the strategic and operational delivery simultaneously of multiple, multifaceted venues, departments and teams in a third-sector organisation's portfolio. Leading various departments, including food and beverages, business development, Events, marketing, technical and production. Passionate for delivering superior value, improving customer experience, and increasing engagement with cultural cornerstones and stakeholders through collaboration, insight and partnership working. With excellent business acumen, demonstratable business-to-business and brand partnership successes. Always striving for excellence, through continuous reflection, development and improvement by seeking feedback and identifying areas for potential personal and professional development and growth.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Venues and Operations Manager
The Level & Nottingham Trent Students' Union
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
2019.06 - Current
- Responsible for multi-million-pound venues' budgets
- DPS for multiple venues (2500, 1400 and 300cap)
- Oversee venue facilities, bars, cafes, kitchens, private hire, business development, marketing, technical & production departments
- Corporate events, brand activations, private bookings & hospitality
- Responsible for venues RAMs, health, safety & compliance.
- Lead venue SIA security procurement tender & manages contract
- Run a successful £1M weekly club event
- General Manager 'The Level', with guests such as Lewis Capaldi
- Liaises with authorities (licensing, police, council and BID)
- Leading on HR processes
- KPI and objective setting
- Increasing revenue, profitability, footfall and reducing costs
- Ticketing platform procurement
- Regular review of organisational strategic and operational risk
- Heads up the country's biggest student Freshers Week
- Introducing modern welfare and well-being initiatives
- Venues review and reporting
- Oversight of F&B stock management systems, SOPs & procurement processes
- Management of venue EPOS
- Regularly presenting updates to the board
- Leads, develops & motivates a team of 25 full-time department managers, supervisors, team leaders & up to 250 0-hour staff
- Identify and present future capital projects for reinvestment
- Collating and reconciling PRS/PPL
- Continuously reviews, develops venue policies & procedures
Interim Communications & Insight Manager
Nottingham Trent Students' Union
2020.11 - 2021.03
- A secondment and temporary role undertaken during Covid19
- Updating and maintenance of digital, online platforms
- Managed and coordinated communications' and insight strategy
- Lead the organisation's central marketing team
Assistant Entertainments Manager
Nottingham Trent Students
2018.02 - 2019.05
- Works across many venues in Nottingham city and NTSU portfolio
- Delivered high standards of customer care
- Providing daily ticket sales data reports for individual events, including physical sales and online tickets
- Collated and maintained guest lists
- Point of contact for venue availability, advancing of shows and settlements
- Developed a strong understanding of technical production
- Stage management and artist liaison responsibilities
- Directing venue staff and contractors
Entertainments Supervisor
Nottingham Trent Students
2014.01 - 2018.01
- Day-to-day management of NTSU Box Office and venue services adhering to processes and procedures
- Audit, compliance and data analysis of Box Office sales
- Recruited, managed and developed a team of 30+ 0 hours staff
- Produced event briefs and presented qualitative and quantitative reports
Events Assistant
Nottingham Arena
2014.01 - 2014.09
- Delivered excellent customer service for up to 10,000 customers at events and corporate conferences
- Venue service delivery; Interpreted floor plans (CAD), stage building, rigging and venue décor
- Venue conversions adhering to corporate health and safety policy
Education
MSc - Business Leadership and Management
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Business School
Nottingham 2016.09 - 2018.09
BA (hons) - Business Management & Marketing
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Business School
Nottingham 2009.09 - 2013.06
Business BTEC -
Truro College
Truro 2006.09 - 2008.06
GCSEs -
Richard Lander School
Truro 2005.09 - 2006.05
Skills
Leadership & people management
Goal setting, performance & KPIs
Business development
Project management
Budgeting
P&L
Facilities management
RAMs
Excellent customer service
Training and development
Operations
Strategic planning & forecasting
Negotiating
Partnership working
Human resources
Risk management
Office 365
Networking
Certification
NEBOSH General Certificate
Personal Licence Holder
Carbon Literacy Certificate
SIA Door Supervisor License
Action Counters Terrorism
Emergency First Aid at Work
Alumni Fellow NTU
Affiliations
- Night Time Industry Association's (NTIA) Ambassador for Nottingham
- Nottingham Pub Watch Committee Member
- NTIA Member
- Nottingham Trent Alumni Fellow
- Partnership working with the Home Office
- Partnership working with the Cabinet Office
Additional Information
Open to
- Informal chats over coffee or phone
- Relocation
- Offers
Specialist Areas
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Health and safety in venues
Welfare and safety in the NTE
Increasing accessibility potential
Safeguarding Women and Children
Bystander Intervention
Security provision
Drugs Safety
Timeline
Interim Communications & Insight Manager
Nottingham Trent Students' Union
2020.11 - 2021.03
Venues and Operations Manager
The Level & Nottingham Trent Students' Union
2019.06 - Current
Assistant Entertainments Manager
Nottingham Trent Students
2018.02 - 2019.05
MSc - Business Leadership and Management
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Business School
2016.09 - 2018.09
Entertainments Supervisor
Nottingham Trent Students
2014.01 - 2018.01
Events Assistant
Nottingham Arena
2014.01 - 2014.09
BA (hons) - Business Management & Marketing
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Business School
2009.09 - 2013.06
Business BTEC -
Truro College
2006.09 - 2008.06
GCSEs -
Richard Lander School
2005.09 - 2006.05