Lara Sian Makin
Hawick,Scottish Borders
Summary
Dedicated culinary professional with expertise in food preparation techniques and kitchen station organisation. Demonstrates strong proficiency in food safety, kitchen equipment, and hygiene awareness, ensuring high standards in all culinary operations. Known for adaptability in stressful situations and efficient time management, contributing to seamless kitchen workflows. A trustworthy team player with a caring approach, committed to delivering exceptional customer service while accommodating dietary requirements. Aspires to further enhance nutritional knowledge and baking skills within a dynamic culinary environment.
Talented Team Leader experienced and dedicated to enhancing employee satisfaction and business success. Diplomatic and friendly with proven commitment to employee training. Hardworking team player bringing necessary experience and knowledge to tackle any operational demand.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Kitchen associate
JD Weatherspoons
Hawick, The Scottish Borders
2025.06 - Current
- Ensured high customer satisfaction with prompt food delivery.
- Supported team members during busy periods, ensuring seamless operations during rush hours.
- Completed deep cleaning tasks to ensure hygienic conditions.
- Prepared ingredients, resulting in smooth cooking process.
- Upheld top-notch hygiene standards by properly washing utensils and equipment.
- Collaborated with other staff members, improving overall service quality.
- Enhanced kitchen efficiency by maintaining cleanliness and orderliness of all areas.
- Handled waste disposal efficiently, keeping the kitchen clutter-free and sanitary.
- Followed health and safety guidelines to maintain safe kitchen environment.
- Adhered to kitchen protocols whilst performing daily responsibilities.
- Cleaned workstations after each use, promoting a tidy kitchen space.
- Contributed to positive dining experience through timely food delivery to servers.
- Performed basic food prep tasks, enabling faster meal production.
- Assisted in dishwashing duties, ensuring availability of clean utensils for cooking and serving.
- Cooperated well with kitchen teams, improving workflow and raising working standards.
Team leader
TJ Morris Ltd
Hawick, The Scottish Borders
2023.12 - 2025.06
- Encouraged open communication, fostering a positive work culture.
- Developed strategies for improved performance level across the team.
- Introduced innovative solutions which maximised output without compromising quality.
- Streamlined workflow for a more efficient process.
- Handled employee grievances professionally, minimising potential workplace disputes.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to identify areas of improvement for each team member.
- Ensured adherence to company policy by all team members, maintaining professionalism at all times.
- Monitored daily operations whilst reducing operational cost significantly.
- Prioritised tasks according to urgency and importance, optimising workload allocation among team members.
- Increased team cohesion by implementing regular feedback sessions.
- Coordinated daily tasks, ensuring smooth workflow within the team.
- Improved customer satisfaction through close collaboration with the team.
- Provided comprehensive onboarding training to reduce learning curve for new hires.
- Negotiated successful outcomes in challenging scenarios, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills.
- Provided leadership and direction for employees, supervising activities to drive productivity and efficiency.
Store assistant
TJ Morris Ltd
Hawick, The Scottish Borders
2021.11 - 2023.12
- Improved product availability by effectively restocking shelves.
- Managed inventory effectively to prevent stock shortages.
- Provided product information to facilitate informed purchasing decisions.
- Directed customers towards desired merchandise successfully reducing search time.
- Monitored shop floor consistently to deter thefts and losses.
- Enhanced customer service by responding promptly to queries.
- Carried out price checks accurately for correct billing at the till point.
- Supported colleagues during peak hours for efficient checkout process.
- Assisted customers, resulting in a positive shopping experience.
- Increased sales through suggestive selling techniques.
- Maintained store cleanliness for an appealing shopping environment.
- Arranged displays attractively, driving impulse purchases.
- Followed standard operating procedures strictly enforcing company policies and standards.
- Ensured products' freshness by regularly checking and removing expired items.
- Covered extra shifts and maintained flexible schedule to achieve store goals.
- Completed purchases with cash, credit and debit payment methods, providing customer receipts for reference.
Kitchen Assistant
JD Weatherspoons
Hawick, Scotland
2020.08 - 2020.11
- Kept all utensils, dishes and glasses clean and ready for customer use.
- Supported chefs in managing food preparation to achieve precise plating and presentation.
- Cleaned dishes with detergent, rinsing and sanitising chemicals.
- Removed rubbish and dropped food items regularly to keep workspaces neat and clean.
- Maintained clean and well-organised kitchen areas to promote efficiency.
- Restocked main kitchen areas with items from shelves, coolers and freezers.
- Monitored and recorded temperatures of food, storage, and service areas to maintain established, regulatory guidelines.
- Cleaned, sanitised and organised food speed racks, bins and dry storage racks.
- Maintained clean and sanitised work area in accordance with food safety guidelines, avoiding cross-contamination of raw and prepared food products.
- Prepared dishes for catering events or during high-volume shifts.
Education
Scottish Qualifications Certificate - Personal Finance
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Admininstartion and IT
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Photography
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Adminstration and IT
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Fashion and Textile Technology
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Graphic Communication
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Mathematics
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Travel and Tourism
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - English
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Modren Studies
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - History
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersGCSEs - Physics
Hawick High School
Scottish BordersSkills
- Food preparation techniques
- Kitchen station organisation
- Food safety
- Kitchen equipment expertise
- Problem Solving
- Team Player
- Baking basics
- Nutritional knowledge
- Dietary requirements knowledge
- Hygiene awareness
- Customer Service
- Trustworthy
- Caring
- Proficient hearing
- Cleaning procedures
- Adaptability in stressful situations
- Time management efficiency
Accomplishments
Participate in Disco Freestyle Dance from the age of 3 Year old. Won multiple titles including British National Championship at the age of 15. Travelled up and down the country to participate in competitions against other dancers.
Stopped dancing at the age of 18 to study for becoming a teacher in different styles of dance
Certification
Child wellbeing and protection in sport Certificate
Affiliations
- Dancing
- Lego
- Gym
Languages
I have started to learn how to speak Romanian
Dance
I currently volunteer and help my sister run her dance school (Got2Dance)
Timeline
Kitchen associate
JD Weatherspoons
2025.06 - Current
Team leader
TJ Morris Ltd
2023.12 - 2025.06
Store assistant
TJ Morris Ltd
2021.11 - 2023.12
Kitchen Assistant
JD Weatherspoons
2020.08 - 2020.11
GCSEs - Admininstartion and IT
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Photography
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Adminstration and IT
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Fashion and Textile Technology
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Graphic Communication
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Mathematics
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Travel and Tourism
Hawick High School
GCSEs - English
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Modren Studies
Hawick High School
GCSEs - History
Hawick High School
GCSEs - Physics
Hawick High School
Scottish Qualifications Certificate - Personal Finance
Hawick High School