Leia Blackwell
Blackpool
Summary
Dedicated and experienced Commercial Duty Manager with over 9 years of experience, specialising in food and beverage. I am skilled in team leadership, managing daily operations and maintaining high food hygiene and safety standards. With proven ability to show outstanding organisational skills, enabling day-to-day operations to run smoothly. I am passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and supporting the team as well as contributing to the business success.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
22
22
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Commercial Duty Manager
The Blackpool Tower
Blackpool, Lancashire
2025.06 - Current
- Supervise daily food and beverage operations by supporting staff and delegating tasks efficiently
- Monitor stock levels and liaise with food and beverage management team
- Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health and safety regulations across all units
- Completing monthly food audits and temperature probe checks to ensure all units are up to standard
- Support team to overcome new challenges
- Updating allergy matrix each month to ensure food safety regulations are met
- Increase sales through upselling and contribute new ideas to increase revenue
- Ensure excellent customer service standards are maintained throughout the business
- Supporting management by implementing monthly stocktake figures
- Organising and prepping in advance for large upcoming events to ensure operations run smoothly
- Train and support new employees on company procedures, service standards and assist with online food safety training
- Support with events and set ups to ensure all clients requirements are met
- Provide kitchen team with food menus and dietary requirements for event catering in advance
- Carry out monthly one-to-ones with team members and liaise with higher management if their is any concerns
- Conduct management building open and closing procedures and ensure units have completed all their open and close checks to a high standard.
- Support food and beverage team with breaks
- Handling customer complaints and operational issues promptly and professionally in a fast pace working environment
- Support management team with rotas
- Ability to pull daily building figures, afternoon tea reports and review the guest services diary every morning for any special requirements
- Create and deliver team briefs to all team members to report daily figures and any important information team require to know for the day
- Implementing daily cash-up figures and completing weekly refund and guest recovery checks
- Support management with seasonal menu launches
Ballroom Senior Host
The Blackpool Tower
Blackpool, Lancashire
2021.06 - 2025.06
- Managing and ensuring a smooth workflow within the team
- Welcoming and assisting guests whilst ensuring a positive first impression
- Create a seating plan for afternoon tea bookings and ensure any special requirements are met prior to guests arriving
- Completing opening and closing senior host walk round and reporting any concerns
- Training new employees on each unit and ensuring they have completed their training booklet
- Ensure all tills have been cashed up and given to management team
- Organising breaks and daily positions each day to ensure operations run smoothly
- Liaise with management team for daily figures including afternoon tea, cream tea numbers and special dietary requirements
- Ensure food safety and hygiene are kept to a high standard by implementing daily cleaning jobs
- Ensuring temperature checks are carried out twice a day and signed off
- Stock up all food and beverage areas and liaise with management if any stock is low
- Assist with organising and prepping group afternoon tea bookings to ensure service runs well
Guest experience host
The Blackpool Tower
Blackpool, Lancashire
2016.10 - 2021.06
- Ensure units are kept to a high standard and follow food safety and hygiene regulations
- Greet and serve customers maintaining good customer service and creating a memorable experience
- Dealing with cash and card payments accurately
- Assist with event set ups
- Ensuring all food is date labelled and fifo is in place
- Completing open and closing paperwork, including recording daily temperatures twice a day
- Complete daily cleaning jobs to ensure all units are thoroughly cleaned
- Actively listen to guests to understand their needs when taking their afternoon tea or tea bar order
- Understanding and knowledge of allergies
- Maintain clear communication between guests and kitchen team
- Set up afternoon tea tables after service with correct cutlery and crockery
Education
A-Levels - Travel and Tourism
Blackpool Sixth Form
Blackpool 2016.09 - 2018.05
A-Levels - Dance
Blackpool Sixth Form
Blackpool 2016.09 - 2018.05
GCSEs - Maths
St Marys Catholic College
Blackpool 2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - English
St Marys Catholic College
Blackpool 2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - Science
St Marys Catholic College
Blackpool 2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - Spanish, PE, Religious Studies, Leisure & Tourism
St Marys Catholic College
Blackpool 2011.09 - 2016.05
Skills
- Multitasking under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Communication skills
- Team leadership and support
- Employee training and development
- Exceptional organisation
- Stock control and inventory management
- Food Safety & Hygiene compliance
- Outstanding customer service
- Point of sale systems
- Event and catering planning
- Knowledge and understanding of allergies
- Level 3 Food Hygiene Certification
Timeline
Commercial Duty Manager
The Blackpool Tower
2025.06 - Current
Ballroom Senior Host
The Blackpool Tower
2021.06 - 2025.06
Guest experience host
The Blackpool Tower
2016.10 - 2021.06
A-Levels - Travel and Tourism
Blackpool Sixth Form
2016.09 - 2018.05
A-Levels - Dance
Blackpool Sixth Form
2016.09 - 2018.05
GCSEs - Maths
St Marys Catholic College
2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - English
St Marys Catholic College
2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - Science
St Marys Catholic College
2011.09 - 2016.05
GCSEs - Spanish, PE, Religious Studies, Leisure & Tourism
St Marys Catholic College
2011.09 - 2016.05