Max Smith
Lingen,Herefordshire
Summary
Dynamic professional with a strong focus on innovation and creativity, adept at influential communication and strategic visioning. Demonstrates expertise in performance measurement, driving organisational success through effective evaluation and improvement strategies. Committed to leveraging skills to foster growth and achieve long-term objectives within forward-thinking environments.
Seasoned professional with focus on commercial operations and strategy. Drive business growth and operational excellence through innovative problem-solving and strategic planning. Excel in team leadership, process optimisation, and stakeholder management to deliver impactful results.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Commercial Operations
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
09.2022 - 03.2026
- Managing and developing all 'unrestricted' income generating streams for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. This includes managing retail units, café, visitor attractions/centre, car parking, venue hire and events. My objective is to maximise current channels and generate new streams including additional retail units & accommodation.
Class Teacher- Primary
St James Primary School, Hereford & Rangeworthy Primary School, Bristol
09.2022 - 09.2022
Area Manager
DOMINION HOSPITALITY
06.2018 - 06.2018
- Managing an area of 11 Hotels/Coaching Inns for Dominion Hospitality previously known as Chapman Inns and marketed under the brand name Relaxinnz. Developing strategies to improve standards and revenues across all areas of these busy hotels.
Business Development Manager
PUNCH INNS (South) PUNCH TAVERNS
06.2017 - 06.2017
- Working across an area of 32 Pubs/Hotels with more than 6 letting bedrooms to develop the business owners offer and income. As part of trial Punch Taverns have selected hospitality professionals to assist the growth of rooms revenue. Key initial focus on standards, technology and marketing to increase ARR, Occupancy and RevPAR.
Cluster General Manager – Chippenham & Swindon
PREMIER INN
05.2010 - 05.2016
- Management of 7 Premier Inn’s in Chippenham, Swindon, Trowbridge & Stroud with a room stock of 565 rooms with an annual turnover of £10 million.
Casino Manager- F&B
GALA CASINOS
Bristol Harbourside
03.2009 - 05.2010
- Management of the Food & Beverage and all non gaming functions of one of Gala’s flagship Casinos. The Casino is a 24 hour operation including Restaurant, Kitchen, Two Bars, Reception, Customer Service and Maintenance departments. Managing a team of around 60 across these functions of the Casino.
Owner/Manager
The High Cross Inn
Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria
08.2007 - 01.2009
Food & Beverage Manager
Lakeside Hotel
Newby Bridge, Cumbria
06.2006 - 07.2007
Pub Manager
JDWETHERSPOON
Fallowfield, Manchester
09.2005 - 06.2006
Dual Site Pub Manager
JDWETHERSPOON
Lancaster
09.2000 - 09.2005
- Manage two Wetherspoon Pubs in Lancaster with turnover of around £3 million.
- Manage and motivate a team of around 80 including 8 shift managers.
Grocery Manager
J SAINSBURY PLC
Birmingham
09.1997 - 08.2000
- Role
- Managing a team of 50 across the dry goods function of the store.
- As Grocery Manager achieve sales targets of around £200,000 a week
Education
PGCE -
University of Gloucestershire
09.2018 - 07.2019
BSc Honours Management - Marketing, Economics, HR, Accounting and Finance
Lancaster University
Lancaster 10.1994 - 06.1997
A Level Mathematics (B) - Geography (B), Business Studies(B)
Stamford School
Stamford, Lincs 09.1992 - 07.1994
10 GCSEs - Maths A, French A, Science (Double) A, English C
Thomas Magnus School
Newark, Notts 09.1990 - 07.1992
Skills
- Innovation and creativity
- Influential communication
- Performance measurement
- Strategic visioning
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Hold a Personal Licence.
- A Member of The British Institute of Innkeepers
- Hold The SIA Doorstaff License
- Full UK Driving Licence
Timeline
Head of Commercial Operations
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
09.2022 - 03.2026
Class Teacher- Primary
St James Primary School, Hereford & Rangeworthy Primary School, Bristol
09.2022 - 09.2022
PGCE -
University of Gloucestershire
09.2018 - 07.2019
Area Manager
DOMINION HOSPITALITY
06.2018 - 06.2018
Business Development Manager
PUNCH INNS (South) PUNCH TAVERNS
06.2017 - 06.2017
Cluster General Manager – Chippenham & Swindon
PREMIER INN
05.2010 - 05.2016
Casino Manager- F&B
GALA CASINOS
03.2009 - 05.2010
Owner/Manager
The High Cross Inn
08.2007 - 01.2009
Food & Beverage Manager
Lakeside Hotel
06.2006 - 07.2007
Pub Manager
JDWETHERSPOON
09.2005 - 06.2006
Dual Site Pub Manager
JDWETHERSPOON
09.2000 - 09.2005
Grocery Manager
J SAINSBURY PLC
09.1997 - 08.2000
BSc Honours Management - Marketing, Economics, HR, Accounting and Finance
Lancaster University
10.1994 - 06.1997
A Level Mathematics (B) - Geography (B), Business Studies(B)
Stamford School
09.1992 - 07.1994
10 GCSEs - Maths A, French A, Science (Double) A, English C
Thomas Magnus School
09.1990 - 07.1992