Motivated and results-driven Business Management and Entrepreneurship graduate with proven leadership experience as a Shift Leader at Nando's. Experienced in leading teams of up to 25 employees, managing high-volume operations, driving performance, and delivering exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated ability to coach and develop team members, optimise labour and stock management, and make effective operational decisions under pressure. Strong communication, problem-solving, and organisational skills, with a passion for leadership, continuous improvement, and achieving business objectives. Seeking to leverage practical management experience and commercial awareness within a graduate or management-focused role.
Hi, I’m
Sukhraj Basi
Nottingham,Nottinghamshire
Summary
Overview
7
years of professional experience
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
NandosNottingham
Shift Lead
2024.09 - 2026.07 (1 education.year_Label & 10 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Led and coordinated full restaurant shifts, managing up to 25 team members across Front of House and Back of House operations.
- Independently ran high-volume shifts, ensuring excellent customer service, operational efficiency, and achievement of business targets.
- Delivered shift briefs, live operational direction, and end-of-shift debriefs to maintain clear communication and team alignment.
- Oversaw staff training and coaching programmes, supporting employee development and improving overall team capability.
- Improved team morale and engagement through effective communication, recognition initiatives, and regular performance feedback.
- Enhanced productivity by monitoring performance, providing constructive coaching, and developing underperforming team members.
- Created and executed labour deployment plans, making real-time decisions to optimise staffing levels and customer service standards.
- Managed inventory control processes, reducing wastage and ensuring accurate stock management.
- Controlled DTRT (Doing The Right Thing) recycling procedures and monitored stock variances to minimise losses and maintain compliance.
- Conducted end-of-day cash reconciliation, processed refunds, and maintained financial accountability for shift operations.
- Maintained high standards of food safety, health & safety, and operational compliance across all areas of the restaurant.
- Managed customer complaints and service recovery situations, consistently delivering positive customer outcomes.
- Completed operational handovers, incident reporting, and compliance checks to ensure seamless business continuity.
- Built a positive team culture by recognising high performance, holding team members accountable, and promoting company values.
- Demonstrated strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and organisational skills within a fast-paced hospitality environment.
McDonald'sNottingham, West Bridgford
Crew trainer
2022.12 - 2024.08 (1 education.year_Label & 8 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Trained and developed over 30 crew members in customer service excellence, operational procedures, and performance standards to build a highly productive team.
- Delivered targeted on-the-job coaching and mentoring, accelerating the onboarding process to help new starters quickly become confident, high-performing employees.
- Identified individual training gaps and collaborated with management to implement structured development plans, maximizing team potential.
- Supported multi-skilling across the workforce, training employees on various stations to increase operational flexibility and overall efficiency during peak hours.
- Delegated tasks strategically based on team members' specific skills, experience, and real-time business requirements to optimize shift performance.
- Assisted management in achieving core operational targets, successfully driving metrics around service speed, customer satisfaction, and waste reduction.
- Maintained expert knowledge of company policies and food safety regulations, ensuring strict compliance, hygiene, and sanitation standards were upheld across every shift.
- Led by example in delivering exceptional customer service, professionally resolving complex queries and fostering a welcoming restaurant environment.
- Processed cash and card transactions accurately, maintaining robust financial accountability and sharp attention to detail.
Boo BurgerNottingham, Nottinghamshire
Assistant Manager
2022.02 - 2022.12 (10 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Optimised daily store operations by overseeing inventory control, supply chain replenishment, and cash handling while consistently meeting fast-paced customer demands.
- Managed core financial duties, including revenue reporting and forecasting, to streamline cash flow and ensure seamless business operations.
- Challenged the status quo by introducing innovative operational ideas, successfully driving key performance indicators (KPIs) and improving store efficiency.
- Cultivated a high-performance culture by training staff on operational best practices to maximise productivity and service speed.
- Designed and executed targeted training and development programmes, evaluating staff performance to maintain premium service levels and operational excellence.
- Championed client retention initiatives, nurturing positive customer relationships to elevate brand loyalty and boost repeat business.
- Implemented strict inventory control measures, balancing stock levels to minimise wastage, control costs, and align with real-time consumer demand.
- Strategised visual merchandising and layout planning, maximising store aesthetics, shelf organisation, and product placement to enhance the customer journey.
- Delivered exceptional hospitality in a high-volume, rapid-service environment, ensuring brand standards were met under pressure.
- Enforced rigorous health, safety, and food compliance standards, mitigating operational risks and maintaining full compliance with current regulatory requirements.
Sweet MomentsNottingham
Manager
2020.05 - 2022.02 (1 education.year_Label & 9 education.months_Label)
Job overview
- Increased customer return rate by 40% within two months by conceptualising and launching an innovative, creative new range of waffles, crêpes, and pancakes.
- Recruited, hired, and trained a high-performing team of 20+ employees, coaching them into efficient, skilled dessert artists to maintain premium brand standards.
- Conducted comprehensive menu audits and competitor research over a two-month period to identify market gaps, driving menu enhancements and strategic product additions.
- Optimised inventory control by implementing a strict First In, First Out (FIFO) system, significantly decreasing ingredient wastage and protecting profit margins.
- Oversaw high-volume kitchen and front-of-house operations, successfully managing the precise execution of over 200 orders per day in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Managed full store financial transactions, accurately calculating charges, issuing bills, and handling payment collection with robust cash-handling integrity.
- Chambered excellent customer service standards, proactively liaising with guests and resolving complex issues to protect brand reputation and loyalty.
- Strictly enforced allergen safety protocols, preventing cross-contamination of utensils, surfaces, and pans to safely cater to individuals with severe food allergies and gluten intolerances.
- Maintained rigorous operational hygiene, verifying menu cleanliness, monitoring daily stock availability, and ensuring all heavy cleaning equipment complied with regulatory standards.
- Upholding stringent health and safety compliance, creating a fully compliant environment that guaranteed the absolute protection of employees, consumers, and staff.
Aziz KhanNottingham
Restaurant Floor Manager
2019.03 - 2020.04 (1 education.year_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
Job overview
- Served an average of 100 patrons daily at an authentic Indian restaurant, consistently delivering high-quality hospitality in a fast-paced environment.
- Optimised sales performance by proactively discussing menu items and dietary concerns, leveraging upselling techniques for starters and premium options to meet revenue goals.
- Elevated the guest experience by delivering a personable, welcoming service, accurately taking beverage and special dietary orders while reviewing menu options.
- Managed rigorous closing duties, including the seamless reconciliation of cash drawers and front-of-house restocking to ensure operational readiness for the next day.
- Streamlined supply chain efficiency by systematically stocking newly delivered inventory across storage, kitchen, and food preparation stations.
- Maintained strict adherence to brand expectations, quality benchmarks, and rigorous service standards to uphold the restaurant’s reputation.
Education
Nottingham Trent UniversityNottingham
Bachelor of Arts from Business Management & Entrepreneurship
2022.09 - 2025.07 (2 education.years_Label & 10 education.months_Label)
University overview
1st Class
Nottingham CollegeNottingham
AQA from GCSES
2021-06
University overview
English Language - 6
Maths - 6
Science 6
Nottingham CollegeNottingham
Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma from Business Studies
2020.09 - 2022.06 (1 education.year_Label & 9 education.months_Label)
University overview
D*D*D*
Nottingham CollegeNottingham
Level 1 Certificate from Business Studies
2020-07
University overview
D D D
Sweet MomentsNottingham
Level 3 Food Hygiene and Safety from Food Hygiene and Safety
2020-08
University overview
R.E.A.L EducationNottingham
NVQ Level 4 from Photography
2019-07
University overview
R.E.A.L Education Nottingham
NVQ Level 4 from Creative Media
/2019
University overview
Skills
- Team Leadership
- People Management
- Shift Management
- Staff Coaching & Development
- Operational Management
- Workforce Planning
- Customer Service Excellence
- Performance Management
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Communication Skills
- Inventory & Stock Control
- Financial Accountability
- Time Management
- Health & Safety Compliance
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
- Led large-scale corporate operations at Nando's, independently running high-volume shifts and coordinating up to 25 team members across Front of House and Back of House to hit strict brand efficiency targets.
- Trained and developed over 50 employees collectively across roles, including successfully onboarding 30+ crew members at Nando's in food safety and corporate compliance, and recruiting 20+ dessert artists at Sweet Moments.
- Increased customer return rate by 40% within two months at Sweet Moments by conceptualising and launching an innovative, creative new range of waffles, crêpes, and pancakes.
- Drove multi-site labor and cost efficiencies, creating agile shift deployment plans at Nando's to optimise staffing budgets and executing strict inventory controls at Sweet Moments to minimise profit loss.
- Challenged the status quo by introducing innovative operational ideas at Boo Burger, successfully driving key performance indicators (KPIs) and improving store efficiency.
- Conducted comprehensive menu audits and competitor research over a two-month period to identify strategic market gaps, menu additions, and product enhancements.
- Consistently managed high-capacity environments, overseeing the daily execution of 200+ orders at Sweet Moments and personally welcoming and serving an average of 100 patrons daily at an authentic Indian restaurant.
Timeline
Shift Lead
Nandos
2024.09 - 2026.07 (1 education.year_Label & 10 education.months_Label)
Crew trainer
McDonald's
2022.12 - 2024.08 (1 education.year_Label & 8 education.months_Label)
Nottingham Trent University
Bachelor of Arts from Business Management & Entrepreneurship
2022.09 - 2025.07 (2 education.years_Label & 10 education.months_Label)
Assistant Manager
Boo Burger
2022.02 - 2022.12 (10 education.months_Label)
Nottingham College
Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma from Business Studies
2020.09 - 2022.06 (1 education.year_Label & 9 education.months_Label)
Manager
Sweet Moments
2020.05 - 2022.02 (1 education.year_Label & 9 education.months_Label)
Restaurant Floor Manager
Aziz Khan
2019.03 - 2020.04 (1 education.year_Label & 1 education.month_Label)
R.E.A.L Education
NVQ Level 4 from Creative Media
/2019
Nottingham College
AQA from GCSES
Nottingham College
Level 1 Certificate from Business Studies
Sweet Moments
Level 3 Food Hygiene and Safety from Food Hygiene and Safety
R.E.A.L Education
NVQ Level 4 from Photography