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Expanding, or finding your first permanent site brings a host of new challenges and increased operational complexity.

From the intricacies of licensing, compliance and contract negotiations, to increased HR burden and the importance of keeping your identity as you grow.

For many business owners - these are completely new issues, and you may find that your existing team doesn’t have all of the knowledge and experience required to make the process a success. 

Helping restaurants and caterers to grow and be the best they can be, is what we do. So please get in touch to see how we can work together, or read on for more information.

Rob Wade is a restaurant consultant with over 15 years’ experience working with restaurants around the UK and Europe. He brings direct operational expertise on areas ranging from concept creation and delivering exceptional food, drink and hospitality, to ensuring ongoing profitability.

Alex Hutchings is a partner in the commercial property department of West End law firm Collins Benson Goldhill LLP. He specialises in providing practical advice for restaurant operators, from start-ups looking to go from pop-up to permanent to established businesses seeking to expand.  

Mark Pearce is the founder of (my) hr director; he is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a member of the Association for Coaching. He provides HR support and helps businesses to grow through better management and development of employees. 

Your business – your message

We are experienced in training teams for new or expanding operations - from head chefs to kitchen porters and from restaurant managers to first time waiting staff.  

Your staff are your business and they need to be as clear as you are on what your business stands for - and they need to be able to convey that message to your customers; through their cooking and hospitality.

Whether expanding or just starting out, it’s important to put robust processes in place. 

Training manuals and SOPs should be finished before you open, and now is the time to ensure that you - the owner - aren't at the end of every decision making process. Otherwise you’ll spend all of your time dealing with the minutiae of running the restaurant, instead of focussing on leading the business.

Premises

After your concept and brand, your premises are your most important asset so they must work for you. Planning law categorises premises into a number of use classes and it’s essential to carry out proper due diligence so as to ensure that you find the right premises in the right location.

Your lease governs the relationship between you and your landlord and covers everything from what the premises can be used for to when you can change the signage. A negotiated lease may enable you to streamline landlord consent processes or even remove the requirements in some circumstances enabling you to get on with the important task of opening.

It is sometimes easier, and quicker, to take over an existing operator’s site rather than find vacant premises. However, care should be given to ensure that the assets of the business (including the premises licence) are transferred. In certain circumstances existing employees may need to be employed in the new venture and Landlord’s consent to the transfer will often be required.

HR and Staffing

For an expanding business, making sure that you have the right procedures, policy and documents are essential, along with ensuring that as your business grows, the changes to roles and responsibilities are identified so everyone is clear about what is expected of them and what they need to achieve to ensure that your business is a success.

Feel secure about growing and staffing your business in a post-Brexit environment, with an experienced team overseeing your recruitment and retention strategy. 

From data protection, to tribunals and grievances, we have the experience and expertise to advise on exactly what you can do, not just the things you can’t do.