Area Support Manager

Aspens Services Ltd.; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company in the United Kingdom is seeking an Area Support Manager to oversee Primary and Secondary school contracts. You will lead kitchen teams to deliver exceptional food operations, ensuring high-quality service and client retention. The ideal candidate has proven leadership experience in hospitality, excellent communication skills, and the ability to support and develop teams. This role offers a highly competitive salary, car allowance, and various employee benefits including training and development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car allowance/company car

Enhance Parental Leave

Saving schemes and financial benefits

Special birthday time off

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in hospitality or contract catering sector.
• Ability to support, coach, and develop teams effectively.
• Strong communication skills for leading client meetings and managing expectations.

Responsibilities

• Build and nurture strong relationships with clients for long-term retention.
• Support the creation and delivery of sales presentations.
• Conduct regular unit audits to ensure compliance with company standards.
• Assist in executing action plans for high-quality operations.

Skills

Leadership

Client Relationship Management

Training & Development

Quality Assurance

Excellent Communication Skills

Job description

Aspens Services is a market-leading contract caterer specialising in school food. We don't just serve meals—we create fantastic food experiences that fuel young minds! By blending deep knowledge of the education sector with the latest high-street food trends, we encourage creativity and excitement in every kitchen. Our commitment to quality care for both clients and children has fueled rapid growth, and we are looking for passionate people like you to join our journey.

The role:

As our Area Support Manager, you will oversee a portfolio of Primary and Secondary school contracts, leading our kitchen teams to deliver an exceptional food operation that consistently exceeds client expectations. Reporting to the Operations Manager, your success is measured by the quality, consistency, and retention of our business.

This position is:

40 hours per week

52 weeks per year

Highly Competitive Salary + car allowance

Your responsibilities will include:

Client Relationship Management: Build and nurture strong, trusting working relationships with both new and existing clients, delivering exceptional customer service that ensures long-term retention.

Business Growth: Play a key part in strategic expansion by supporting the creation and delivery of sales presentations and assisting in smooth new contract mobilisations.

Training & Development: Ensure all teams are fully trained and compliant, proactively identifying and addressing any training gaps to elevate skills.

Quality Assurance: Conduct regular unit audits and maintain strict adherence to company systems, procedures, and legislation.

Strategic Support: Assist the Operations Manager in executing action plans to guarantee a consistently high-quality, service-led operation.

About you:

You are a proven leader from the hospitality or contract catering sector, ready for a new challenge.

You excel at supporting, coaching, and developing teams, instilling a shared passion for meeting high standards and excellent service levels at all times.

You possess excellent communication skills that allow you to confidently lead client meetings, expertly manage expectations, and quickly overcome challenges.

You are equally service-focused and process-led, ensuring standards, procedures, and systems are rigorously followed and maintained.

You thrive working under your own initiative, have excellent computer skills, and possess a relentless desire to learn and achieve.

As one of the UK's fastest-growing independent businesses, you'll be joining a company where people are at our core.

The opportunity to develop your career with us is limitless. We offer fantastic learning and development opportunities and support you in gaining qualifications every step of the way.

In addition to a competitive salary and car allowance/company car, we prioritise your health. We’ve just launched our brand new benefits programme, which includes:

Enhance Parental Leave

Saving schemes and financial benefits

The change to spend your birthday doing something special for you instead of working!

Ready to lead service excellence and become a key player in a high-growth business? Apply Today!

Please note, we expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people so an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company