UNICUS Staff Journeys

I originally joined UNICUS in 2014 but then left for a year from 2018-2019 and then returned.

In 2014 I was recruited as a work placement student during my studies at Sheffield Hallam University. I was studying Hospitality Business Management and Halifax Hall was my year in industry.

I am now General Manager of Halifax Hall and Jonas Hotel.

Following my placement year I remained at the hotel on a casual basis working as a duty manager. At the end of my studies a maternity cover position became available for me to progress to Sales and Events Supervisor and then I continued to work in the events team until I left in July 2018 to pursue an opportunity at another hotel in their conference office. After almost a year another maternity cover position was advertised for Deputy General Manager which I applied for as I missed working at the hotels and the team there, I successfully got the role and shortly after the General Manager left the hotels and not long later Covid hit which changed the staffing structure entirely. When normal business began to resume the General Manager role was advertised and I applied in early 2022, I have been doing this role ever since.

In an average week I help the team deliver a variety of events, ensure that the guest experience is enjoyable and maximise revenue for the business. I offer support to not only the staff I directly manage but also to the wider team to assist them with on the job training and guidance. I also manage the revenue for the accommodation at the hotels on a daily basis as the room rates will fluctuate constantly and maintain contact with key account managers for third party booking sites. Many of the finance queries for the hotels will come to myself and I assist the reception team with complex queries and group bookings.

2014.

Commis Chef.

Retail Manager.

Upon embarking on my journey at the university in 2014, I commenced my career as a Commis Chef, fresh from culinary college. My journey began in Inox kitchen, where I diligently honed my culinary skills and immersed myself in the intricacies of kitchen operations. Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to excellence, I gradually ascended the ranks, innovating culinary creations and assuming greater responsibilities in orchestrating kitchen activities. This culminated in my appointment to the coveted role of Head Chef, where I orchestrated the culinary vision and operational efficiency of the kitchen. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to broaden my professional horizons, I embarked on a transformative trajectory by transitioning to the retail sector within the organisation. This strategic pivot was fueled by my aspiration to deepen my understanding of business dynamics and immerse myself in a broader organisational context and to really put me out there with real people instead of being stuck behind the scenes like I was used to. My transition to the retail team heralded a new chapter in my career, marked by an unwavering commitment to operational excellence and collaborative teamwork. I embraced the challenges of retail management with enthusiasm, leveraging my culinary background to inform strategic decisions and optimise customer experiences.

In an average week my responsibilities span a diverse spectrum, encompassing strategic planning, team leadership, inventory management, and customer engagement. I orchestrate the seamless operation of retail outlets, ensuring impeccable service standards and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

I love my role, as a Retail Manager it is rooted in the enriching opportunities it affords me to engage with diverse stakeholders within the university community and beyond. Interacting with esteemed individuals from various academic and professional backgrounds not only broadens my network but also fosters invaluable connections that contribute to the university’s vibrant ecosystem.

I joined Unicus in October 2016.

I started working at Grill & Go.

Systems Technician Coordinator.

I worked in a few different outlets in Retail, then moved to the Village Store in 2020, then moved to Finance for two years and from Finance I joined the IT team.

In an average week, I look after the tills and handle any major issues that come up. I also visit several outlets to check in with the team leaders and make sure everything is running smoothly with our systems. Part of my role involves ensuring there are no missing products on the tills, and I dedicate at least one day a week to learning more about StarRez and working on allergen information.

Additionally, if any significant IT problems arise with our devices, I do my best to resolve them—or, if needed, I coordinate with the university’s IT team and arrange replacements for any faulty equipment. Whenever I have spare time, I focus on creating new recipes or improving existing ones.

I really enjoy my job because it gives me the chance to connect with so many different members of the team—both in the outlets and across other university departments. It helps me better understand the staff who are on the front lines with customers, as well as the needs of both customers and colleagues.

I also love that I’m constantly learning. There’s always something new to discover—not just about the tills, but also about the stock, how the network functions, and the many devices and systems we use. Most of all, I appreciate being surrounded by friendly, positive, and hardworking colleagues. They make every day enjoyable and motivating.

I joined Unicus in Summer 2015.

Casual Worker within the Retail Team.

Commercial Systems Administrator.

I started in retail as a casual worker when I was 16 & worked across a lot of the retail outlets while also doing some conferencing work.  I joined back in the retail team after covid in 2021 when the outlets reopened and worked in the Heartspace. I then got my contracted role within retail in 2022. 

In 2023/2024 I had the opportunity to develop & deliver a full Barista Training programme to contracted & casual staff within the retail outlets.

In June 2024 I progressed to an Administrative Assistant for Julie D Brown & Emma Ramshaw on a secondment for 6 months from retail.

When my secondment was coming to an end in December 2024 I applied for my current role working within the IT Systems Team. I started my role as a Commercial Systems Administrator in January 2025.

My average week at work varies a lot. One day I could be helping deal with a till issue within retail and the next I could be building recipes on Procure Wizard and making sure all the allergen information is correct ready to be displayed on TenKites.

I work with a lot of different systems on a weekly basis including the biggest current project which is preparing to implement the new Lolly Epos System.

One of the reasons I love my job is because of the people who I have had the opportunity to work with. My immediate colleagues within my team are always on hand for support whilst having a laugh along the way – there is never a dull moment. 

I also love how varied my role is. I like that I constantly have an opportunity to learn something new due to the amount of systems which we are involved with. There is always room for improvement and a new task to challenge myself which I really like.

2014.

I started off doing a bit of casual work; working in the Village Store and working on some IT projects before getting hired full time in the IT team.

I’m now Marketing Content & Campaigns Manager.

I worked for a while in the IT team, around 3 years or so, before an opening came up in the marketing department. I’d always been more creative than tech focussed so this appealed to me, I applied and was successful. Then over the years I’ve progressed up in the team as others have moved on.

Each week can be quite different, as we have a wide range of different areas that we look after. One week we might be doing some photography for a new dish in one of our cafes, or editing a video for our delivered catering service. We have multiple websites to keep up to date, we’ve often got flyers or posters or banners that need designing and ordering. Then there are all the different team meetings to attend.

I like that as a team we have a variety of tasks so we’re not just sitting at our desks doing the same thing every day. We also get to work with people across all different areas of the business which helps keep things fresh. And I have a good team around me, we can have a laugh and joke but we make sure we get things done and we work well together.

I initially joined UNICUS in 2022 for the busy Christmas period. I did a year abroad in 2023 as part of my course, hoping I could come back after and continue my employment, which I did!

I was a casual worker, alternating between Inox events and Edge conferences.

Now I am a Duty Manager.

I began joking about having enough experience in the venues and about the events that I could become a manager. Eventually a position came up and I applied. I had never been in a managerial position but having a few years of experience in the venue really is an advantage during the interviewing process.

It is surprising how similar my job is to the position I was fulfilling before. In the end, during quiet days I still do the mundane restaurant & cafe activities -making coffees, serving tables, setting up for events…- but when there is an event that requires casual workers’ help I take on the mental load of carrying out all the tasks needed and make sure to deliver great events!

I enjoy that my job is sort of split in two between office work and events operations so that I get time to sit and make schedules and order stock but I also get to run around setting up for events. Another reason is that I get some opportunities to indulge in personal interests, such as designing signs, which I quite enjoy.

November 2013

Assistant Event Operations Manager – years fixed term maternity cover.

General Manager Hospitality and Marketing

Responsible for Hospitality Operations, Commercial Marketing, Accommodation and Res Life Marketing and Business Development.

I have been very lucky during my time with Unicus that there have been changes to the business and roles and I have applied for roles with more responsibility during this time. I have taken advantage of all of the training and development opportunities presented to me in order to further develop both personally and professionally. I’ve always said yes to every opportunity that has been presented to me which has allowed my role to develop over the years which I have really enjoyed.

My week varies a lot depending on the time of year and business levels. My time is split between multiple teams so I try to get around the different venues to see everyone. I have a mix of desk based and operational responsibilities which keeps my week varied and interesting. I love the variety of my role and the opportunities that presents.

I love the variety of my role and that no day is ever the same.  My remit is wide and I really enjoy the balance of hospitality, marketing, strategy and operational planning and the variety that brings throughout my week. I love meeting new people and identifying new opportunities to drive the business forward and then working with the teams to make that happen. It keeps me busy, interested and on my toes. The team at Unicus are a pleasure to work with and make a real difference to my day.