At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a vibrant tearoom and gift shop, creating memorable experiences for visitors.
- Company: Join Minstead Trust, a purpose-driven social enterprise making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, health support, and enhanced family leave.
- Other info: Flexible shifts available; make a positive impact every day!
- Why this job: Combine your passion for hospitality with meaningful work supporting neuro-disabled individuals.
- Qualifications: Experience in hospitality management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Make a difference every day through hospitality. We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Tearoom & Gift Shop Manager to lead our busy, customer-focused social enterprise at Furzey Gardens. This is a unique opportunity to combine your passion for hospitality with meaningful, purpose-led work—supporting people who are neuro-disabled (including autism and learning disabilities) to develop skills, confidence, and independence in a safe and inclusive environment.
About the Role
As Tearoom Manager, you’ll be responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of our Tearoom and Gift Shop, ensuring a high-quality customer experience while driving income to support the Trust’s work. You’ll lead a dedicated team, create a welcoming environment for visitors, and play a key role in delivering opportunities for people we support to learn and thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- Business & growth: Drive sales and identify opportunities to increase income. Promote the Tearoom through social media, events, and seasonal campaigns. Develop creative offers, menus, and fundraising ideas to attract visitors and encourage return visits. Provide a warm, friendly and inclusive welcome to all visitors. Maintain high standards of service, food quality, and presentation. Support customer engagement, reviews, and overall experience.
- Team leadership: Lead, motivate and manage staff and volunteers. Plan rotas in line with budgets and trading levels. Support the training and development of people with learning disabilities.
- Operations & catering: Oversee food preparation, hygiene, and food safety standards. Manage stock control and kitchen operations. Monitor sales, costs and profitability. Manage daily cash handling and banking. Work with finance teams on budgets and reporting.
- Compliance & collaboration: Ensure health & safety and licensing compliance. Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation. Support events and other sites where needed.
About you:
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in hospitality, catering or food retail management.
- A confident and supportive leader with strong people management skills.
- Organised, proactive and commercially aware.
- Able to remain calm and focused in a busy environment.
- Motivated by making a positive difference.
- Experience working with vulnerable adults or people with learning disabilities.
Every shift you work helps create meaningful opportunities for the people we support. If you love hospitality and want your work to have real impact, we’d love to hear from you.
At Minstead Trust, we are guided by our values:
- 33 days’ holiday (pro rata), inclusive of bank holidays.
- A paid day off for your birthday.
- Company pension.
- Death in service insurance.
- Company sick pay.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
- Health and Wellbeing Support Scheme.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Blue Light Card eligibility.
This role requires weekend availability (shifts Monday to Sunday). We are unable to offer visa sponsorship; you must have the right to work in the UK. Employment is subject to a satisfactory DBS check. At Minstead Trust, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff are expected to understand their role in protecting adults at risk and know how to raise concerns. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Tearoom Manager – Furzey Gardens employer: Minstead Trust
At Minstead Trust, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values both our staff and the community we serve. As a Tearoom Manager at Furzey Gardens, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises personal growth and development, alongside competitive benefits such as 33 days' holiday, health and wellbeing support, and enhanced family leave. Join us in making a meaningful impact while leading a dedicated team in a vibrant and inclusive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Tearoom Manager – Furzey Gardens
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to friends, family, and former colleagues in the hospitality industry. You never know who might have a lead on a Tearoom Manager position or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for hospitality! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and what drives you to make a difference in people's lives through your work.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive on social media! Follow companies you're interested in, engage with their posts, and share your own insights about the hospitality industry. This can help you stand out and show your enthusiasm.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Furzey Gardens.
We think you need these skills to ace Tearoom Manager – Furzey Gardens
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Hospitality:When writing your application, let your love for hospitality shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your commitment to providing excellent customer service and creating a welcoming environment.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to showcase your experience in hospitality or food retail management. Use examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to manage a team effectively, especially in busy environments.
Be Creative and Engaging:Don’t be afraid to show off your creativity! If you have ideas for menus, events, or fundraising campaigns, mention them in your application. This will show us that you’re proactive and ready to drive growth at our Tearoom.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates about the role!
How to prepare for a job interview at Minstead Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with Furzey Gardens and its mission. Understand how the Tearoom and Gift Shop contribute to the overall goals of the organisation. This will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience in hospitality to their purpose-led work.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your previous experiences managing teams, especially in busy environments. Share specific examples of how you’ve motivated staff and created a positive atmosphere. Highlight any experience you have working with vulnerable adults or people with learning disabilities, as this is key for the role.
✨Bring Ideas to the Table
Think about creative ways to drive sales and enhance customer experience. Prepare some ideas for seasonal campaigns or unique menu offerings that could attract visitors. This shows initiative and aligns with their goal of increasing income while providing a warm, welcoming environment.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the organisation. Inquire about their current challenges, team dynamics, or how they measure success in the Tearoom. This not only demonstrates your interest but also helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
