Learning & Development Manager in Islington

At Sticks'n'Sushi we serve high-quality, fresh food based on a unique combination of classic and creative sushi along with sticks from the grill, bringing a blend of Danish design, Japanese dining and generous hospitality. Attracting both families and trendsetters, amazing service in beautiful restaurants is driven by our amazing team - our 'Strange Fish'.

Fish are like us: we all swim together. But Strange Fish are bold, curious individuals who fit right in here. The gentle rebels: calm, curious, thoughtful. As our Learning & Development Manager, you’ll play a key role in developing the people, programmes and experiences that help our teams become the best they can be.

This is a hands-on role with real scope to build. You’ll own learning and development across our UK estate, from new-starter induction through to leadership development for our rising Bigger Fish. Reporting directly to our CPO and working closely with our senior operational teams, you’ll have the autonomy to create programmes that make a genuine difference.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Own and develop our UK learning and development approach, from induction through to management and leadership development.
• Design and deliver engaging development programmes that build capability, confidence and great leadership.
• Own and maintain our LMS.
• Create learning experiences that drive real behaviour change, not just tick boxes.
• Develop our Bigger Fish leadership development offering, helping rising managers prepare for their next step.
• Facilitate sessions with experienced Ops Managers, bringing credibility, energy and challenge to the room.
• Own and continuously improve our digital learning platform, increasing engagement and making learning accessible across our estate.
• Work closely with our Operational and People teams to understand development needs and turn them into practical solutions.
• Support the development of learning programmes as we continue to grow and open new restaurants across the UK.
• Build a culture of continuous learning, collaboration and peer development across our teams.
• Work with colleagues across our wider European business, sharing ideas and helping develop learning that works across different markets.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

We’re looking for a Strange Fish who knows that great L&D is about much more than putting content online. You’ll have experience designing and delivering management or leadership development in a multi-site hospitality environment. You’ll be a confident and credible facilitator who can engage experienced Managers, challenge when needed and adapt your approach to different audiences.

You’ll also have experience owning or significantly improving an LMS or digital learning platform, and you’ll be able to demonstrate the difference your programmes have made — whether that’s developing stronger managers, improving readiness for promotion or changing behaviours. Most importantly, you’ll have a genuine connection to hospitality. You’ll understand the pace, personality and practical realities of operating across multiple sites, and you’ll be excited by the opportunity to make learning part of everyday life at Sticks’n’Sushi.

WHY STICKS’N’SUSHI?

You’ll have the freedom to build. This isn’t a role where you’ll simply inherit a template and run it. You’ll have real autonomy to shape our L&D offering from the ground up, with the support of our People team and direct access to our CPO.

You’ll have visibility. Reporting directly to our CPO, you’ll work closely with senior operational leaders and have the opportunity to influence how we develop our people across the business.

You’ll be joining a business that’s growing. With new restaurants opening across the UK and Europe, there’s plenty of opportunity to make an impact — and plenty of people to help develop along the way.

And you’ll be joining a culture that’s genuinely different. Dare. Care. Togetherness. These aren’t just words on a poster. They’re how we work, how we lead and how we look after our people.

The benefits that go beyond the day to day:

Yes, we work hard. But we also laugh, learn and enjoy the ride. We want all our Strange Fish to be part of building something meaningful and to feel involved in making Sticks‘n’Sushi a little bit better every day. A place where everyone belongs and is represented. As well as our Sticks‘n’Sushi language lessons (so you can speak our slightly odd lingo in no time), you’ll enjoy:

• 50% discount across all our restaurants, everywhere (yes, that includes drinks).
• Generous referral bonus schemes.
• Employee assistance and wellbeing support through Hospitality Action.
• Financial wellbeing support including early access to your salary with Wagestream.
• Employee discounts across high street retailers and restaurants.
• Team events, unforgettable parties & awards.

If you’re a Strange Fish who sees potential in everyone, knows how to turn learning into action and wants to build something that genuinely makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you.