Our clients
Create space for your story
expert support and services for independent hospitality businesses.
Founder Ian has gained a wealth of experience in various roles and establishments with over 20 years in the industry, honing his service and management talents into niche consultancy. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to develop the operations of an existing business, Voom is here to help. Voom prides itself on a collaborative and tailored approach to your consultancy plan. Voom knows that you know your business, and is here to help with your success.
Brand Development
People & Culture
Systems & Processes
Service & Operations
Brand development
Voom is a creative hospitality agency with a passion for design and fresh ideas
Voom recognises the things that separate your business from the rest. It offers consultancy which centres around brand creation and establishment, and how it can be embodied and translated into each part of your business. Whether you are looking to create, rebrand or enhance your current offering, Voom can support you through this process
Establishing and creating your identity and ethos is a huge part of your creation, so it’s vitally important that you get this right.
OUR MISSION
Support, Encourage & Inspire
OUR METHOD
Simply listening to clients needs and offering a tailor-made approach to help solve their problems.
OUR CULTURE
Reliable, honest & fun to work with
WE ARE READY FOR YOU
People and culture
People are the lifeblood of your business, both as valued employees and guests that frequent your establishment. Voom can offer a full range of staff training packages that can be tailored to suit your needs. Everything from confidence training to complaint handling, customer service and increasing sales via your team.
Voom can also support you in how to build the right team, with a structured approach to staff recruitment, personal performance and development and above all how to retain your most important assets.
Ian Ridding
Having obtained a BA Hons in hospitality business management, Ian has amassed over 20 years of experience in this sector within a managerial capacity. An accomplished operator who has worked across three different brands for Mitchells and Butlers (Scream, O’Neill’s and Castle), working his way up from glass collector to General manager. Adopting a hands-on approach, Ian has a wealth of experience within food service, late night venues, pub operations, live music venues, kitchen operations, and cellar management.
The next stage of his journey he embarked on opening his own bar in Oxfordshire. He was involved in every stage from conception and brand development to opening and overseeing the running of the business. This provided him with a fantastic opportunity to understand the processes involved in opening a business from scratch and turning it into a profitable operation.
His experience has been rounded in the independent sector for the last several years by joining the management team at “The Plough” an award-winning independent pub in the leafy suburb of Harborne in Birmingham. Here his primary focus has been the training and development of some 60 plus front of house staff and support in the continual growth and success of this highly acclaimed operation.
Over time Ian has naturally become a cultural leader, placing a huge emphasis on managing his people. Setting a vision and taking his team on a journey to achieve their end goals. Ian has always worked hard to create the right dynamics within his teams, by selective recruitment and working closely on coaching, developing, and empowering people within their roles.
Laura Dunn – Operational Effectiveness manager (M&B)
Mitchells and Butlers
Systems and processes
WE STRIVE FOR PERFECTION
Having effective procedures in place is vital to the smooth running of your operation. Voom can offer support and advice to ensure the correct measures are in place to streamline your business and increase productivity.
Voom offers everything from structuring your best fit service cycle, health and safety audits, and procedures to improve everything from productivity to stock control and cash control.
Service and operations
Delivering Exceptional service every time
Delivering exceptional and consistent service is key to the success of any hospitality related business. Voom will help you with all operational aspects including cellar operations, floor management and bar excellence, so that the highest standards can be achieved. In addition Voom can also support you with the financial areas of your business whether that be help with pricing, cost cutting, or having a financial strategic plan.
Testimonials
“I have known Ian for a number of years, through his work with M&B, and his own business ventures. I needed someone to give an overview on how our business was perceived in the Managed Sector, and Ian with his experience was the ideal person. He delivered a succinct, well presented and informative report, which we are now using to steer parts of the Hook Norton business.”
James Clark - OWNER Hook Norton Brewery 
"I had the pleasure of working with Ian when he was general manager in one of our Mitchells and Butler's businesses. During this time his tenacious and engaging attitude helped build a business that always delivered like for like sales growth and his ability to spot and nurture a talented team of people was exceptional. This culminated in him being my manager of the year, before he was asked to move brand to take on a fresh and exciting new challenge”
Laura Dunn – Operational Effectiveness manager (M&B)Mitchells and Butlers
“Ian at Voom Hospitality was hired to support myself and the management team at the White Hart using his 20 years’ experience within the hospitality sector to help structure and train us on some of the key attributes in Hospitality.
On his introductory visit Ian let us decide the modules we would cover. We were instantly made to feel at ease with his engaging and friendly attitude, it was apparent that he knows his stuff. We covered around eight different modules. The first being time management. This has been instrumental in the way we work. Ian has given us all the tools necessary to make full use of our working day.
His due diligence and health and safety advice has been implemented throughout our business and our working practices are changing for the better.
Ian gave our whole team a talk on conflict management. One colleague commented that she feels much more confidence as a result and now feels more more at ease dealing within certain working scenarios.
In addition Ian has given us suggestions for events to increase sales, how to target different micro markets, and ideas to streamline the business in order to increase productivity.
What also stood out for me was his guidance in staff training and the little tips to keep a happy work force. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ian and he has given the management team a huge lift, in turn we all are looking forward to the future of the White Hart.”
Amanda Jones - General ManagerWhite Hart - Wolvercote
“Ian has been a huge support to the Plough over the last few years.
His wealth of experience has helped us make improvements and drive the business forward in areas we hadn’t considered.
He has increased productivity, streamlined the business and helped us to make significant savings and efficiencies.
He lives and breathes our purpose and values and has been a conduit in onboarding new staff making them feel part of the team from the off.
He is an excellent people person and has therefore taken on the role of staff training and development manager, this has helped further improve our service standards.
He has exceptional people skills that radiate to all those whom he meets.
He has a depth of industry knowledge that is formidable.
He has been instrumental in helping us to adapt over the pandemic.
His creative, quick-witted thinking has kept us moving forward in what have been very challenging times.
If you want someone to help you with people, concept, and operations I’d fully recommend Ian to any business within the hospitality sector”
It has been a pleasure working with Ian and I look forward to doing so for many years to come."
Adam Johnson - OWNERTHE PLOUGH - HARBORNE
"Voom Hospitality were tasked with creating an interactive cocktail event for Bloc Hotels. This informative and engaging session was enjoyed by the entire team.
Ian from Voom arranged everything from ingredients to glassware. His incredible, knowledge, passion and witty repartee, made for a suburb afternoon of cocktail making and entertainment.
Bloc Hotels without doubt, will engage Ian to curate more events in the future and would highly recommend Voom for any hospitality consultancy needs."
Julian KHAN - creative directorBloc Hotels
"Ian came onboard at a time when we were having some serious issues at The Hare and Hounds that we needed support with. From day one, his attitude was always positive and proactive, with a perfect balance of industry knowledge and genuine people skills. Ian managed to steady the ship, stabilise the business and gave the support to lead us through a busy Christmas period, giving the team a real boost just when they needed it. Once we entered the New Year, he was pivotal in supporting us with the launch of a food offer and brand-new menu in association with the Plough Harborne.
We are eternally grateful for his input, and we will continue to work with him on more projects in the future."
Adam Regan - OWNERHARE & HOUNDS
"It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Ian during the set-up of a new business, “Perch”. His advice, guidance and knowledge made the process so much easier and at times proved, invaluable. Ian’s passion for the industry and his clients really shines though in his work. We are very much looking forward to continuing to work with Ian in the future. Thanks buddy!"
Joe Guidotti - ownerEARLY BIRD BAKERY / Perch
"Ian has been a great help since the launch of Burger me up. From running our fresher’s week marketing campaign to introducing us to his valuable contacts, he has been an amazing support to us and our business.
I first met Ian when the idea for BMU was brewing and as I explained our business model his passion and knowledge for the industry became clear. From that moment I knew he would be a valuable advisor for us on our journey. We have been working alongside Ian for a couple of years now and will continue to so as the business grows and we embark on the opening of our latest venture. "
Molly Thompson dykes - ownerburger me up
CONTACT
Get in touch for more info
A different approach to hospitality
STAY IN CONTACT
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Contact by EMAIL
Ian@Voomhospitality.co.uk
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