Senior Event Planner

Senior Event Planner - Reporting into Head of Events

Company Description - Catering and Events experience is essential!

Social Pantry is a sustainably focused luxury caterer, offering fresh, stylish and seasonal food for events, weddings, festivals, and workplaces. We operate on a zero-waste policy and are committed to delivering minimal environmental impact while upholding social sustainability standards through programs like hiring prison leavers as 10% of our staff.

Event Planning

• Liaising and planning with a broad level of clients to create high-end events of all sizes, managing relationships, responding to budgetary needs, preparing for and responding to outcomes of proposals and menu tastings.
• To provide complete support to clients from initial venue advice and selection, complete food and beverage requirements, through to advice on event styling.
• Manage each event effectively from initial enquiry through to the feedback stage of the process.
• Build & maintain positive relationships and dialogue with all suppliers and contractors.
• Maintain a high level of administrative practices throughout the planning role ensuring meticulous detail throughout each step.
• Facilitate required client meetings and tastings and provide guidance allowing the client to make an informed decision on all event aspects.
• Revise and amend quotes at the client’s requests in order to meet the clients’ bespoke requirements.
• Ensuring you are quoting and proving a high level, effective and profitable event always.
• Monitor all long lead event enquiries with care and attention required in order to win business.
• Put together menu combinations for events in line with brand, seasonality and food trends.

Operations

• Attend meetings, site visits and menu tastings with the client and relevant suppliers.
• Produce and administer accurate and detailed job sheets ensuring that all suppliers are aligned.
• Ensure effective communication to communicate the clients’ event requirements to the kitchen and logistics team.
• Work with the staffing manager to organise and book staff for each event in line with budget.
• Oversee the booking and briefing of all event staff, including Freelance Managers, Waiting Staff, Chefs and Porters in line with event budgets.
• Oversee the organisation of staff travel, uniform and logistics in line with event budgets.
• Book all event hire, delivery and, load in and load out logistics in line with event budgets.
• Organise all general event logistics, travel, parking and details in line with event budgets.

Client & Venue Care

• To actively build relationships with new and existing clients, venues and suppliers encouraging loyalty and repeat business.
• Manage clients effectively, providing a friendly, polite, and flexible service.
• Consistently strive to exceed their expectations and always go above and beyond client expectations.

Financial

• To be proactive and reactive to new sales enquiries.
• To have a clear understanding of the monthly and individual sales targets.
• Assist with the clients budgeting process, ensuring that events are delivered within allocated budget and to the correct company profit margins.
• Budget and execute events at the correct profit margin.
• Accurately budget for events.
• Compare supplier charges and costs at all stages of event planning.
• Ensure that event works is always populated with accurate supplier costs.
• Benchmark relative competitors and know where Social Pantry sits within the competition.
• Report in your bonus when applicable.

Food Trends

• Follow all seasonal, British and catering food trends closely.
• Understand and appreciate food seasonality throughout the seasons and the menu impact.
• Take an active interest in London food trends, talks, pop-ups, and current food affairs.

General

• Take an active interest in Social Pantry, the progress, market growth and positioning of the company.
• Always work ethically and as a team member.
• Go above and beyond to always support and help other team members.
• To always work honestly and with the interest of Social Pantry and the team. Support and uphold Social Pantry`s sustainability policies.
• Enact and oversee environmental responsibilities where required.
• Consider the impact of all decisions to balance people, planet, and no profit as per our updated Company Articles of Association: in accordance with B Corp, we have legally committed to using business as a force for good by:
• Creating a material positive impact on society and the environment though our business and operations.
• Considering `stakeholder interests` - including our shareholders, employees, suppliers, society and the environment.

SOCIAL PANTRY HQ

You’ll find us at our HQ in Battersea. This is home to our production kitchen, tasting kitchen, tasting

room, and office. It's where our chefs lay their hands on the best seasonal produce and get to work

developing inspiring menus and transforming food waste into food wonders. It's where our office team

put heads together to see clients' dreams become a reality, and where all the planning happens! It's

also where our team share a lot of laughs, celebrate small and big win and enjoy brilliant staff food.

STAFF WELLBEING

We recognise the importance of a well-motivated and energised workforce and we run a culture and

wellbeing programme that includes:

• Volunteer days

• Cycle to work scheme

• Management training programmes

• Supplier visits and team training sessions

• Team dinners, outings and team-building sessions

• Staff lunches, refreshments, and fruit bowls

• Staff F&B discount

To succeed in this role, you will:

• Have a passion for the food and events industry

• Already have knowledge and experience of the London events and venues world

• Have strong visual design skills

• Be a confident communicator

• Have an eye for attention to detail

• Be super organised and forward-thinking planning skills

• Remain calm, efficient and productive in what can be a fast-paced demanding environment

Social Pantry is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Social Pantry is an accredited Ban The Box employer!