MEET THE TEAM – SIMON HEMMINGS

The Block House’s new general manager, Simon Hemmings praises The Parogon Group for its progression opportunities.

Name / title / how long have you worked for Parogon?

Simon Hemmings, General Manager at The Block House. I joined the Parogon Group five years ago to help them open The Orange Tree.

What was your first position at The Parogon Group?

I was the Bar Manager at The Orange Tree for three years before moving to The Block House two years ago when it reopened to be the Deputy Manager.

How has your career developed at Parogon?

I became the General Manager in September 2018. I’ve had three positions in the group now and I’ve worked my way up to this position and earned it. They do promote internally in the Parogon Group which is great.

Is the career progression what you expected with Parogon Group?

There is a massive amount of opportunities in the company. I’ve got a really young management team who are all bi-products of the company. Lots of people move up internally which is a testament to the company.

What are the main benefits of working for Parogon Group?

The prestige, strong values, the food is good. It’s nice to know you work for a company with that kind of reputation. We get discounts as team members across the group which increase as we work our way up and the incentive scheme has increased. Employee of the Month has been introduced for both front and back of house which will culminate in an awards ceremony which is great for staff morale.

What do you most enjoy about working at Parogon Group?

There’s a massive team ethic involved in managing a restaurant so being the head of a team is very rewarding. Managing a restaurant is hard work but it is so rewarding, keeping the team happy.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would say that in five years’ time I would hope to have progressed personally and professionally as much, if not more than I have over the previous five years.

What are the main values of the Parogon Group in your opinion?

As a company, we have just revisited our values and I think teamwork is a huge one. We have also done a lot with charity as we think it’s important to give back to the community and charity. We have a lot of staff here from the local village, we feel it’s important to employ locally. But to summarise teamwork, quality food, good service and drinks with a good atmosphere are core to us.

What did you do before you joined Parogon Group?

I studied to be an illustrator at Manchester Art School and got a job in a cocktail bar whilst studying. Due to this experience in the city, I then joined The Orange Tree.