Meet Our Talented Team

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Asta Abukauskaite

Assistant Manager

Started: 2005

What’s your talent?
Managing staff and giving our customers great service
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Lots of potential to grow
What do you love about Zizzi?
Zizzi feels like it’s continually growing and it give me lots of potential to grow. There is regular training and new challenges that keeps things exciting and different. With change comes improvements all the time which is great to be a part of.
How have you got to where you are today?
I first started as a waitress and have moved up to my current role of Assistant Manager. I was keen to find a role that let me focus on customer service and I now have that. I enjoying looking after the restaurant and treating it as my own.

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Bashkim

Head Chef

Started: 2005

What’s your talent?
Plate spinning
How would you describe Zizzi in 3 - 4 words?
Great place to work
What do you love about Zizzi?
The first thing that attracted me to Zizzi was the outstanding menu offering great selections from different regions of Italy. I have had 15 years experience as a chef specialising in the Italian cuisine and Zizzi gave me the opportunity to grow. The main reason why I love working for Zizzi is the great working culture we have established in our branch. Team work is a crucial factor as well as the fast work environment. It’s challenging but also very rewarding. The continuous food training is great and keeps us updated with the most recent Italian food trends and cooking techniques, it’s always interesting and exciting.
How have you got to where you are today?
My first role with the company was that of the Assistant Chef. However within a four month period I was promoted to Head chef. I felt really valued and rewarded for my work and dedication. I am now Head Chef in Beckenham and my role varies but includes stock control and maintenance, training new team members and ensuring a smooth and efficient kitchen with high food quality. I strongly believe that I’ve been so successful thanks to the high level of the training offered by the company. Also, the role has enhanced my communication, problem solving and multitasking skills. You should see me on a busy shift!!

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Francis

General Manager

Started: 21st June 2010

What’s your talent?
Turning someone’s frown upside down
How would you describe Zizzi in four words?
Passionate, amazing food, great people and fantastic service – I know that is more then four but couldn’t help myself!
What do you love about Zizzi?
I love Italian food. I was a Zizzi customer and always enjoyed the service, atmosphere and of course the food! So I wanted to be a part of that. How have you got to where you are today? My induction was the perfect start. So much effort and dedication was clearly put into my training programme. I spent 5 weeks getting to know what Zizzi is all about. The first two weeks in the kitchen which I loved, learning how to make some of our amazing dishes and working with passionate chefs. There was a week on learning the service standards and then two weeks of management training. Even though I was a General Manager before I started it made me see how to do things the Zizzi way. Besides running my restaurant I am a trainer for new Assistant and General Managers for my area – training is a passion of mine so it is great that I have the opportunity to do this in my role. I have also had the opportunity to get involved in some head office projects. Zizzi are great at ensuring they get people from different areas involved in projects and generating new ideas. I have also learnt more around how to recruit and develop my people, which is a key part of Zizzi as service is so important.

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Francisco Da Silva

Head Chef

Started: 28th July 2008

What’s your talent?
Going from waiter to head chef in 3 years and keeping my team engaged around me.
How would you describe Zizzi in 3 - 4 words?
Great atmosphere, amazing team, strong friendships
What do you love about Zizzi?
It’s more than just a job and a restaurant to work in, it is a place to form true friendships and really feel part of something great. It’s more than a job it’s a career.
How have you got to where you are today?
I started as a waiter. I really enjoyed this as my first step as I love interacting with people. This position gave me the opportunity to shine. I was then looking for more responsibility so I focussed on getting the Manager on Duty role which I was later promoted to. After a while my interest in food grew and grew and I decided I wanted to move Back of House. I was given the opportunity and learned so much more about food, the inspiration as well as the really high standards. I was then promoted through the levels and then into my current role of Head Chef. So now they’ve created a monster, I am always keen to learn more!! I’m confident Zizzi will continue to help me so I am looking forward to see what the future brings.

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Jack

Marketing Co-ordinator

What’s your talent?
Make the best silky milk lattes (with a cheeky heart shape on top)
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Ambitious, creative, people-focused
What do you love about Zizzi?
The company’s values, ambitions and the people. Prepare yourself for a cliché…but it does feel like a bit of family. I’ve always loved the restaurant sector and have worked for a variety of different companies, and for me Zizzi ticks all of those boxes that makes a restaurant special. The single-minded, everyday determination to evolve as a brand, stay relevant to people and remain at the cutting edge is hugely inspiring.
How have you got to where you are today?
Having worked in restaurants for over seven years, I have always been struck by the consistent divide between head office and the restaurants themselves. It seems as though the culture here is all about breaking down those barriers and making sure everybody is in it together. It’s refreshing and fantastic to see. My first and only role with Zizzi so far has been as a Marketing Coordinator and it’s been hard work but extremely rewarding. My main areas of work are all areas that I am passionate about, including local marketing initiatives, social media and music in the restaurants. The ethos of the company makes you want to put in those extra hours. Zizzi have been fantastic in spotting the areas I’m most passionate and ensuring these are a part of my every day responsibilities It’s a rare thing to look forward to work every day, but I can genuinely say I do so.

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Joanna Kopka

General Manager

Started: 18th Nov 2008

What’s your talent?
Motivating a team
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
A close family that keeps growing
What do you love about Zizzi?
I love working for Zizzi because it gives me the opportunity to meet new people every day
How have you got to where you are today?
I started Zizzi as a waitress and it exceeded my expectations because of everyone’s work ethic, team work and determination to do their best. I was soon looking for progression and was interested in becoming a manager so I worked through the levels to an Assistant Manager then to my current role of General Manager. During my time here I have met many people who have all been involved with my progression by coaching and encouraging me to move forward. They showed me how to get the best out of others and how much we can learn from each other. I think about this when I work with my team and always keep motivation top of mind Good team work is key to the success of any restaurant and it is definitely something I am proud to say we have at Zizzi.

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Klara Palacova

Front of House Trainer

Started: February 2010

What’s your talent?
Putting smiles on our customer’s faces
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Friendly, supportive, full of opportunities
What do you love about Zizzi?
I love the food, the style and the whole atmosphere so it was very exciting for me to get the opportunity to work in a place I love to dine myself. The Zizzi Style is very warm, friendly and welcoming. I feel that the team is the number one priority.
How have you got to where you are today?
I started with Zizzi as a waitress. It was very different to other waitress roles I have had before so was very exciting for me to have a challenge. I have been given many opportunities to stretch myself and really show others what I can do. I recently had the development opportunity to become a Front of House Trainer. In this role I support all the training for my restaurant. From new specials, wine, coffee training or any new launch, I love that this role lets me share my knowledge with the rest of the team and watch others grow. It’s great to work closely with new starters too. I really enjoy meeting new people so I am in totally in my element. I have learnt so much since working for Zizzi. Not only about restaurants but also about myself. I have become so much more self-aware and confident. I can adapt my style when training to respect that other people learn differently. Communication is so important and getting along with all the team is key - I think that’s my number one. My passion for good food has also really developed working here – the food is great!!

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Malgorzata Fuss

Assistant manager

Started: 2006

What’s your talent?
Reading people’s moods
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Great atmosphere, team work and wonderful people.
What do you love about Zizzi?
It really is a great place to work, you can meet many different people and it’s a real family atmosphere. It’s perfect for students and full time employees looking to develop their career. Also the high standards are something to be proud of and the food is tasty too!
How have you got to where you are today?
I started as a waitress which I really enjoyed. I got a chance to meet new people and work with a fantastic team. I have gained so much experience and get to try to best food. My job at Zizzi has turned into a great career. From a waitress I was promoted to a Front of House trainer. This position gave me confidence to talk to and train different people. I am now an Assistant Manager and my experience with Zizzi has been very exciting. Zizzi continues to give me the opportunity to grow with them so I look forward to the next chapter.

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Marcin Karabin

Head Chef

Started: 18th May 2004

What’s your talent?
Pizza tossing
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Career development + great restaurants = happy people
What do you love about Zizzi?
I love the open kitchen – it is a real joy to show off my skills and delight our customers. They enjoy seeing their meal being prepared and I like the open kitchen, it allows me to showcase my talent and throw in a cheeky pizza toss or two!
How have you got to where you are today?
My first role was as a KP. I started in this role as I always wanted to be a chef so and this was the best way to get started. I worked really hard and the team, along with my manager supported me. I learned lots of new skills and worked my way up to Head Chef. I now take pride in developing the kitchen team and giving all our employees the opportunity to grow and develop as I did. As well as running my kitchen I have recently started training new employees for the area. As well as cooking I now realise that training is a real passion of mine. I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to do both as part of my job…it’s amazing.

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Michal Szostak

Head Chef

Started: October 2004

What’s your talent?
Being the best chef in Scotland, but all the other Head Chefs in my area may disagree!
Who would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Motivational, inspiring, strong team
What do you love about Zizzi?
Everyday I am challenged to deliver the best quality food to our customers which is very motivating. The company has given me the chance to develop and is always giving me opportunities
How have you got to where you are today?
I had lots of training and support from my team when I first started. I was given everything I needed to set me up for success. When I joined Zizzi I started as a Kitchen Porter and development all the way up to Head Chef which is a great achievement that I am really proud of. As a Head Chef I have worked on some of the new openings and learned so many new things. I am developing and training new employees for the company in the Scotland region which is something I really enjoy.

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Neil Dawson

Central Operations Manager

Started: August 2001
What’s your talent?
Fully functioning on very, very little sleep
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Modern brand, clear goals, welcoming
What do you love about Zizzi?
The fact that you get to interact with so many different people. There is always someone new to meet and learn from. The camaraderie and team ethos we have here at Zizzi is second to none! Oh yeah, you also get to eat lots of amazing food!
How have you got to where you are today?
Since joining I have learnt a tremendous amount. I started in the Restaurant Takings department. This was a very admin based role but not a bad one to start out, I got the chance to move around and since then worked in a variety of roles:
Takings – Started as a clerk then eventually moved up to Takings Supervisor
Payroll – Assistant Supervisor
Admin Team – Admin Supervisor
Central Operations Co-Ordinator
The early roles I had have definitely put in good stead for the Central Operations Manager role which I have recently been promoted to. I work closely with our Operations Team/Restaurants and the Head Office departments as link. I help to make sure we get the best outcome for the Restaurants.
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Neil Urquhart

Deputy Manager

Started: 16th Jan 2007

What’s your talent?
Making the best coffee in Scotland, possibly Italy as well and I ride a motorbike with more skill than Valentino Rossi.
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Fun, challenging, hard work and satisfying
What do you love about Zizzi?
Being a branded restaurant you would expect them all to be the same but having worked in quite a few now each restaurant is different. From the design to the customers and new challenges which makes a career at Zizzi really good fun. The staff are all really good friends and work so well as a team. It’s such a good atmosphere and we all love our job
How have you got to where you are today?
I started as a waiter – there was never a dull moment with different types of customers from theatre goers to big parties. Having worked as a waiter for a few months in Newcastle I developed to a Manager on Duty then into an Assistant Manager. This role helped me learn all the things it takes to run a very busy restaurant from managing a large team to the importance of brilliant customer service. I then moved to Zizzi in Leith and within 9 months became a Deputy Manager. My main role is to work with the kitchen team to improve food quality and general standards. We have achieved some pretty great results if I say so myself!

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Philip Newton

Operations Manager

Started: 2004

What’s your talent?
Cooking and I play guitar and piano
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Stretching, rewarding, passionate…..great recognition.
What do you love about Zizzi?
Clear vision, great leadership, awesome team work. Service and Food are my passions and I feel that Zizzi really is striving to be GREAT in both and is bold enough to say that they are not there yet…
How have you got to where you are today?
I started as a waiter and soon moved into shift management as a Manager on Duty. I had great examples to learn from and quickly excelled to Assistant Manager level. This gave me the opportunity to support other areas, either while they were in need of cover, or simply because they were a new restaurant. This added great spice to my work and I found myself loving the different ways of doing things. I would recommend this to anyone looking to grow and develop further. Later, I became the General Manager of a branch a fair distance from where I lived and I needed to sacrifice comfort for development and progression, but looking back, I really respect my line managers decision, because had it not been for that transition, I would probably not have made taken the next few steps. I then moved closer to home as a GM, back to my original branch, and ran that successfully for 2 years, before being offered the Openings Training Manager role. This I took with both hands as it was a new exciting chapter in my career ion Zizzi. I did this for 6 months before I landed the further responsibility of running the Central Operations as well as Opening Teams. This was probably the most difficult yet rewarding time in Zizzi, as I was really stretching myself. I am now an Operations Manager. I can categorically say that had it not been for all the people who I worked, all the different roles I had done and managed to learn from, I would not be the successful Op’s manager that I am today. I am really proud to work for Zizzi and it is a great experience and is filled with awesome people who all want to see Zizzi succeed.

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Sadat

General Manager

Started: 2000

How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
People focused, passionate and supportive
What do you love about Zizzi?
I love working for Zizzi. Its a great place to work and I always recommend it to others. I also love telling people about Zizzi because it's a great place to develop yourself in different ways: as a person, as a chef or as a waiter, where you can build your career in so many aspects.
How have you got to where you are today?
My firs role was Kitchen Porter and I moved on step by step from section chef where I learnt all about Zizzi food, preparation and cooking. I then decided to try my hand at front of house as I looked forward to meeting customers so moved to a waiter role. I quickly learned how the restaurant works from a different point of view. I could see the great service we had to offer and how much customers appreciated it. This is something I really enjoyed so I progressed to Manager on Duty then to Assistant Manager and finally, to my current role of General Manager.

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Sophie Moorecroft

Assistant Manager

Started: 12th June 2008

What’s your talent?
Making a mean cocktail
How would you describe Zizzi in 3-4 words?
Fun, rewarding, bubbly people
What do you love about Zizzi?
It’s a real fun and lively place to work. All the people you work with are great which makes it a really enjoyable place to be. You get to meet new people everyday and there are so many changes that happen in Zizzi – it’s never a boring.
How have you got to where you are today?
I started with Zizzi as a part time bar person working evening and weekends. I really enjoyed the lively atmosphere and it felt great to be part of one big team. After a while I wanted to gain more experience and work more closely with customers so I moved from bar person to full time waitress. I decided I wanted to make a career in hospitality so looked into moving up to the role of Manager on Duty. I was given the chance and in this role I learnt how to run shifts and manage the restaurant. I loved having this extra responsibility and wanted to learn even more. So that’s when I moved into my current role of Assistant Manager. Since being a part of the management team I have learnt so much about running a restaurant, people, H&S, food and much more.

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