Luke Barnes

About Me

IN A LINE:

Experienced event operations manager leading my team to deliver memorable events that our guests will want to share.

IN A PARAGRAPH:

I work at a large, multifunction venue in the city of Bath in Operations; I work as part of a team to deliver a wide variety of private events, from conferences to weddings to concerts. I also work as a theatre technician, available for freelance projects including theatre shows, board programming and consulting. I’ve worked with a range of companies, both large and small and am always looking for new projects and exciting new challenges. If you’d be interested in working with me, please drop me a line.

FULL CV:

EMPLOYMENT

  • November 2022 – Present: Conference & Events Operations Manager at Apex City of Bath Hotel
    In November 2022 I took the opportunity to move back to events and conferencing and to lead the operation through Christmas. With 8 meeting spaces, and a capacity of over 400, I work closely with the Hotel General Manager and Groups and Events team to operationally deliver memorable events that guests will want to share.
  • June 2021 – November 2022: Restaurant & Bars Manager at Apex City of Bath Hotel
    From June 2021 I took the position of head of department for Restaurant and Bars. Reporting to the Hotel General Manager, I oversaw all front of house food and beverage aspects, including development of the hotel’s restaurant, bars and in room dining offering, as well as conference and events. I lead a management team of 1 assistant manager and 3 supervisors, and a team of up to 50 staff, including full time, part time and casual.
  • November 2019 – June 2021: Assistant Conference & Events Manager at Apex City of Bath Hotel
    This includes ordering stock, hiring staff, scheduling staff hours around a busy conference schedule, designing and delivering training to meet targets, as well as working with the Events Team in the pre-planning of events and conferences.
  • November 2018 – November 2019: Conference & Events Supervisor at Apex City of Bath Hotel
    This role included running the day-to-day operation of the conference centre, including ensuring staff resources were positioned correctly, anticipating problems and being pro-active, working with clients and guests to ensure smooth delivery of events and a high level of customer service.
  • March 2018 – February 2019: Function Manager at Bath’s Historic Venues, Bath
    Alongside my full time role as an Operations and Security Assistant, I took on additional responsibility as a casual event/function manager. In this role I took on full event supervision during the set-up and running of events across Bath’s Historic Venues. These include meeting clients, co-ordinating venue operations, catering, suppliers and other departments to deliver a flawless event for up to 500 people.
  • February 2017 – November 2018: Operations at the Assembly Rooms, Bath
    In early 2017 I moved to work at a much larger event space in the beautiful Georgian Assembly Rooms, run by Bath and North East Somerset Council. I joined a small team keeping the venue to a very high standard and assisting with the delivery of a wide variety of events in the venue’s four multifunction spaces.
  • June 2015 – February 2017: Venue Manager at the Victoria Hall, Radstock
    I’m delighted to be joining the team working at the Victoria Hall, to develop the venue into a thriving community hub. Duties include recruiting and managing external events and bookings into the venue’s 6, multi-functional spaces, developing in-house, “Victoria Hall” branded events, managing the day-to-day running of the venue’s coffee bar and increasing public awareness of the venue and it’s events. This role also includes a large publicity portion, maintaining Sue Hill Dance LTD’s web properties and the venue’s presence on social media.
  • December 2013 – June 2015: FOH Performance Staff at the New Theatre, Cardiff
    I’ve been working since December as part of the Front of House team at the New Theatre in Cardiff after volunteering there for three months beforehand. Responsibilities include front line customer service such as directing customers and resolving minor problems, as well as sales and cash handling through sales of drinks and confectionery, or work on one of the theatre’s bars.
  • June 2011 – August 2014: Technical Manager at the Prospect Theatre
    Working part time as required at a small professional theatre. Responsibilities include maintenance and development of the theatre’s supply of technical equipment including lighting, sound and AV. This also includes meeting with clients to discuss their technical needs, and providing guest technicians with technical support. Due to the small nature of the venue, I have also stepped in for the Theatre Manager during leave and often take a duty manager role during events.
  • Specific Events
    I have worked on a number of major events in my time working both at the Prospect and as a freelance technician and events manager. Visit this section for a full list of events, along with groups and venues that I’ve worked with.

VOLUNTARY WORK

  • June 2024: Volunteer Event Assistant for BRLSI’s Discovery Weekend with BRLSI
  • February 2016 – February 2017: Trustee of Orchid Conservation International
  • March 2015 – February 2016: Project Lead at the Global Orchid Schools Network
  • April 2014 – May 2016: Secretary for the Open Access Button
  • September 2013 – December 2013: Volunteer FOH Usher at the New Theatre, Cardiff
  • January 2013 – April 2013: Pyramid Club Leader with Pyramid Cardiff
  • September 2012: Volunteer Festival Assistant at the British Science Festival, Bradford.

EDUCATION

  • 2012 – 2015: Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ – Molecular Biology (BSc Hons) Second Class, Division One
    • Year 3 Marks: Final Year Project (70), Eukaryotic Gene Expression (56), Protein Structure, Function & Folding (52), Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics (54), Cell Cycle & Cell Death (49)
    • Year 2 Marks: Medical Microbiology (59), Advanced Cell and Immuno Biology (59), Biotechnology (67), Genetic Manipulation (67), Molecular and Microbial Genetics (65), Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology (63), Genome Expression and Organisation (58), Practical Biochemistry (61), Biomolecular Chemistry (79), Research Techniques (75)
    • Year 1 Marks: Problem Solving in Biology (75), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (76), Chemistry 1 (77), Physiology 1 (74), Cell Biology (76), Plant Biology (60), Animal Biology (72), Microbiology (70), Evolution (65), Genetics (68), Ecology (58)
  • 2010 – 2011: Writhlington School, Radstock, BA3 3NQ – A-Level Human Biology (A), Physics (B), Chemistry (B), Mathematics (B). AS-Level Business Studies (B)
  • 2005 – 2010: Writhlington School, Radstock, BA3 3NQ – GCSE Grade A* in: Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, English, Geography, German, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics. GCSE Grade A in: Business Studies, English Literature, French, Music

AWARDS & HONOURS

  • 2019: Employee of the Month – awarded by Apex Hotels
  • 2013: Certificate of Merit – awarded by Cardiff University for an overall first class performance at year 1.
  • 2010: Society of Biology Prize – awarded by the Society of Biology at the National Science and Engineering Competition for the best research in the Biological Sciences.
  • 2010: Highly Commended – awarded by and at the National Science and Engineering Competition for a top 5 overall science research project in the “intermediate” age category (14-16).