Oral Brief - PDF

SLIDE 1: Introduc0on Hi I’m Maria McCombe, I will be reflec3ng on my Co Opera3ve experience at the Basebowl Slide 2: Basebowl The Basebowl is a ten-pin bowling alley located in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland that’s been opera3ng for 35 years. Within the bowling alley there are a fully license...

SLIDE 1: Introduc0on Hi I’m Maria McCombe, I will be reflec3ng on my Co Opera3ve experience at the Basebowl Slide 2: Basebowl The Basebowl is a ten-pin bowling alley located in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland that’s been opera3ng for 35 years. Within the bowling alley there are a fully licensed bar, snack bar food op3ons and amusements located around the Basebowl. Basebowl has a range of customers from families, young adults and in a strong presence of community of disabili3es. Slides 3: At Basebowl, I’ve taken on mul4ple roles, including marke4ng assistant, kitchen staff, recep4onist, and bar staff. These roles have allowed me to engage with various aspects of the business, from customer service to crea4ve promo4on. One of my main responsibili4es has been in marke&ng, where I’ve worked on projects such as promo4ng the Ware-Wolf aErac4on, crea4ng content for TikTok and Instagram, and assis4ng with Christmas event planning. These special projects helped me connect with the local community and showcase Basebowl’s unique offerings in fresh and engaging ways. I’ve embraced the opportunity to build strong rela4onships with the team and immerse myself in ScoIsh culture. This has not only enriched my professional experience but has also given me a deeper apprecia4on for the local community Basebowl serves. Slide 4: Key Learning Experience One of my key projects at Basebowl was the crea4on and implementa4on of mid- week social media campaigns. These campaigns were strategically designed to aEract more customers during quieter weekdays by promo4ng special offers and showcasing unique experiences at Basebowl Through this project, I developed and applied skills in problem-solving and strategic marke&ng, focusing on how to effec4vely target and engage our audience. For instance, I iden4fied customer preferences through analysis of previous campaigns. Slide 5: Reflec&on and Growth My 4me at Basebowl has been a transforma4ve experience, marked by significant personal and professional growth. When I began this role, I lacked confidence in my ability to handle mul4-faceted responsibili4es across marke4ng, customer service, and opera4onal roles. However, through hands-on experience, I’ve developed stronger confidence, advanced problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to diverse challenge. One key area of growth has been my ability to apply theore0cal concepts from my degree in real-world scenarios. For instance, the marke3ng principles I studied—such as target audience segmenta3on and the use of to iden4fy and engage specific customer groups through our marke4ng campaigns, such as families during mid-week promo4ons and young adults for social media compe44ons. Addi4onally, I’ve grown as a self-directed learner, taking ini4a4ve to upskill in areas like Canva design and social media analy4cs. These efforts reflect a clear progression from where I began, with limited prac4cal experience, to where I am now—a more confident and capable. Slide 6: Contemporary issue Sustainability has become a cri4cal challenge for businesses, especially in the hospitality and entertainment industries. For Basebowl, three key challenges stand out: 1. Energy Consump&on: The bowling lanes, bar, kitchen, and recep4on areas consume significant energy, contribu4ng to high opera4onal costs and environmental impact. 2. Waste Management: Food waste is a common issue due to uneaten meals, and the use of single- use plas4cs in packaging adds to landfill contribu4ons. 3. Water Usage: Inefficiencies like taps leW running by customers and staff increase water waste, which is especially concerning given climate change and water scarcity. These challenges aren’t unique to Basebowl but are common across the industry, making sustainability a pressing issue for long-term business viability.” Slide 7: UK Net Zero Goal The UK Government’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 underscores the importance of tackling these challenges. This goal requires businesses across all sectors to reduce their environmental impact significantly. For Basebowl, this means addressing energy, waste, and water issues not just to comply with future regula4ons. Slide 8: To address these challenges and align with the UK’s net zero goal, I’ve researched prac4cal strategies Basebowl can implement: Energy Efficiency: Replace tradi4onal ligh4ng with LED bulbs, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 35kg per year in a home seIng and even more in a business environment. Train staff to turn off unused appliances and equipment, reducing unnecessary energy use. Waste Management: Introduce plas4c-free packaging and biodegradable materials to reduce landfill contribu4ons. Record and monitor food waste to iden4fy trends and adjust por4ons or menu op4ons accordingly. Run awareness campaigns for staff and customers to minimise waste. Water Conserva&on: Install 4med taps and water-efficient fixtures in customer bathrooms and kitchen areas. Encourage staff to adopt mindful water-use prac4ces, such as turning off taps when not in use. T These strategies not only support Basebowl’s sustainability goals but also offer prac4cal benefits: reducing costs, enhancing customer sa4sfac4on, and building a strong eco-conscious brand reputa4on Slide 9: Ques0ons for Feedback As I’ve outlined, sustainability is a cri4cal issue for Basebowl, and I’ve iden4fied strategies to improve energy efficiency, waste management, and water conserva4on. However, I’d like to ask for your feedback on a couple of points to refine my approach further: 1. How can Basebowl balance sustainability with cost-effec4veness? For example, how do we ensure strategies like LED ligh4ng or biodegradable packaging remain financially viable for a small business? 2. Are there addi4onal areas of sustainability I should explore further for my research? I’d like to ensure I’ve considered all key factors relevant to Basebowl and the industry