Founder Associate – Graduate

Heidi; Windsor; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount and free food

Direct exposure to founder-level decision making

Opportunity for growth in a scaling brand

Job summary

An independent bakery group in Windsor is seeking a Founder Associate to work closely with the team on various projects across operations, finance, and marketing. This hands-on role offers exposure to real commercial decisions and a chance to grow within the company. Ideal for a bright graduate or early-career professional, the position requires strong organizational skills and a proactive attitude. Enjoy staff discounts and opportunities for personal development as the business scales.

Qualifications

• Bright graduate or early-career professional with 0–2 years' experience.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-moving, hands-on environment.

Responsibilities

• Support planning and execution of new shop openings.
• Compile and analyse weekly sales, labour and margin data.
• Document and improve internal processes.
• Help deploy AI tools to improve efficiency.

Skills

Highly organised

Commercially curious

Comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets

Proactive and self-starting

Calm under pressure

Interested in hospitality

Excited by building something

Education

Graduate degree

Job description

Based in Windsor (in-person role, no remote working)

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

We are not considering agencies for this role. We are looking for an individual to be fully embedded in our team. Please do not apply as an agency as it will create confusion later down the line.

About Us

We’re Heidi Bakery — an independent, multi-site bakery group with shops across the South East, including Chelsea, Richmond, Windsor, Farnham, Haslemere and New Alresford.

Everything we sell is made from scratch in our Windsor kitchen and delivered fresh daily. We care deeply about quality, presentation and customer experience. We’ve recently opened a standout new shop in Richmond and have more sites in the pipeline.

We’re a growth business and we intend to open several new shops each year. That means new locations, new systems, new ideas — and a lot of opportunity for someone who wants to learn fast and take real responsibility.

If you’re interested in food, hospitality, retail and how customer-focused businesses scale, this is a rare opportunity to see it from the inside.

The Role: Founder Associate – Graduate

This is a high-exposure, hands‑on role working directly with the founder and central team.

You’ll be involved in projects across operations, finance, marketing, systems and growth. The goal is simple: help turn ideas into execution and help build a more scalable, disciplined business as we expand.

You won’t be confined to one department. You’ll see how everything connects.

This role is based full-time in Windsor. We believe proximity matters — to the kitchen, to the shops, to the team.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic & Operational Projects

• Support planning and execution of new shop openings
• Help coordinate cross-functional initiatives (systems, suppliers, refurbishments, rollouts)
• Build project plans and track delivery
• Identify blockers and help resolve them

Performance & Analysis

• Compile and analyse weekly sales, labour and margin data
• Help identify trends and areas for improvement
• Support preparation of internal reports and updates
• Turn numbers into insight and action

Systems & Process Improvement

• Document and improve internal processes
• Build simple reporting dashboards and trackers
• Help tighten operational rhythms across the business

AI & Technology

• Help deploy AI tools into the business to improve efficiency and decision‑making
• Explore practical use cases for automation, reporting and workflow optimisation
• Support experimentation with new systems and digital tools

Founder Support

• Follow up on key actions
• Act as connective tissue across different parts of the business

Who This Is For

This role is suited to a bright graduate or early‑career professional (0–2 years’ experience) who wants to learn how a real multi‑site business operates.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised
• Commercially curious
• Comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets
• Proactive and self‑starting
• Calm under pressure
• Interested in hospitality, food or customer‑excellent businesses
• Excited by the idea of building something, not just observing it

You do not need hospitality experience — but you do need to be comfortable in a fast‑moving, hands‑on environment.

Why This Role Is Different

You’ll get exposure to real commercial decisions, operational challenges and expansion plans — and you’ll be trusted with meaningful work from day one.

If you perform well, there is genuine room to grow into more senior operational or commercial roles as the business scales.

Working Location

This role is Windsor‑based and fully in‑person.

We operate in hospitality. Things move quickly, and being close to the kitchen, shops and central team matters. This role is designed to be embedded in the business, not remote from it.

Occasional early starts or weekend visits may be required around major launches or openings.

What We Offer

• Staff discount and free food and barista coffee while on shift
• Direct exposure to founder‑level decision making
• A genuine opportunity to grow with a scaling, multi‑site brand