Question 1

How quickly can a manager be on site after an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Experienced operational support is mobilised quickly, subject to the requirements, location and complexity of the assignment. In urgent or distressed situations we triage the same day by telephone and mobilise as fast as the logistics allow. The first step is always a confidential call, usually the same day you make contact, so we understand the operation, the appointment and the specific risks before anyone arrives.

Question 2

What is the scope of work an interim manager takes on?

Accepted Answer

The scope is defined by the appointment. Where AJS provides management personnel, our managers take on line management of the existing team, day-to-day trading decisions, cost control, staffing, health and safety, supplier relationships and customer service, working within the operational structure and reporting lines agreed with the client or appointed Managing Agent. Where AJS is appointed as Managing Agent, we take responsibility for the day-to-day operation within an agreed scope of authority. We can provide a single interim general manager or a full management team across multiple departments and sites.

Question 3

What reporting do you provide to administrators and stakeholders?

Accepted Answer

We establish a clear weekly reporting rhythm from the outset, covering trading performance, cash, labour cost, key operational KPIs and risk. Reports are concise, evidence-based and written to stand up to scrutiny by office holders, lenders and owners. The reporting format and cadence are agreed with you at the start of the assignment and can be tailored to your requirements.

Question 4

How do you handle confidentiality during an assignment?

Accepted Answer

All discussions, site visits and reporting are handled in strict confidence. We understand the sensitivity of a business approaching or entering a formal process, and we engage discreetly to protect staff, customers, suppliers and the value of the business. Interim managers integrate with the existing team without unnecessary disruption, and commercially sensitive information is handled under agreed confidentiality terms throughout.

Question 5

How do your fees work, and what is included?

Accepted Answer

Fees are agreed in advance on a day rate or fixed monthly basis, with a defined scope, reporting rhythm and exit set out in writing before we begin. There is no recruitment fee, no notice period and no long-term tie-in — you only pay for the engagement you need. Expenses are agreed separately and reported transparently. You receive a clear scope and full cost before anything starts.

Question 6

Can you work alongside insolvency practitioners and joint administrators?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work directly with insolvency practitioners, joint administrators, lenders and advisers, providing credible on-site management, controls and reporting that support the wider strategy. Our role is operational — we keep the business trading safely and professionally while the office holder assesses and executes the options for the estate.

Question 7

What happens at the end of the assignment?

Accepted Answer

Every assignment ends with a structured handover, documented in writing. That may be to a permanent management team, a buyer, a successor provider or a closure process — or we continue for as long as the situation requires. The exit plan is agreed at the outset and revisited regularly, so there is no cliff-edge and no loss of operational knowledge at the point of handover.

Question 8

Which sectors and site types do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We work UK-wide across hospitality, retail and business centres — including single sites, regional portfolios and national multi-site operations. Our managers are experienced operators who have run real trading businesses in these sectors, not advisers.

Question 9

What does AJS do when appointed as Managing Agent?

Accepted Answer

As Managing Agent, AJS takes responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the business within an agreed scope of authority. That includes oversight of people, operational performance, costs and expenditure, suppliers and contractors, compliance and health and safety, customers and guests, and clear reporting to the appointing party.

Question 10

Can AJS act as Managing Agent without replacing the existing management team?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Where an experienced management team is already in place, AJS can provide operational oversight and accountability while working with the existing team rather than replacing it.

Question 11

Can AJS provide managers without acting as Managing Agent?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AJS can provide individual interim managers or complete management teams to work within a client's existing structure, or alongside another appointed Managing Agent, under the operational structure and reporting lines agreed with the client.

Question 12

Can AJS provide both the Managing Agent service and management personnel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Where required, AJS can provide the complete operational solution, combining Managing Agent responsibility with the management personnel required on the ground.

Experienced Management to Run Your Business

The people. The management. Or both.

Management Deployment

Managing Agent

Complete Operational Solution

Currently Supporting a Trading Business Following an Insolvency Appointment

Operational leadership, not advice.

From first call to operational delivery.

Understand the Requirement

Agree the Support Model

Define Scope and Authority

Mobilise the Management Solution

Manage, Report and Deliver

Operational environments AJS supports.

Hotels and Hospitality

Holiday Parks

Pubs and Restaurants

Leisure Businesses

Retail

Business Centres

Multi-site Operations

Led by Adam Shepherd

Need Immediate Operational Support?