Jade Bartholomew

Experienced people and operations leader with a strong background in recruitment, onboarding, employee development, performance management and day-to-day people processes.

Currently General

Manager at JD Gyms Basingstoke, leading approximately 15 employees and taking responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, training, workforce planning, performance management and sensitive employee matters. Alongside this, Owner and Director of My Fit Pod Basingstoke. Previous experience includes managing and developing teams of 15, overseeing four locations and 32 employees, coordinating payroll and workforce planning, and working as a Regional Trainer supporting 20–30 learners across multiple locations.

A practical and approachable manager with strong judgement, organisation and problem-solving skills. Experienced in handling confidential information, supporting employees and managers, improving processes and taking ownership of issues through to resolution. Now looking to bring extensive hands-on people-management experience into a dedicated People Operations role.

General Manager at JD Gyms (2025-03 – Present)

• Lead and support a team of approximately 15 employees, taking responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, training, development and ongoing performance management.
• Manage the employee journey from recruitment and induction through to ongoing development and performance support.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to employees, handling people issues sensitively and escalating matters appropriately where required.
• Conduct one-to-ones, coaching and performance conversations, setting clear expectations and supporting employees to improve.
• Manage workforce planning and staff rotas to ensure appropriate operational coverage.
• Handle confidential employee information relating to recruitment, performance, absence and other people-management matters.
• Identify staffing and development needs and take action through recruitment, coaching or training.
• Work closely with regional and senior management on staffing, performance and employee matters.
• Helped establish the Basingstoke team and its working practices from the club's launch.
• Identify recurring operational or people issues and introduce practical improvements to make day-to-day processes more consistent and effective.

Owner & Director at My Fit Pod Basingstoke (2025-01 – Present)

• Co-founded and helped establish My Fit Pod Basingstoke, with hands-on involvement across business operations, customer communications, suppliers and marketing.
• Develop and maintain processes supporting the day-to-day running of the business.
• Coordinate relationships with personal trainers, suppliers, partners and local organisations.
• Manage business administration, memberships, customer communications and operational requirements.
• Create marketing content including photography, social media campaigns and customer communications.
• Monitor business performance and identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency and customer experience.
• Manage sensitive customer and business information appropriately.
• Balance multiple competing priorities while taking ownership of issues through to resolution.

Health Club & Spa Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton (2024-08 – 2025-03)

• Managed recruitment, onboarding, training, development and performance of the leisure and spa team.
• Provided day-to-day support and guidance to employees, maintaining clear expectations and service standards.
• Managed staffing requirements and operational priorities.
• Handled escalated employee, operational and guest issues with discretion and sound judgement.
• Maintained required policies, procedures, health & safety and compliance standards.
• Improved coordination of historically problematic facilities and maintained uninterrupted pool and sauna operation throughout tenure — the first sustained period without closure in more than three years.

Member Relations Manager at Village Gym (2022-06 – 2024-08)

• Led, coached and developed a team of 15 employees.
• Managed recruitment, training, performance, engagement and day-to-day people requirements.
• Conducted regular one-to-ones, coaching sessions and performance reviews.
• Identified development needs and supported employees through structured coaching and training.
• Managed staffing levels, absence and operational requirements.
• Handled escalated and sensitive situations involving employees and customers.
• Worked collaboratively with senior management and other departments on people and operational priorities.
• Helped create a supportive, accountable team environment through clear communication and consistent expectations.

Operations Manager at Village Gym (2021-01 – 2022-06)

• Led recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing development of the leisure team.
• Managed staff rotas and payroll, ensuring accurate information and suitable staffing levels.
• Supported employees and managers with day-to-day operational and people matters.
• Maintained policies, procedures, risk assessments and compliance documentation.
• Supported internal and external audits and ensured required actions were completed.
• Managed departmental budgets, stock and P&L performance.
• Coordinated suppliers and contractors.
• Identified recurring issues and introduced practical improvements to processes and ways of working.

Regional Trainer at Lifetime (2019-09 – 2021-01)

• Managed a regional caseload of approximately 20–30 learners completing Level 2 apprenticeship programmes.
• Coordinated onboarding, training, coaching, assessments and learner progress across multiple locations.
• Conducted regular one-to-one development conversations and provided constructive feedback.
• Built strong relationships with learners and their managers/employers.
• Monitored progress, identified development needs and implemented appropriate support.
• Managed confidential learner information and maintained required programme documentation.
• Balanced multiple deadlines and priorities while ensuring learners remained on track.

Operations Manager at CeX WeBuy.com (2009-09 – 2019-09)

• Progressed through operational roles to oversee four franchised stores and a combined team of 32 employees.
• Coached and developed Store Managers across recruitment, performance, people management and business operations.
• Supported managers with employee, staffing and performance issues across multiple locations.
• Monitored KPIs and conducted regular operational and performance reviews.
• Worked closely with franchisees and senior management on staffing, business performance and operational improvement.
• Supported recruitment and development activity across the estate.
• Maintained confidentiality and sound judgement when dealing with employee and commercially sensitive matters.

BTEC Diploma – Queen Mary's College

BTEC Award in Dance – Queen Mary's College

Music Theory – Queen Mary's College

Level 3 Award in Teaching & Training

Level 2 in Principles of Using Mathematical Techniques

Level 2 in Principles of Using Written & Spoken English