Tom Nicholls

I partner with leading ENR-ranked electrical contractors across the United States to support the growth of their Data Center and Mission Critical construction divisions. I specialize in identifying and placing high-impact Electrical Construction professionals, from Project Managers through to Executive leadership who deliver complex data center, hyperscale, and advanced technology infrastructure projects. My focus is on building long-term partnerships with contractors and connecting them with the niche talent required to scale mission-critical operations across the US.

Specialist recruitment partner working with leading US contractors to build out their Mission Critical construction divisions. I work with leading construction professionals up to the Executive level, specializing in Data Center & Advanced Tech projects across the US.

After 15 years with McDonald’s, I transitioned into behavioural sciences consultancy with Instinct Laboratory, a global research consultancy focused on applying behavioural science, human psychology, and biology to improve organisational performance. As Head of Experiences, I lead the development and global delivery of the company’s education and client engagement initiatives, building a new revenue stream through executive workshops, learning experiences, and strategic advisory services that help organisations better understand human behaviour and apply it to leadership, operations, and culture. Key responsibilities included: • Designing and delivering executive workshops that translate behavioural science into practical systems for leadership, operational performance, and organisational development. • Leading the development of Instinct Laboratory’s global education offering, creating proprietary training programmes and content tailored to both existing clients and new market opportunities. • Partnering with senior leaders and C-suite teams across multiple industries to implement behaviour-driven strategies that improve decision-making, operational focus, and long-term organisational resilience. • Driving research and development into emerging global trends in workforce performance, organisational culture, and future-of-work strategies, ensuring the business remains commercially relevant and insight-led. • Building strong client relationships and supporting commercial growth through strategic networking, thought leadership, and the delivery of high-impact workshops internationally. This role sat at the intersection of behavioural science and business strategy, helping organisations understand why people behave the way they do, and how that insight can be used to drive better business efficient and dissolve operational challenges.

Promoted after 6+ years as a Business (Site) Manager to oversee a portfolio of Franchised McDonald’s restaurants across Nottingham City Centre. In a challenging and volatile trading environment, I led operational, financial, and strategic initiatives that ensured stability in both sales and guest count while positioning the business for long-term growth. My role combined commercial leadership, operational excellence, and stakeholder management across one of the UK system’s most dynamic trading environments. Key responsibilities included: • Leading the strategic and operational performance of multi-site restaurants, driving sales growth, operational standards, and long-term profitability across the portfolio. • Implementing strong financial governance and performance management frameworks, using operational and financial reporting to guide decision-making and support sustainable profit growth. • Acting as a key liaison with external stakeholders including Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire Police, and The Nottingham BID, while also collaborating with regional and national franchise partners across the McDonald’s UK system. • Supporting the development and performance of senior restaurant leadership teams through coaching, accountability, and targeted training initiatives to strengthen operational capability. • Contributing to strategic planning and business growth initiatives, including presenting the franchise group’s business plan to the McDonald’s UK Executive Team. • Leading operational improvement programmes and digital adoption initiatives across the central region, helping restaurants adapt to evolving customer behaviours and operational technologies.

Managed three high-volume McDonald’s restaurants during this period, with full accountability for operational performance, financial results, and the development of large, diverse teams. The role required balancing strong commercial performance with exceptional brand standards while operating in a highly competitive and fast-paced market. Across multiple locations, I led large teams, delivered consistent sales up to £5+ Million annually and guest count growth, and executed strategic business plans designed to drive long-term operational and financial success. Key responsibilities included: • Leading the operational and financial performance of multi-million-pound restaurants, consistently delivering sales and guest count growth through strong operational leadership and customer focus. • Managing and developing large teams of approximately 120+ employees per location, building a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and career development. • Driving execution of the annual business plan, including revenue forecasting, performance tracking, and operational initiatives designed to improve profitability and operational efficiency. • Maintaining and exceeding McDonald’s global brand standards across operations, food safety, restaurant safety, financial controls, and people development. • Using performance data, competitor analysis, and local market insights to implement targeted marketing and operational initiatives that strengthened competitive positioning. • Acting as the central communication lead within each restaurant, aligning teams around key KPIs, operational priorities, and continuous improvement initiatives

McDonald’s is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 34,000 local restaurants serving approximately 69 million people in 118 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. My roles & responsibilities solely focus on energy within the McDonald's Corporation and include a variety of areas, some of which are outlined briefly below: • Collecting consumption data for over 1200 UK restaurants, collating and compiling the data into Consumption Reports that are then supplied to the McDonald’s UK operations teams. • Regular management and maintenance of online Energy Systems that allow UK restaurants to track and analyse their utilitily consumption on a daily basis. • Presenting figures and providing tailored information to the restaurant teams explaining where there are opportunities to reduce help reduce their utilities and operate more energy efficiently. • Presentations to various members of the company hierarchy, giving guidance on new energy technologies investments for restaurants, outlining benefits and impact they have as well as providing information on best practice measures that can be applied. • Regular contact with providers and service companies to maintain relationships, ensuring that information and data required is sent and received on a regular basis as well as working with their developments teams in the process of moulding products to work well within McDonald’s operations. • Maintaining the national ‘Carbon Reduction Commitment’ (CRC) database ensuring that all of the UK sites are accounted for and updated each financial year. • Meeting with suppliers and other organisations to discuss the latest developments in the energy markets, the latest trends, patterns and choices made to help best benefit all businesses. • Managing and maintaining the lastest status of energy technology investments across the UK restaurant portfolio.