Alex Best
Alumni
BSc Human Biology with International Study
- Home country:United Kingdom
My Graduate Story
I’m Alex, and I co-own Burger Me Up with Molly. The business started almost five years ago, back when we were both in our final year at the University of Birmingham. Today, we’ve grown from a small football club kitchen to a flagship restaurant in Stirchley, with other ventures along the way.
A Day in My Life
I look after operations, strategy, and making sure the team runs smoothly. Running a kitchen with 8 to 10 people on a Friday night means everything needs to get done fast—and managing that requires great delegation and leadership.
My Journey to Burger Me Up
Before starting the business, I worked on the grill at Nando’s, so I had a good idea of how these types of places run. Molly brought years of hospitality experience. When we started, we bought our first piece of equipment while still working full-time jobs and opening five days a week. We began at Wake Green Football Club, moved to the Indie Lounge in Selly Oak, then opened our own store in Selly Oak. From there, we added a Digbeth venture, a pop-up in Solihull, and one in Manchester before launching our flagship in Stirchley.
My Birmingham Experience
Birmingham is a great place to come. It’s a campus university with a massive student feel in Selly Oak. Everyone’s of the same mindset, you can learn, be free, and do what you want to do. I studied Biology. One of the biggest things I took from my degree was learning to analyse and question everything. In business, people put deals in front of you all the time. Having the ability to step back and think before jumping in is invaluable. I also developed my people management skills at university, especially through sports clubs. You learn how to get the best out of people, skills I now use daily in the kitchen.
Advice for Students
If you want to start a business, understand the model you’re trying to create. Because we were students, we knew what students wanted; good food, delivered fast. Know your margins, understand your costs, take risks, and most importantly, have fun with it.