Greene King has today announced a pledge to take on 10,000 apprentices over the next three years, with hundreds of those expected to be based in Suffolk.

The brewer and pub retailer, headquartered in Bury St Edmunds, employs 42,000 people nationwide and has already employed 7,400 apprentices since it hired its first in 2011.

A year ago today the company, which last year became the largest pub retailer in the country when it bought Spirit Pubs, pledged to hire 2,000 apprentices by this week, which iy not only met but exceeded.

Rooney Anand, Greene King’s chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to have exceeded our 2015 apprenticeship target. We believe we have a responsibility to support young people by creating these opportunities to earn and learn.

“Not only do we want to ensure our apprentices have a great experience, we want to continue to improve the programme itself.

“We will provide the best advice and guidance to potential learners so they understand their commitment and ensure the qualification is best suited to their career aspirations.”

Lindsey Parr is just one of a number of apprentices who have successfully risen through the ranks at Greene King.

Having completed previous qualifications, she was highly commended by the National Apprenticeship Service for the Champion of the Year Award 2014.

Now a general manager and supporting other Greene King apprentices, Lindsey is also leading a team of nine apprentices as part of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge.

She said: “I was managing my first pub at the age of 18; it was a fantastic opportunity, which instilled within me a number of values which have led me to where I am today.

“Perhaps because of my own great apprenticeship experience, I have been passionate about helping young people to start and develop their careers.

“To date, I have actually enrolled over 30 of my team members onto apprenticeship programmes during my time as a general manager.”

The Greene King Apprenticeships scheme offers bespoke qualifications that cover a range of job roles including front of house, kitchen and management across their company.

To find out more about the scheme and to apply visit jobs.greeneking.co.uk/apprentices.