Pubs and brewing group Greene King has marked National Apprenticeship Week by announcing that the number of trainees to have joined its own in-house scheme has now passed 10,000.
Bury St Edmunds-based Greene King, the UK’s largest operator of directly managed retail pubs, launched its apprenticeship programme in 2011, offering roles for brewing, chef, bar and front of house staff as well as in leadership and management.
Since it began, the scheme has been repeatedly recognised – both with the hospitality industry and externally ? for its dedication to high quality training and development.
In 2016, to complement the apprenticeship scheme, Greene King also launched Get Into Hospitality – in partnership with The Prince’s Trust – which involves an intensive three-week programme of work experience and training to addresses the skills and experience gaps that typically prevent unemployed young people from getting into work.
So far 160 young people have achieved Get Into Hospitality certification, with those who go on to work for the group’s pub company then being encouraged to enter the apprenticeship programme to further develop their skills and qualifications.
Greene King apprentice Rachael McAtee is among those who have done just that. She said: “The Get Into Hospitality programme really gave me the confidence to explore a career in hospitality, and it was fantastic to be offered a front of house role with Greene King at the end of it.
“I settled into that role quickly and it didn’t take long before I was recommended to apply for the Greene King apprenticeship programme. I’ve not only achieved a Level 2 Food & Beverage Services, an industry-recognised qualification, but I’m working my way up the ranks and exploring further development opportunities available to me.”
Rooney Anand, chief executive at Greene King, said: “We have invested in our apprenticeship programme for seven years now and it’s great that we’ve been able to support 10,000 of our team members during that time.
“But it won’t stop there as we recognise it’s more important than ever that we continue to bring young people into the hospitality industry and show that it can provide a stable, exciting and rewarding career.
“Our apprenticeship programme and partnership with The Prince’s Trust are leading the way and we look forward to welcoming others to develop their skills and build a career with us.”
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