Greene King pledges 2,000 apprenticeships in 2015
Pubco Greene King has pledged to offer a further 2,000 apprenticeships over the next 12 months.
The move forms part of the company's commitment to providing job opportunities for young people, and coincides with National Apprenticeship Week, which runs 9-13 March.
Greene King will work with national apprenticeship provider Lifetime Training to help young people develop the necessary skills to progress from team members to general managers through a structured programme of advanced management qualifications.
The pub group has just fulfilled its 2014 quota of 2,000, meaning that it has helped support over 4,500 apprentices since 2011. Greene King said it is aiming to have an apprentice in each of its 1,000 sites at all times, in a bid to promote the growing number of opportunities in the hospitality sector.
Rooney Anand, Greene King chief executive, commented: "It is so important to support young people to get that all-important first step on the career ladder. Apprenticeships provide learners with valuable skills which will help them to build a career.
"Our new pledge is a testament to the level of support we provide to the hospitality industry as well as our investment in our employees. We offer opportunities to those of all ages and it is highly encouraging to see that so many of our sites have taken up the programme and we hope that over the coming years we are able to further grow and develop the scheme."
The apprenticeship programme has supported Greene King's ambition to tackle the industry shortage of chefs, and since last summer, more than 75% of all recruited apprentices have been for ‘back of house' roles including some in the kitchen.
Anand added: "Apprenticeships help to reduce team turnover, increase employee engagement and provide us with the opportunity to grow our own talent by investing in our people and supporting their career ambitions."
Isabelle Pearson, a finalist in the National Apprentice Awards, has completed two apprenticeships at Greene King, helping her to progress from part-time bar staff to managing her own pub in three years.
She said: "I am really proud to work for Greene King. The training and support I have received has been invaluable to help me forge a career in the hospitality industry. My apprenticeship has taught me some vital skills which have helped me in my new role running a pub and managing a team."
