Whitbread launches Apprenticeship Programme

25th March 2009, 3:09pm

Whitbread hotel and restaurant group has today launched a six-month training and development programme and has announced that it will create 1,000 new jobs this year.

All employees are eligible across UK hotel and restaurant operations to enter the 'Whitbread Model' programme. The initiative is also totally integrated into the core business training and development programmes and can be achieved in half the time of a normal NVQ.

By the end of this year over 3,000 employees are expected to have achieved qualifications such as NVQ's and certificates in Adult numeracy and literacy. Employees can study for NVQ's in house keeping, food processing and cooking, food and drink service and front office.

The scheme was developed in conjunction with Awarding Body Edexcel and the Sector Skills Council People 1st, who are backing the programme as a breakthrough in matching vocational qualifications to employer-led training and development.

Paul Knight, team leader, Corey's Mill Beefeater & Stevenage Premier Inn one of the first Whitbread people to complete the scheme commented: "Training in my workplace is a lot more personalised that if I went to college, also being paid whilst you learn is far more beneficial for me then having to find time to fit in both work and college."

Alan Parker, chief executive officer for Whitbread PLC, added: "The 'Whitbread Model' is at the heart of our commitment to attract and train up the very best potential hospitality talent. We need to keep demonstrating that working in the hospitality industry is a great career move, not just a job. By halving the time that it takes to achieve qualifications and combining the NVQ work with our industry leading induction programme, we anticipate that 20% of our workforce will have a nationally recognised qualification by 2010."  

The jobs created for this year are planned to staff the new 12 new hotels, 4 restaurants and over 100 Costa Coffee shops that the group aims to launch this year.

Related Articles:

• 11 Apr 2012 - Whitbread appoints new managing director of Costa Coffee
• 13 Dec 2011 - Hotel and restaurant group Whitbread achieves total sales growth of 11.4%
• 28 Apr 2011 - Whitbread achieves strong revenue growth with sales up 6.6%
• 02 Mar 2011 - Costa reveals Coffee Nation acquisition
• 28 Jan 2011 - Whitbread welcomes new non executive director to the board
• 24 Jan 2011 - Whitbread restaurants introduce range of lower salt soups
• 02 Nov 2009 - Is the hospitality industry struggling to recruit the right staff?
• 14 Oct 2009 - People 1st launches women in leadership initiative
• 07 Sep 2009 - Whitbread's total group sales rise by 2.4%
• 02 Sep 2009 - Whitbread achieves top grade for hospitality programme
• 20 Aug 2009 - Whitbread launches environment report
• 16 Jun 2009 - Whitbread sales in line with expectations
• 14 May 2009 - Hospitality sector must prepare for recovery with training
• 11 Mar 2009 - Whitbread embarks on skills for life training
• 09 Mar 2009 - Whitbread well positioned for challenging year ahead
• 16 Dec 2008 - Whitbread appoints new director
• 08 Dec 2008 - Whitbread beating the credit crunch
• 10 Nov 2008 - Whitbread invests in Training Talent
• 15 Oct 2008 - Whitbread reports strong sales

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