Premier Inn has announced Sharma Faconti from its London County Hall site as the winner of its ‘Apprentice of the Year’ for 2013.
Sharma’s progress with Premier Inn
Sharma started her journey with Whitbread in May 2012 after a spell of unemployment while she looked for a new career. She originally joined the team at the Euston Premier Inn as a Reception Team Member and was among 14 apprentices to start the apprenticeship programme in August 2012, the same month she won ‘employee of the month’ on site, just two months after joining.
Sharma was the first from her group to finish her 12 month apprenticeship and she has also recently completed the Internal Management Development Shooting Stars Bronze Programme, achievements, which have contributed to her promotion to ‘Shift Leader’ at the 265 bedroom Premier Inn hotel at County Hall.
Gaining her Premier Inn apprenticeship qualification has given Sharma the skills, technical knowledge and confidence she needed to progress to her next step in the organisation. She has used this new found confidence to impress guests at the Euston site every day and to inspire others to join up as apprenticeships.
The Big Conversation
In February 2013 Sharma attended ‘The Big Conversation’ in London, a recent and key initiative of the British Hospitality Association which is Chaired by Premier Inn Managing Director, Patrick Dempsey. The aim of the ‘The Big Conversation’ is to get companies within the hospitality market to pledge their support for young people by offering them work experience and job opportunities within the industry.
To date 33,000 pledges have been made and a target of 60,000 has now been set over the next two years.
Despite her short length of service with Whitbread, Sharma chaired a table group of industry professionals at ‘The Big Conversation’ including CEOs and HR Directors to facilitate conversations about getting young people into hospitality. Comments on the day from people included how impressed they were with Sharma’s enthusiasm, positive behaviour and genuine commitment to Premier Inn.
A true role model
Sarah Frost the Cluster General Manager for Euston/Hampstead who nominated Sharma for the award said “Sharma is a true role model and reflects the positive behaviours expected from our teams. She is an exceptional individual who is absolutely committed to her own self development as well as to the development of others. Her guest scores and support for them is inspirational.”
Sharma Faconti said, “I’m delighted to win the award but I would like to thank all my fellow team members who made me so welcome when I joined last year and have worked with me over the last 14 months. Their help and support has been invaluable so I’m accepting this award on their behalf as well.”
Premier Inn’s apprenticeship scheme
The scheme started in 2010 and is one of three key Whitbread youth employment objectives within its ‘People Plan’ which aims to:
- Target 50% of newly created jobs to go to the youth unemployed – Premier Inn will create 1,000 new jobs in 2013/14
- Provide work placements for young people to experience the hospitality industry – nearly 700 have taken place so far this year.
- Provide over 500 ‘apprenticeships’ in 2013/14
Premier Inn’s apprenticeship scheme is aimed at enabling new team members to gain nationally recognised hospitality qualifications by learning ‘on and off the job’. They have the opportunity to gain functional maths and English for those that did not achieve those GCSE’s at Grade C or above, and 39% of apprentices move into management to further develop their careers.