A survey of the top 10 managed operators, conducted by the Pub and Bar Careers Perceptions Group, found that the number of apprenticeships had doubled from last year. In 2013, the 10 pub companies employed 4,300 apprentices compared to 9,056 in 2014.
Anthony Pender, vice-chairman of the Perceptions Group and managing director of The Yummy Pub Company, said: “This demonstrates the huge investment that the pub and bar sector makes each year in developing young people. It is brilliant to reveal that 9,056 apprenticeships are offered by just a small proportion of the sector.
“Smaller operators are keen to get involved with apprenticeship schemes if the funding were available. It is clearer than ever that the sector is keen to employ ambitious and motivated young people like graduates from apprenticeships and the Pub & Bar Careers programme.”
Train and retain
Joanne Bradford, national qualifications manager of Spirit Pub Company, said: “Spirit chose to deliver apprenticeships to be able to train and to successfully retain high calibre people: we now know 89% of apprentices we have trained remain with the business.”
Patrick Dempsey, managing director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “We want young people to know that hospitality is a career path that is open to them and its one they can excel in. We’re committed to doing what we can to offer opportunities to unemployed people to get their first job or to get back into work. We have a target of recruiting half of our new team members from the long-term unemployed, and we offer a robust and structured qualification pathway.”
The top ten managed operators in order of size of estate are: Mitchells & Butlers; Greene King Retail; JD Wetherspoon; Spirit Pub Company; Stonegate Pub Company; Marston’s Inns & Taverns; Whitbread; Samuel Smith; Orchid Pub Company and Fullers. (source: Publican’s Morning Advertiser Market Report 2014)
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