Greene King has been recognised at this year’s UK Social Mobility Awards for its work with young people by being awarded Recruitment Programme of the Year.
The awards celebrate forward-thinking businesses that developing innovative methods to encourage and advance social mobility strategies and conversations in the UK.
Greene King, which is based in Bury St Edmunds, employs 39,000 people, manages 1,750 pubs across the UK and prides itself on supporting those from disadvantaged and unrepresented backgrounds, developing their talents and helping them to demonstrate their true potential.
Rooney Anand, Greene King CEO, said: “Pubs play an important role in the heart of a community and there is great scope for pubs to support disadvantaged and unrepresented people within their local area. Our work with The Prince’s Trust through our Get Into Hospitality programme aims to support this, helping provide unemployed young people with the confidence and skills to move into the workplace and our apprenticeship scheme, and then in turn continue developing their career with us.”
Greene King’s partnership with The Prince’s Trust launched in 2016 and has so far supported almost 240 young people from typically disadvantaged backgrounds.
H&C News Comment: The people and skills shortages in the UK hospitality and catering industry showing no signs of abating. So, the work being done by Greene King is vital in bringing skills to people who can enter our industry and flourish. Greene King’s support of 240 young people was duly commended at this year’s UK Social Mobility Awards.
We report frequently on hospitality and catering businesses that are addressing the people and skills shortages in our industry, sometimes through HR initiatives and others by setting example, as Greene King have.
Earlier this week for example Hilton was recognised as the second-best place to work in the world by Great Place to Work.
We also in our annual event H&C EXPO bring people together to discuss and debate how best to address the people and skills shortages in our industry.
Our approach can be different and bring people together who would not normally get the opportunity to. Sitting students and industry leaders down together for example, we adopted this approach and enabled those looking to enter our industry talk with some who manage big parts of it.
Peter Ducker FIH, Chief Executive, Institute of Hospitality was one of the industry leaders that took part. In the video below, you can hear and see why he thought this much needed event was “unique”.
We would like to report on more similar examples and initiatives from organisations across our industry, if you would like to put one forward for publishing in H&C News and/or discussion at H&C EXPO 2019 please contact Denis Sheehan.