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Marco Pierre White launches Greene King’s apprenticeship programme
Greene King has launched its own Discovery Apprenticeship programme. Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, a former apprentice himself, helped officially launch the programme at a master class cookery demonstration to celebrate the achievements of some of the first apprentices to qualify.
Jonathan Webster, managing director of Greene King's Destination Pubs and Restaurants division explained that the company was committed to helping young people to gain qualifications and to progress their careers in a variety of roles within the hospitality sector.
"Our aim is not just to provide a 'pub job' but to offer a clear career path for our employees. Our Discovery Apprenticeship programme allows our employees to gain qualifications while gaining hands-on experience on the job.
"We hope our current apprentices will become our house managers, regional managers, development chefs and even directors of the future, and we might even develop a future Michelin star rated chef!" he said.
The programme has been introduced to train and develop employees across the group's 2,400 pubs, including its Hungry Horse and Old Inn pub chains, Loch Fyne Restaurants and its main brewery site.
With over 250 employees having already completed apprenticeships and 425 currently in training, Greene King plans to extend the programme to over 1,300 further employees in 2012; making it one of the largest providers of hospitality based Apprenticeships in the UK.
Marco Pierre White hosted the masterclass for eight apprentices, each nominated by their business development managers and former apprentice, now area chef for Loch Fyne, Chris Stanbrooke.
He said: "Marco is an inspiration and it was an amazing experience to meet him. It was when I first started working at Loch Fyne that I discovered a real passion for cooking with seafood and experimenting to create new dishes. I couldn't believe my luck when I heard that Marco would be preparing two fish dishes. To be able to get tips from one of the 'greats' like him was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us."
Karen Woodward, divisional apprenticeship director at The National Apprenticeship Service, which has overall responsibility for the delivery of Apprenticeships in the UK, is delighted that a large employer like Greene King has chosen to introduce Apprenticeships to train and develop its staff.
"Greene King recognises that investing in apprentices will demonstrate its commitment to developing highly skilled Apprenticeship opportunities for local people. This will also ensure a highly skilled workforce for its future operations. The NAS are delighted to be supporting Greene King and their selected provider, Charnwood Training Group, in their apprenticeship programme."
