Learning & Development Partner Review
at Greene King
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Hospitality Management
Tetbury
Review Submitted: January 2023
Overall Rating
3.8 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Delivering core induction courses to Pub Leadership Team. These are both face to face (Head Office and Regional across the country) and virtual. Partnering in a matrix organisation in order to design and handover pieces of required training. Project work within allocated retail division. Managing a network of In-Pub Training Managers that support the induction process of new Pub Leadership Team members.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I always enjoy learning both new and reinforcement. Early hiccups related to Aptem have now been overcome (my use of it rather than the system, e.g. navigating away from a page without saving first and losing your work). Thus the learning is good, even the reinforcement of existing knowledge.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have been coaching using the GROW model for around 27 years. The apprenticeship has broadened my knowledge of alternative models. It has combined much of my existing knowledge and experience (for example Communication Skills) into a coherent package relating to coaching on a professional manner. The focus on coaching in this scenario is new to me and more formal than the coaching on the job that I have carried out previously.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Very well organised, especially the monthly tasks through Aptem. I do often wonder whether I am doing enough personal research or study away from Aptem as my recorded hours are good and meeting programme (in the main). An opportunity to improve is make it easier to catch-back. I have missed a lot of the 'lessons' - catching back is a pain - can't see other events to request them without bothering other people.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I manage my own diary, however due to organisational change (with colleagues leaving) I have missed lessons by having to cover other company courses for my now absent team. Support is taken. If I had requested more help (when people left) I would probably have received it, however I hate being indebted to people so sacrificed course attendance - hence the need to re-organise.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Very good. My tutor is very understanding of both my career knowledge and experience and also the status of my work demands through the course. She has enabled my catching up as well as appropriately driving me forward. She also effectively manages my Aptem Learning Plan moving items around, re-scheduling and adding as necessary.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
That is a question I am asking at work. A large group of my colleagues are involved in this course, originally with a vague focus for providing an internal coaching service. This is currently un-coordinated or visible. I have raised the question for future deployment of these skills from all of us. Within my personal role - I use coaching informally every day, but that has not changed.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Green King has been in partnership with Macmillan since 2012 - retail operations do a lot of the ground work on this. Still as a field based employee I have the chance to join many of the schemes, be it with local pubs or with corporate arranged activities. The Head Offices also run numerous events for corporate teams to partake in. Our team made a visit to the Belhaven Brewery at Dunbar within our both work and extracurricular activities last year.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Greene King to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Hospitality is a tough place to be, however the personal rewards are high if you get a kick out of serving people. Working field based also gives you a lot of freedom in managing your diary and workload. The opportunity to travel and meet people across the country is special. Your horizons are broad.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Greene King?
Be interested in Beer! We are still a brewer (unlike most of our competitors in Retail). Have some ideas about the flavours. If you're coming into retail (pub) - talk about the 'kick' you get from serving people - this connects with our values with customer first and we care for everyone!
