Shift Manager Review
at JD Wetherspoon
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Hospitality Management
Birmingham
Review Submitted: March 2023
Overall Rating
4.9 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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:
5/5
As a shift manager I’m expected to be able to run the pub in the absence of the pub manager, I routinely work front of house and in the kitchen, deal with customer issues, deal with staff issues, do admin, deal with all legal bodies (licensing, eho, police etc…
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The modules that I have gained skills or expanded on skills I have loved, however some modules do feel a little broad spectrum and don’t really fit to Wetherspoons and then ones I for the most part just feel a little useless in completing them as it’s not something I’m going to use
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
During my apprenticeship I have gained skills in people management mostly. When I first was promoted to being a manager, as someone who can be quite shy and anxious it was difficult for me to effectively manage staff, however since doing the apprenticeship and going through the people management courses it has greatly helped me in being able to deal with staff both positively and negatively
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Since moving to Aptem it has got a lot better with clearly defined dates for when everything is due by. It’s also really handy that all your meetings go through Aptem and feature on the site so you don’t have to worry about remembering when they are anymore
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
They give me time on shift to complete my work and my manager is always happy to help me on anything I might be stuck with. They’ve been happy to allow me to do more off the job training in other pubs which has helped me progress in my apprenticeship and my career
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My trainer is very helpful and very patient and is wonderful to work with. He’s always happy to give me any help whenever I require it and has been an absolute star in helping me complete my apprenticeship, couldn’t ask for a better trainer than what he has been
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
As mentioned above I think some modules can be a little too broad and don’t add anything to my job, but there are many, particularly of the people management modules which have hugely helped me perform better at work, and I started the apprenticeship as a shift leader and I believe the apprenticeship is the reason I have improved enough to become a shift manager
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Any social events would be ad hoc at each pub, however there are networking groups coming out to improve the companies understanding on how to deal with certain topics, we currently have one for LGBTQ+, one for race and ethnic diversity, one for women, these groups are voluntary but allow the company to work on issues that the above mentioned people face at the workplace
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend JD Wetherspoon to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Worked for the company for almost 7 years and they have been nothing but accommodating to me, I’ve managed to go 7 years without ever hating my job, and at times where I have felt a change is needed I’ve always been allowed to move to other pubs
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to JD Wetherspoon?
Work hard, treat the customers fairly and make yourself available, all these things are what will get you moving up the roles in the company, and without them you’re just going to sit as an associate on basic pay until you leave. Attitude at work is everything, if you have a good positive attitude then people will give you more time and chances etc
