Senior People Partner Review
at Whitbread plc
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Business Operations
Loudwater, Buckinghamshire
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
2.6 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
2/5
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Skills Development
2.2/5
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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:
3/5
Strategic planning and support of the Company People agenda. Influencing stakeholders, coaching around organisational design, talent and performance and engagement. Partnering 7 Exec members and their leadership teams to ensure the people agenda is progressed in a way that supports the overall company objectives and drives the growth plan and overall sucess
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
i am not sure i would say i enjoy the programme. A lot of the content is theoretical and knowledge i have already acquired through my professional career. I wouldnt say it is adding anything new, but is refreshing knowledge and providing an opportunity to build on it. I do find the content of the programme is too theoretical and doesnt always correlate or translate into the real practical environment
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
The course is enabling me to develop existing skills. This has happened through practical experience of taking part in coaching hours that are a mandatory requirement of the course. It is also refining my ability to progress my personal development around reflection and growth, so the continuous professional development is positively benefiting from this course.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The course is well structured in terms of the content. There are monthly seminars held virtually, and they do include break outs into smaller groups which is useful. I think the course is missing some structured time as a group to discuss experiences and gain support and advice from tutors about the practical side of the course, as often the seminars are over run with these kind of questions. The expectation is that people do this in thier own time but you only have a meeting with a mentor every 6 weeks which has a number of purposes so this doesnt feel adequate, particularly as you are already juggling a full time role and the apprenticeship. It isnt always practical to do networking and seeking answers in addition to the forementioned commitments
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I am given the time needed to complete the courses and have free reign of my diary to protect time to work on the qualification. They have also supported me with finding coachees to enable me to complete the mandatory coaching hours, but there is not much in the way of support re networking with other apprentices for example.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
I think this is lacking a little.There is a mentor meeting once every six weeks but this doesnt feel very agile, particualrly if you need support in between. You can message your mentor for further support but the responses can take a while so again there is a delay between the need and the response.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
The qualification is enabling me to hone skills already acquired which is useful. I think the course content is quite focussed on proving the worth of coaching in an organisation but when you work in a company that already champions and advocates for coaching, a more flexible approach to this would be beneficial. For example, i feel i would benefit more from learning different techniques and practical application of coaching, than learning to convince an organisation that coaching is beneficial.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
no networking events provided by work. There are a couple of events avaialble through the training provider but all are based in London so not always practical for remote workers such as myself. i would benefit from a network at work to share experiences with others taking on a qualification whilst working full time
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Whitbread plc to a friend?
Yes
Why?
If this question is asking would i recommend someone to work at Costa, i would to an extent. It is a great organisation with a clear growth agenda and lots to get involved in. It isnt for everyone due to the pace and high expectations but would suit someone who is agile, pacey and looking for a challenge.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Whitbread plc?
Costa are open to supporting development for those who are committed and engaged. You do need to be able to manage your time effectively as workload is high, and a quick turnaround is expected. Networking is important at Costa, it is more about who you know, rather than what, particularly in the first months after joining
