Retail Capability Partner Review
at Mitchells and Butlers
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Human Resources
Birmingham
Review Submitted: November 2025
Overall Rating
5 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
-
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
My role is designed to support the growth / strengthening of capability amongst our retail teams (from Team Member up to General Manager). The skill most required in my role is Coaching, as we are often seen as internal coaches. We focus on business coaching - supporting / challenging General Managers to improve areas of their business, leading to higher sales growth opportunities.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I loved completing the L5 Coaching Professional Apprenticeship. As Coaching is such a huge skill required for the role I do, the apprenticeship helped hugely by providing insight into theory; skills; tools and techniques. It helped me identify my coaching style and practice in a safe space, while receiving feedback.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Both. I would say coaching was already a natural skill, but being able to link it to models and theories within coaching really helped to identify areas of the skill I was strongest in. I would say I have developed new skills for self awareness and growing my personal insight.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The L5 coaching apprenticeship was well structured - taking roughly 15 months to complete (with an extension in there due to a change of job role).
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Before we started offering L5 Coaching more widely across the Organisation, it was people within the Apprenticeship team who recommended the L5 apprenticeship to me due to my interests, my previous degree in Psychology and my desire to move into an internal coaching role.
Throughout the qualification, individuals within my company were incredibly supportive and have been ever since I've completed the apprenticeship. I now sit within the internal group of accredited coaches for our company and get to continually practice my coaching.
Throughout the qualification, individuals within my company were incredibly supportive and have been ever since I've completed the apprenticeship. I now sit within the internal group of accredited coaches for our company and get to continually practice my coaching.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Lifetime were brilliant at supporting both myself and colleagues / peers throughout the programme. During a change of job role and towards the end of the qualification, I found myself falling behind with some of the content. My learning coach was hugely supportive and ensured we had regular catch ups in the diary, to maintain momentum.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Absolutely. I'd recommend the L5 Coaching Professional to anyone in a HR or Ops role - the skills are hugely transferrable and enable you to have better conversations and hold the space for individuals who need support.
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
Mitchells & Butlers are great at recognising successes of the company, as a whole team, and celebrating these. For example, we have annual awards ceremonies; social networking events and different events for people within different roles. We create sports teams to raise money for charity, across all brands within the organisation.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Mitchells and Butlers to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I love working for MAB. I started in the company whilst completing my University degree, as a team member in one of our brands. I quickly fell in love with the hospitality industry - a place where you get to meet incredible people every day, whether they're guests or the team / wider MAB team you work with.
I've been supported by MAB throughout my career so far, progressing to a General Manager and to the role I do now, as a Retail Capability Partner. I know there are always opportunities to learn and grow in this organisation, coupled with passionate individuals who want to see others succeed.
I've recommended MAB to several friends over the years - including my brother, who joined as an Assistant Manager; and my good friend, who joined our Organisational Development team as a partner.
I've been supported by MAB throughout my career so far, progressing to a General Manager and to the role I do now, as a Retail Capability Partner. I know there are always opportunities to learn and grow in this organisation, coupled with passionate individuals who want to see others succeed.
I've recommended MAB to several friends over the years - including my brother, who joined as an Assistant Manager; and my good friend, who joined our Organisational Development team as a partner.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Mitchells and Butlers?
Cheesy but - be yourself. MAB has a place for everyone but you'll best find yours by being open about your passions; your strengths; and your areas of opportunity.
Speak to people to find out why they love working for the company and in this industry - there's no shortage of us around in this huge organisation.
Speak to people to find out why they love working for the company and in this industry - there's no shortage of us around in this huge organisation.
