Pubs and Bars

Greene King unveils new recruitment commitments

The company's commitments will reportedly include adding 5,000 new apprentices across the 32 different types of apprenticeships currently available by 2025

Greene King has announced the intention to implement new commitments around the recruiting and training of employees from all backgrounds after the brand launched a new report, ‘Untapping Potential: the role of pubs in levelling up skills, jobs and communities’. 

The company’s commitments will reportedly include adding 5,000 new apprentices across the 32 different types of apprenticeships currently available by 2025, building on the 15,000 individuals that have already completed the programme since 2011.

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It will also aim to recruit 300 more prison leavers by 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, while opening the first Greene King prison training kitchen at HMP Thameside. Greene King has reportedly supported 100 prison leavers into employment already.

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Greene King is also launching a Chef Academy Programme this year, working with TV chef and presenter, Joe Hurd, to “help train the next generation of leading chefs”. 

It also intends to provide 100 new internships to those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) by 2025, adding to the 40 plus individuals the business has already supported in this programme since 2021.

Greene King will reportedly continue to build on its current programmes offering opportunities to people experiencing homelessness, veterans and refugees and providing work experience to young people across the UK as well.

The new commitments are said to build on Greene King’s ongoing work to promote social mobility, which has included supporting over 15,000 apprentices since 2011 and 100 prison leavers through the company’s ‘Releasing Potential’ programme.

The ‘Untapping Potential’ report launched at a reception in Parliament, supported by education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi MP, and chair of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon MP, revealed how pubs can deliver the Government’s Levelling Up agenda by providing the training and career development opportunities.

The report found that three in five young people don’t believe there are enough “promising” job opportunities in their local areas, despite 89% of the same group reporting a desire to attain a job that would allow them to stay in their community. 

It also found almost half of young people (48%) believe that hospitality only provides short term opportunities, not promising careers, highlighting a perception problem.

Nick Mackenzie, CEO of Greene King, said: “Pubs have always been about people, and I’ve witnessed the way a job in a pub can completely change a person’s life and become a lifelong, successful career. That’s why I’m proud that Greene King is making these commitments to provide people from all backgrounds access meaningful, rewarding careers in their local communities. 

“Pubs have so much to offer both for those looking for careers and those in the local community. If we are to fully capitalise on this potential, the government and wider industry must pull together to promote careers in hospitality and empower businesses to offer even more training and development opportunities.”

Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee, added: “As the Government pushes forward with its levelling up ambitions, I believe that apprenticeships have an essential role to play. Commitments from businesses, such as the additional 5,000 apprentices that Greene King has pledged to support by 2025, will be key to levelling up the country and I am proud to support the company’s Untapping Potential report. 

“I have always believed that apprenticeships provide an incredibly important ladder of opportunity and Greene King has helped many thousands of apprentices climb up that very ladder.”

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