Classroom in the cloud: Pubcos embrace e-learning

Stonegate has introduced Albert’s App, as well as a training regime on its intranet.
It indicates which members of the team are committed to the career pathway because the pubco’s staff turnover rate reduces by half as each employee progresses through each level of Albert’s Theory of Progression.

Workers ranging from bar staff up to director can all use the system.

Stonegate’s HR director Tim Painter says: “We employ the gaming generation and we shouldn’t forget that, but the fastest-growing users of the internet are the silver surfers — the over-60s.

“They love the training in [an electronic] format because they can go at their own pace and recap at any point they want to.”

Stonegate uses a blend of cartoon graphics and how-to videos, such as making the perfect mojito or understanding craft ale, followed by questions to check understanding.

Flexability

If a team member gets a certain percentage of questions wrong, they are encouraged to redo the training programme.

“E-learning offers huge benefits including flexibility for employees to complete courses and training from a PC, tablet or mobile at a time that suits them,” Painter says.

Stonegate developed the scheme in partnership with CPL, offering each member of staff training tailored to their role.

Painter continues: “We like to make learning fun, which is why e-learning is a useful training tool be-cause it allows us to keep material relevant and up to date. Don’t let the training stagnate. One of the biggest benefits of e-learning is that you can keep adding and changing the content.”

Game-changing

Stonegate Pub Company’s head of learning and development, Lee Woolley added:“Albert’s App is game-changing and offers our employees an extra dimension to their programme of training.

"Customer service is at the forefront of what we do so all the tools on the app have been designed to improve the service we give our customers. CPL Online’s vision has enabled us to turn this into reality, bringing training to life and making it interactive for all. The potential to develop the app, by adding further training or communications tools, is huge.”

Pour-fect education: Charles Wells uses videos and quizzes to help employees with tasks such as cellar management and perfect pour guides. The operator says it is a quick and fun way of training staff (above)