M&B to boost apprenticeship numbers even further
Susan Martindale said that the company, which was recognised at the National HR Distinction Awards this week, had managed to achieve a 70% retention rate from its apprentices.
She also revealed that this year’s Chef Academy programme, which had 90 graduates in its first year, is expected to reach 200 this year.
The progress of M&B’s online staff portal, called Mable, is helping to engage younger workers, she said.
People Strategy
Martindale discussed the key pillars of M&B’s People Strategy and said everyone in the industry had a responsibility to help build hospitality’s reputation as an attractive career path.
She was speaking on the back of the group’s wins at the National HR Distinction Awards, at which it took home the Early Career Employment gong and the Overall Best Place to Work honour.
It was also shortlisted in Employee Engagement and Experience and Leading Transformational Change.
Changing perceptions
Martindale said: “The awards were a real testament to the whole M&B team but for me it was also recognition of the really important work we have been doing to help change that perception of working in hospitality. We can give people great qualifications, business skills and careers. But, I still don’t think we’re first choice.
On Mable she said: “It’s really revolutionised how we can communicate with our staff. As well as having all the courses online it also has a social element and is completely customised to mobile. The reaction we’ve had, particularly from younger staff members, has been better than we could possibly have hoped.”
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