Punch has helped to secure their first team of pub employees through a Hospitality Work Academy, where local people were given the opportunity to gain skills, real work experience and secure sustainable employment in the leading pub company.
Working in partnership with Charnwood training group, Punch has helped to secure sustainable employment for eight people from the Wallasey area. This is the first of the 100 work placements pledged by Punch earlier in the year to the Hospitality’s Guilds Perceptions Group careers initiative.
Working with Charnwood Training Group’s Hospitality academy, the team were able to discuss their recruitment and business needs, who in turn led an intensive programme giving the local community opportunity to learn the essential skills needed to work within a busy Punch pub.
Candidates gained nationally-recognised industry qualifications, completed real work experience and were up-skilled in customer service and team working. Initially 16 applicants were selected for the programme, who then completed the job trial placement at the nearby Ridger pub. This gave licensees Scott and Cath Griffiths an opportunity to see their workplace potential before picking their eight-strong team.
Licensee Scott Griffiths explained why he wanted to use this scheme: “This scheme didn’t replace my usual recruitment drive, but acted as another method to find the best people for the positions. What’s great is that it was more personal as I got to see first-hand how the candidates were in the workplace and I got to develop a relationship with them as my potential employees before making my decision.
“It is vital that the right team are on-board when re-launching a pub and I am confident that we have achieved this. I was really impressed with the calibre of people and their enthusiasm not only for the position but for the hospitality industry.”
Jackie Burn, HR Director for Punch said: “We are delighted to be working with Charnwood training group and Perceptions on this fantastic scheme. The candidates benefit from gaining hospitality qualifications and valuable work experience, and the licensee saves time as the pre-selection is done so they are left to observe and interview the most suitable candidates.
“The Ferry was the ideal opportunity for us to get on board as it was undergoing a major refurbishment after being closed for one year and had no existing staff. We now have an internal talent bank and our regional training managers will work with the relevant area managers to source potential job role in other Punch pubs nearby.
“We have other sites earmarked under this scheme and are on track to complete our pledge by the end of the year.”
Punch is a leading pub company in the UK with approximately 4,000 leased and tenanted pubs nationwide.