Greene King scoops top training award

l Pictured at the BII National Industry Training Awards are, centre, left to right: Sarah Milward, training manager, Greene King Pub Partners; Caroline Hollings, training and recruitment officer, Greene King Pub Partners; and David Elliott, managing director, Greene King Pub Partners.

December 7, 2007: Greene King Pub Partners has been crowned the provider of the best training to pub licensees following its triple win at the BII National Industry Training Awards, including the supreme award.

The leased and tenanted division of Greene King scooped the awards for the best development programme (non-managed) for its Go for Growth programme, and best licensee trainer with one of its unique tenant trainers, Margaret Orman, of the Whitmore Arms.

The supreme award, which celebrates the best entry of the year, was presented to Greene King for its Go for Growth training programme, exemplifying excellence and best practice in training.

David Elliott, managing director for Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Winning the three NITA awards, including the supreme award, really does endorse the high quality training and development we offer new and existing licensees.

"The Go for Growth training programme has been judged as the very best in the licensed leisure sector, which is a tremendous result, and I am very proud of the team and the commitment they offer to our licensees”.

Speaking about her individual trainer of the year award, Margaret Orman, licensee of the Greene King pub The Whitmore Arms, in Orsett, said: “Ongoing staff training and development has played a huge role in achieving our successful business at the Whitmore Arms.

"It’s great to be able to share these experiences with Greene King’s up-and-coming licensees as a tenant trainer for the company. I feel very honoured and proud to have been recognised with such a prestigious award.”

Greene King Pub Partners has been providing the Tenant Trainer programme to new licensees for the last four years. New licensees who are about to take on their pub get the chance to experience the pub business in a real life pub rather just basic classroom learning.

They can spend up to five days with a tenant trainer who will take them through every aspect of the business, providing relevant and useful advice to start their business successfully from the first day. The tenant trainer then acts as a mentor for the new licensee throughout their first year.

The Go for Growth development programme was introduced to the Pub Partners business two years ago and has seen significant positive results.

Independent research conducted by the Nottingham Trent University this year on licensees who have attended the course shows that as a result of the training programme: 84% reported a significant improvement in customer satisfaction; 83% saw an increase in levels of service quality; 78% reported an increase in repeat business; 76% had increased profits since attending;
90% of licensees reduced their costs; 72% saw an increase in food sales;
78% increased wet sales; and 92% reported a better relationship with their staff.

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