Celebrating National Hospitality Apprenticeship Week at Caring Homes
This week, we’re marking National Hospitality Apprenticeship Week with a look at some of our hospitality team members’ apprenticeship journeys and achievements.
The theme this year, "Powered by People", highlights the vital role apprentices, employers, and providers play in building a stronger, more inclusive and highly skilled workforce – something we’re fully committed to at Caring Homes.
An Increase in Hospitality Apprenticeships at Caring Homes
Since relaunching our apprenticeship programme last year, we’ve focused on making development opportunities available to team members in all roles across the Caring Homes group.
Horsell Lodge Hospitality Host, Jack Philipou, is studying for his Level 3 Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship and is full of enthusiasm, saying, “This course has been amazing from start to finish. As someone who did not know anything about hospitality before I started, I feel like I have achieved so much already, learning skills that have helped me to connect with the residents even more than before. I have also used the skills, such as time management and customer profiles, in my everyday life”. Jack’s colleague, Gary Bowring, is taking a Level 2 Production Chef Apprenticeship and added, “The apprenticeship has been very interesting and I've learnt a lot of new skills, including Level 1 Maths and English.
Apprenticeships Encouraged by our Learning and Development Team
Our Learning & Development team have really helped bring apprenticeships to life, taking a roadshow around all 21 homes to highlight the different courses on offer.
Blenheim Court Head Chef, Nathan Jones, learned about the Level 5 Operations Manager course when the team visited. It’s a logical next step after the Level 3 Senior Production Chef qualification he gained last year and having embarked on the course, Nathan is enjoying seeing the bigger picture. “My previous apprenticeship taught me about the management of the kitchen team and helped me to develop skills to run an effective kitchen”, he explained, “whereas the Level 5 course is more about people management and how I can develop my team. The process is helping me to think of different options and ways of working that I might not have considered otherwise”.
Apprentice of the Month Award
As a way of highlighting and celebrating the hard work our apprentices put into gaining their qualifications, we launched the Apprentice of the Month award at the start of the year. Each winner is chosen by one of our training providers, with their coaches well placed to nominate individuals who have stood out.
Since the awards began hospitality team members have been regular winners. Mark Woods, Commis Chef at Homefield Grange, was one of our first Apprentices of the Month earlier this year. He is currently working towards his Level 2 Commis Chef Apprenticeship and impressed his coach who shared, "Mark is a keen learner, completing all work set on time. He is eager to learn, asks questions and is making great progress with his portfolio."
Chef Masterclasses and Development Sessions
Alongside offering apprenticeships, we’re lucky to have a dynamic duo at the helm of our hospitality department. Ben and Steve - our Group Hospitality Manager and Group Executive Chef – are passionate about training and inspiring chefs at all levels. Part of this involves hosting quarterly Masterclasses where chefs and kitchen assistants are invited to off-site workshops. The content is different each time. There’s been a session on patisserie skills to prepare chefs for the launch of our Caring Homes High tea offering. Another day featured ideas for snacks and grazing foods that would be appealing to all residents, accommodating the full range of dietary needs. Most recently, a bakery Masterclass focused on techniques for making beautiful loaves, buns, brioche and doughnuts and there’s another day planned for October to cover soups, stocks and sauces – perfect for the chilly months ahead.
Whatever the session, the objective is that everyone steps out of the kitchen and into a learning space where they can develop new skills. It’s all part of our commitment to the personal growth and development of all our team members, alongside ensuring that every individual is well-equipped to provide exceptional care to our residents.
The Teamwork Behind Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take a lot of commitment – not only from the employee but also from their manager, so it’s important that both sides understand the benefit and are fully committed to completing the journey together.
No matter your age, role, or skill level, there’s an apprenticeship opportunity for everyone. It’s inspiring to see how our apprenticeship programme is helping employees grow – not just for their own development, but also in the way they positively impact the lives of our residents through the new skills they've gained. Being able to celebrate the success of our learners is a real privilege. Balancing work and study isn’t easy, but we’re passionate about supporting everyone with the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in their careers.
