Whitbread Apprenticeship Programme

Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest Hotel and Restaurant Group has introduced a new bespoke training and development programme to employees. Called the ‘Whitbread Model’ the six-month apprenticeship programme is the first and largest employer-led programme of its kind in the hospitality industry.

The ‘Whitbread Model’ is an innovative apprenticeship programme because all employees are eligible across its UK hotel and restaurant operations. The model is also totally integrated into the core business training and development programmes and can be achieved in half the time of a normal NVQ. By the end of 2009 over 3,000 employees are expected to have achieved qualifications such as NVQ’s and certificates in Adult numeracy and literacy, delivered by ThirdForce.