National Apprenticeship Week: Starbucks managers ‘talk to the power’ of apprenticeships
13 March 2013
Managers of Starbucks coffee shops have a key role in the success of the company’s apprenticeship scheme, according to the company’s UK head of talent.
Wed, 13 Mar 2013
Managers of Starbucks coffee shops have a key role in the success of the company’s apprenticeship scheme, according to the company’s UK head of talent.
Starbucks launched its apprenticeship scheme in April 2012, and is looking to take on 500 apprentices in both 2013 and 2014. It expects to have hired 200 apprentices for 2013’s cohort by the end of March.
UK head of talent Jan Smallbone tells Recruiter that local coffee shop managers can make a vital contribution to ensuring the success of the scheme. “More and more we are trying to get involved with schools and colleges,” says Smallbone, who explains that managers can make a real difference through their outreach work in the education sector.
“They can talk [about] the power of doing an apprenticeship,” she says, because many of them have been apprentices themselves, and this gives them a sense of authenticity. Smallbone says Starbucks coffee shop and district managers are keen to get involved. “They are a pretty willing bunch,” she adds.
She tells Recruiter the ability to work with local colleges and schools when looking for apprentices “is critically important”.
“We find there are a lot of barriers… parents and teachers don’t always have the most up-to-date knowledge of apprenticeships,” she says.
She also explains that these local efforts on the ground are backed up centrally by co-ordinators and by advertising.
Managers of Starbucks coffee shops have a key role in the success of the company’s apprenticeship scheme, according to the company’s UK head of talent.
Starbucks launched its apprenticeship scheme in April 2012, and is looking to take on 500 apprentices in both 2013 and 2014. It expects to have hired 200 apprentices for 2013’s cohort by the end of March.
UK head of talent Jan Smallbone tells Recruiter that local coffee shop managers can make a vital contribution to ensuring the success of the scheme. “More and more we are trying to get involved with schools and colleges,” says Smallbone, who explains that managers can make a real difference through their outreach work in the education sector.
“They can talk [about] the power of doing an apprenticeship,” she says, because many of them have been apprentices themselves, and this gives them a sense of authenticity. Smallbone says Starbucks coffee shop and district managers are keen to get involved. “They are a pretty willing bunch,” she adds.
She tells Recruiter the ability to work with local colleges and schools when looking for apprentices “is critically important”.
“We find there are a lot of barriers… parents and teachers don’t always have the most up-to-date knowledge of apprenticeships,” she says.
She also explains that these local efforts on the ground are backed up centrally by co-ordinators and by advertising.
