Wetherspoons makes staff skills pledge

JD Wetherspoon has committed to investing in the future of its 21,000 staff members by becoming the first pub operator to sign up to the government's skills pledge initiative.

The pledge is a voluntary, public commitment - made by an organisation - to invest in its workforce's skills.

Companies including Sainsbury's, McDonald's, Whitbread and Tesco have also signed the pledge on behalf of their staff.

Su Cacioppo, Wetherspoons' director of personnel and legal, said: "We invest £1.5 million annually in staff training, which clearly highlights the importance we place on it.

"By signing up to the skills pledge, we will be able to offer our staff even greater opportunities to gain skills and qualifications, while working."

One of Wetherspoons' recent initiatives is investing in an e-learning system to help staff acquire literacy and numeracy skills.

Meanwhile Wetherspoons is also launching an in-house apprenticeship in food & drink service - for bar and kitchen staff across its estate.

The apprenticeship will last for six months, with the qualification being the equivalent of five GCSEs (at grades A-C).

Cacioppo added: "Many people working in the pub industry, including those who work for Wetherspoons, start their careers at 18, without gaining qualifications at school or college.

"We want to give them the opportunity to forge a great career at Wetherspoons and begin studying for qualifications from the outset.

"We are absolutely committed to offering the best training and career progression in the pub industry."