Citation
(2008), "Spirit Group toasts successful pub managers", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 40 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2008.03740bab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Spirit Group toasts successful pub managers
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 40, Issue 2.
Spirit Group toasts successful pub managers
Spirit Group has raised a glass to the first pub managers to “graduate” from its new learning and development center. They have successfully completed a series of residential courses at the venue, which forms part of the Spirit Academy, the umbrella name for the pub company’s employee training and development.
The pub managers honed their business, leadership and management skills through a training program designed to help them to become professional pub retailers and further their career development. Participants progress from stage to stage in groups and, between courses, put what they learn into practice at their Spirit pubs. They also prepare and implement an action plan after each training level, which their business-development manager later assesses.
David Mayes, head of retail training at Spirit, said: “This level of investment in our people marks a new era for Spirit in terms of giving our managers the skills to become professional retailers. We are proud of our first “graduates” and celebrated their achievement at the managers’ conference. The courses have gone so well that we are looking to expand our retail-manager offer, by introducing more externally recognized professional qualifications in addition to our in-house qualifications.”
Academy graduate Steve Haigh, manager of the Summit Inn, Oldham, said: “I admit I was a little reluctant about spending time out of the business, but the courses were worthwhile, useful and entertaining. I have spent many years in pub management but I learned a lot there. The training must be the most thorough in our industry.”
The training venue has a range of facilities, including modern training rooms with electronic whiteboards, a training bar and cellar, an IT suite and a training kitchen. Managers attending residential courses can stay on site.
Group HR director Karen Caddick said: “We understand the value of training and believe in providing our retail managers with the skills and knowledge they need effectively to carry out their roles and develop to their full potential.”
Spirit Group is the managed-house division of Punch Taverns, with 8,400 leased, tenanted and managed pubs across the UK.