Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame is a vertically integrated regional brewer and pub retailer, founded in 1698, which seeks to retain its traditions while using new techniques to make it one of the most innovative in its field. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>
Each employee is given the training, support and encouragement to be able to make their own decisions with confidence.
There is a structured career progression for all staff at our 62 managed houses. Training begins immediately for new recruits with the company's comprehensive Bronze Award induction scheme.
Candidates learn house manager and company responsibilities under health and safety, employment, food hygiene and licensing laws; and how to quickly become productive members of staff.
The Bronze Award infuses employees with confidence, skills and high esteem and, since their introduction in 2003, staff turnover rates have improved dramatically by 40%.
Further along the career path, Shepherd Neame has addressed an unacceptable turnover of assistant manager level staff and set-up a 30-week programme combining Bii and NVQ qualifications with in-house workshops designed to focus on core skills.
Thirty-nine candidates took the course last year and the results have been immediate and encouraging. The company has already appointed 23 of them as assistant managers and one has done so well she has been promoted again to manage her own <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>