Starbucks Ireland’s Apprenticeship Programme Shortlisted for Industry Award

A new apprenticeship programme launched by two district managers in Northern Ireland has been shortlisted for an industry award just two years after launching.

Starbucks Ireland partnered with a local hospitality apprenticeship provider called Babcock in 2015 which provides NVQ Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships in Hospitality Supervision & Leadership L3 and L2 Food and Beverage Hospitality.

District managers Barbara McMaster and Paula Galloway are responsible for 18 stores across Northern Ireland and wanted to find a way to offer further career opportunities for store partners to progress within the business. To date, 20 apprentices have graduated from the programme and a further 14 are currently working through the scheme. The programme also offers partners the opportunity to resit essential maths and English competences, giving them confidence and improving their skill set.

Eight partners with learning disabilities have also now completed a bespoke Level 1 Programme in Customer Service.

Babcock nominated Starbucks for the Team of the Year Award at the Northern Ireland Institute of Hospitality Awards for Professionalism, which celebrates the hospitality industry’s leading performers. The award winner will be announced on 5 May 2017 at a prestigious ceremony in Belfast.

“Our people are at the heart of our business, and we believe the best way to exceed the expectations of our customers is to hire and train great people," said Paula Galloway, district manager, Starbucks Ireland. "Our fabulous team of partners have shown great commitment to their learning and developing their skills further.”

NVQ Level 3 Award Grainne Millar

The training that the NVQ gave me has been invaluable for my progression and it gave me the skills to manage and lead my team efficiently.

It is my goal to become a store manager, I have the support of my current store manager and the rest of the team at Starbucks. I am ready to join a group of high potential shift supervisors within the company which will help me on my path to becoming the next store manager, I love being a manager and I am grateful for all the opportunities that Starbucks have given me.