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The training challenge
A blend of e-learning and classroom-based training is benefiting current employees at a UK hospitality company, and helping to pave the way for expansion.
Whitbread, which manages hotels, restaurants and coffee shops, employs 35,000 people to serve the 1 1 million customers who each month visit one of its 1 ,400 outlets across the UK.
The company plans to open 1 ,000 new sites over the next two years, which could result in an extra 20,000 employees. Each will have to be trained in the "Whitbread way", which combines the key values of: people and teamwork; caring for guests; passion for winning; and continuous improvement.
The company decided to blend e-learning with classroom-based tutorials.
Three one-day classroom-based courses are available for the employees to further their till, labour and product-management skills. Three training sites across the UK host the Micros Product Management, Till Management and Labour Management courses, which aim to provide employees with a sound understanding of the tools within the company.
Sandra Kelly, Whitbread's core-skills training manager, explained:
The delegates use "like for like" office systems in the training centres, which include tills and ticket printers, to complete practical activities and tasks with real-life scenarios. The level of confidence at the end of the training is significantly increased.
It would, however, be impractical to offer classroom-based training to all Whitbread employees.
Noreen Wolfe, head of e-leaming said:
The company would incur large labour, course,...