Hospitality Apprenticeship Week 2019 - from front line to future leader
Our third story celebrating Hospitality Apprenticeship Week (5 to 9 August) demonstrates how a Sodexo apprenticeship helped kick start Front of House Team Leader Rosanna Ignazzi’s hospitality career and what Sodexo is doing to help develop future leaders and attract the next generation of talent.
In April 2015, Rosanna joined the Sodexo Corporate Services team at Stockley Park, Uxbridge, as a Food Assistant for Sodexo client and global healthcare company GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc).
She completed the one-year Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship, achieving a distinction and while working through the course, was promoted to Front of House Team Leader at GSK’s Brentford UK headquarters.
“I’ve always done my best at work, but I wanted to improve my communication skills and get a better knowledge of my company and my working environment, including its policies and procedures. When I had the opportunity to join the Sodexo apprentice programme, and start my apprenticeship with HIT Training, I accepted without hesitation.
“My typical day is very focused on the customer’s journey. I plan the daily tasks for every member of my team and ensure everything is done well. We operate a Deli shop for GSK and I ensure it is clean and tidy all the time: displaying prices, informing the customers about offers and promotions, asking for feedback and, if necessary, solving problems!”
Other important daily tasks for Rosanna include ensuring the tills and fridges are working well and maintaining a general watch over the quality on all products on sale. “What I really love about my job is the contact with the customers,” says Rosanna.
I want to make the customers happy with my knowledge, my courtesy and my positive attitude. I do everything I can to help my manager and my team.
Rosanna’s apprenticeship with HIT Training involved completing a series of workbooks including upskilling her Maths and English.
“I was so overjoyed when I passed. Thanks to Sodexo, I rediscovered the passion of learning something new, while I have considerably improved my written and oral English skills. The course also helped me to become more confident with technology – I even bought my first laptop!"
I love working in hospitality because every day I can deliver my passion about food and customer service excellence.
“My greatest achievement so far has been the promotion to Team Leader but I hope to carry on learning, especially from my manager. One day maybe I’ll be in his role!”.
Rosanna’s passion for personal development and customer service is clear. As someone who has seen the benefit of upskilling through an apprentice, Sodexo is keen to encourage and promote this example to others.
Two examples of where Sodexo is supporting apprenticeships are the Sodexo Futures programme and Attraction Ambassador Network.
Earlier this year, the Sodexo Futures programme was launched - an initiative created to offer a structured apprenticeship journey to complete either a customer service practitioner or customer service specialist apprenticeship.
With specialists HIT Training, Sodexo Futures offers qualifying existing employees and new recruits a new series of apprenticeships and 18-month courses, leading to an Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) qualification.
These are ‘entry level’ qualifications aimed at making it easier for apprentices to get into facilities management and defining a career pathway. If you are interested in taking part in the new Futures programme, you can register your interest by completing this form - click here.
Recently announced, The Attraction Ambassador Network is a Sodexo initiative bringing together a select group of colleagues that are passionate about promoting careers at Sodexo. They will train to become ambassadors within their local communities to engage and support the search for the next generation of talent. The ambassadors will also help lead the way in developing and coaching Sodexo people and promoting the company’s values.
At the heart of the Attraction Ambassador Network is a commitment to working with national charities such as Springboard, which promotes inclusion, diversity and economic and social mobility in the hospitality workforce.
Suzy Read, Sodexo Learning and Development Manager and business lead for the Attraction Ambassador Network says:
Our Attraction Ambassadors will help to attract people into our business at all levels. It’s a network helping us find the best new people regardless of age who want to take up apprenticeships or who are seeking to move into a new career.
“Attraction Ambassadors will also work with external partners like Springboard, to help those struggling to find work get back into the workforce by providing work experience opportunities which can lead to a new career with Sodexo.”
Start your apprenticeship journey - register your interest with Sodexo by filling in this form - click here.
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Pictured
Front of House Team Leader, Rosanna Ignazzi, on site in Brentford