Team Leader Review

I work behind the bar serving food and drinks to guests. I also supervise a small team to ensure that all service standards are met. In addition to this I create events, look after online marketing and public relations, and am responsible for fundraising. I close the pub at night including cashing up and securing the site.

During the apprenticeship I have learnt a few new techniques for managing people, however for the most part it was a case of consolidating knowledge I already had. I don’t believe that the apprenticeship has provided me with any real additional skills, as much of it was learning theories of management by Google.

To an extent it was interesting to learn about management theory, however overall I found that it was a case of losing momentum and therefore enthusiasm between units. I spent a lot of time having to chase for work or for visits, and while I appreciate that there were staffing issues it meant I did. It enjoy this as much as I might have.

Terribly. There was very little in the way of communication, the website was incredibly badly structured to the point where I could not find learning materials or other course members to discuss things with. I never knew who to contact with any questions, had no idea what to expect at any point, and felt there was no logical progression between units.

Plenty of support from my manager. If I have any questions about how to do anything she will always not only tell me what to do, but show me and then encourage me to go alone in future. She has provided me with practical strategies for team leading which are not addressed in the theory based apprenticeship.

Almost no support was provided until the last tutor was found. Again, I appreciate that there were staffing issues, but this was not communicated and no plan was put in place for me to self-pace the qualification in the absence of any support. Once I had a proper tutor for the end of the qualification her support was outstanding.

In short I don’t think that it does. A level two qualification may mean that I can call myself qualified however the lack of practical application in the teaching means that it has very little relevance to my job. Perhaps I have thought more deeply about what I do, but that is the full extent of the benefit.

As we are all hourly paid part timers we do not tend to have extra curricular activities. This is a second job or a job around other commitments for most of the team. We do try to have a twice yearly get together however it does mean that some have to miss out in order to keep the pub open.

Yes

They are not an awful company to work for, they are flexible and there are some good benefits available. I have worked for other companies such as Wetherspoons who are far less pleasant to work for. In addition Greene King have a good progression programme in place if a career in hospitality is what is wanted.

Look around and make sure that it’s the nicer pub in your area, go in for a drink on a few occasions and see if the team seem happy and like people you could tolerate. Make sure the customers are people who won’t make you want to scratch your eyes out, and that’s all you really need in a bar job.