National Hospitality Apprenticeship Week

From 2nd - 6th October, we celebrate National Hospitality Apprenticeship Week here at Red Carnation Hotels. In honour of this, we spoke to two of our former apprentices, Arella Warner and Bethany Breach, to gain an insight into the apprenticeship programme.

Arella Warner

Describe your first week on the apprenticeship programme

My first week of the programme I had the opportunity to go around each of the six London hotels and meet senior managers and the General Managers of each property. This was quite intimidating as I was only 18 when I started and I was meeting some very important people. I remember everyone that I met in each of the hotels was so lovely and friendly. Many of them had explained that they had been working at the hotels for several years and most of them are still with Red Carnation today. I was able to meet my mentor who I was paired with for my three years as an apprentice, as well as the team I would be working with. It was a fantastic induction to the company I would be working at for the next three years. 

How did you find the apprenticeship programme at Red Carnation Hotels has equipped you for your current role?

Spending three years as an apprentice really gave me the opportunity to experience as many different departments as possible within the hotel. Over the course of the program I spent time working in all departments. I had to opportunity to work in both The Milestone Hotel & Residences, our flagship London property, and The Acorn Inn, based in Dorset. The time I spent in Dorset was due to COVID-19, but this provided me with an exciting chance to experience a new location and way of working. The additional education I received during the degree portion of the apprenticeship gave me more of the foundational knowledge that I now apply in my day to day job.

What has been your greatest accomplishment since starting at Red Carnation Hotels on the Apprenticeship programme?

My greatest accomplishment since starting at Red Carnation Hotels was being awarded 'Best Guest Services Manager' for 2022. I had completed the program and had been the Guest Services Manager for just six months when I received this amazing award. It was extremely unexpected and I was so grateful to have been chosen for the honour.

What is your favourite part of working for Red Carnation Hotels?

My favourite part is the people. I work with such a terrific team at both The Milestone Hotel & Residences and Red Carnation Hotels. I started as an apprentice in 2019 when I was 18 years old. and I have spent the last four years developing my skills whilst working within the company. It really is like a second family and it has shaped me as an adult, which I am very grateful for.

Bethany Breach

Describe your first week on the apprenticeship programme

The first week on the degree apprenticeship programme was a whirlwind, but in the best possible way.  I spent my first day at the Welcome to the World of Red Carnation induction session where I learnt everything about the company, and how the Red Carnation story came to life. The same day, I was treated to a beautiful lunch in the hotel restaurant with other new starters in the company, including a special drink of choice; a first impression that I will never forget. To continue what was already a special week, I spent two days on hotel ‘show rounds’, visiting the six Red Carnation properties in London with my fellow apprentices. I also had the chance to meet all the hotel General Managers and Heads of Departments; this was an eye-opening networking experience.

After three days gaining insight into the hospitality industry, I began my first day of practical work at Hotel 41. Here, I met two key individuals in my early career development, my line managers. They provided me with a departmental induction and learning plan, and explained my rotation across the Food & Beverage and Rooms Division departments.

My final day of the week, I attended my first day at university to begin completing my degree as part of the apprenticeship. I remember being so nervous, but even more excited to get started with my Red Carnation journey. When I look back, I couldn’t have asked for a more interesting and varied start to the apprenticeship – just a taste of what was to come.

How did you find the apprenticeship programme at Red Carnation Hotels has equipped you for your current role?

During my time on the three-year apprenticeship, I completed a long period in both Rooms Division and Food & Beverage, whilst also completing my full-time degree. For me, an apprenticeship is a diverse, multifunctional learning opportunity, a time to gain experience with great guidance, and this apprenticeship truly provided me with this. I experienced many different departments, roles, and managers, where I gained all the skills that I use in my role in People and Culture today. In my current role as Talent Development Officer, developing all learners within the company, I feel the experience I gained within my apprenticeship really helped me acquire the different managerial skills required for my new role. Additionally, meeting with many industry professionals including all different Managers and General Managers, has helped with my networking and confidence, too.  

Finally, learning to balance both my professional life with my academic course day to day, was something that has really helped to equip me for managing my work today. The apprenticeship taught me resilience through practical on-the-job learning.

What has been your greatest accomplishment since starting at Red Carnation Hotels on the apprenticeship programme?

I think my greatest accomplishment would be progressing into different roles throughout the apprenticeship, to get to my current role today. Throughout my apprenticeship at Hotel 41, I grew professionally to become a senior member of both the Food & Beverage and Rooms Division teams, where I completed supervisory shifts towards the end of the programme. This was a great achievement, and I got to experience great responsibility. Furthermore, to progress from People & Culture Administrator to Talent Development Officer in People & Culture today, is something that I am truly proud of, and I can’t wait to continue.

What does a typical day in your life look like at Red Carnation Hotels?

A typical day in my life at Red Carnation Hotels involves collaborating with all different learners across the business, including Management Programme Participants, Interns and Apprentices. This may include a visit to the hotels to see the learners in action, arranging their placements across the different hotels, or attending a University Careers Fair to promote our programmes here at Red Carnation Hotels.

And finally, what is your favourite part of working for Red Carnation Hotels?

My favourite part of working for Red Carnation Hotels is that I haven’t stopped learning since the day that I started, four years ago. In all my roles during and post-apprenticeship, on-the-job learning is something that I have continuously experienced, and this is because every day is so different with the Red Carnation culture. Not only is this learning around specific skills, but growing as a professional too; Red Carnation are really invested in growing their talent.

I also love that I get to work and collaborate with a lot of different, amazing people every day within Red Carnation. This involves all managers, colleagues, employees across the hotels, and all the guests that I communicated with daily on the apprenticeship. This family-like culture makes every day different, and every day a pleasure.