Costa has committed to hiring at least 250 new apprentices by the end of the year as part of a nationwide recruitment drive.
Nationally recognised qualifications in customer service, communication skills and wider business management are included in the fully funded apprenticeship. This allows young people to progress in their career while learning on the job.
All participants will receive the national living wage.
Costa will roll out the scheme across its UK stores, including London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. It has an Ofsted rating of ‘Grade 2 - Good’ through Costa’s parent company, Whitbread.
“As a leading UK hospitality business, we want to lead the way in training the next generation of leaders for the hospitality industry,” said Costa apprentice programme manager Russ Hartland-Shaw.
“We know our business can only be successful if the communities in which we operate thrive, which is why we are committed to providing a scheme that offers apprentices the right level of support and responsibility, as well as a clear, structured pathway to enable candidates to have a future within the company.”
The scheme was first launched in August 2015 and so far 170 young people have secured permanent roles following the Costa placements. This latest recruitment drive follows the introduction of the National Apprenticeship Levy in May, which requires companies to utilise 0.5% of their payroll to fund training schemes.
“The Costa apprenticeship scheme has made a huge difference to me - it’s great to be invested in and have someone say that they believe in you,” said recent apprenticeship graduate Rob Vizor.
“My Costa colleagues were all great at giving me the help I needed to succeed, and that has given me a massive confidence boost across all areas of my life.”
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