PizzaExpress is showing why degree apprenticeships aren’t just for those looking to start a career—they’re also a great way of continuing your own professional development!
The pizza restaurant chain has teamed up with Arden University, which is based in Coventry but has study centres in Birmingham, Manchester and London, to create a specialised and tailored management degree programme for its workforce of managers.
Fifty managers are set to begin their degree apprenticeships this September. They will undertake a three-year chartered manager degree apprenticeship, which will provide them with a combination of academic knowledge and practical experience that will equip them to succeed and progress in the fast-paced world of hospitality.
A particular attraction of Arden University’s bespoke degree apprenticeships is they combine online learning and developing skills within the workplace.
The flexibility that online learning brings makes Arden University’s degree apprenticeships widely accessible, a useful benefit for a business such as PizzaExpress, which has around 500 restaurants across the UK.
Kate Hetherington, chief people officer of PizzaExpress, had this to say about the new apprenticeship: “At PizzaExpress, we are committed to investing in the development of our people.
“This new degree apprenticeship programme is an exciting opportunity for us to work with Arden University to provide our employees with a pathway to a degree and furthering their rewarding career in hospitality.”
Caroline Evans, corporate strategy director at Arden University, added: “This partnership is a real investment in the careers of PizzaExpress managers and the future of the business.
‘We are always seeking ways to open the door to higher education to people who may not have had previous opportunities to continue learning, so this is an example of how we can offer more people this chance, and how businesses recognise the significant benefits of investing in their team staff in this way.”
Head over to Arden University’s website to learn more about its degree apprenticeships.
