Testimonials
Your Resettlement Course Awarded Grade 1 Status by The BIIAB (Jan 2010)
The Resettlement Course was first upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 in Jan 2006 - out of 5 possible grades achievable.The BIIAB is the UK's Market Leader for Nationally Recognised Hospitality Mangement Qualifications. So here we are in 2010 and still at the top. It also remains the only Resettlement Course in the UK to hold a National Training Award. Another reason why The Grade 1 was once again awarded this year.
Questonline.Click here to Check out the Hospitality Feature. Pages 30-33
'Quest' is the Number One Resettlement Magazine for Serviceleavers.
CTP/ AEC Advisers and Resettlement Clerks.
DUE TO HIGH DEMAND AN ADDTIONAL COURSE HAS BEEN ADDED FOR JUNE 7th to 2nd JULY Could you please update your Records and Posters.
Career Briefing at HMS Nelson on Wed.17th March 10:00AM- 12:00 noon
A short presentation of what Hospitality Management Careers have to offer The Serviceleaver. Open to all Services. Contact Wendy, Kevin or any member of the Resettlement Team, NRIO 1st Floor Rodney Block, HMS Nelson 02392 724127 or email Kevin.DeCunha639@mod.uk Click on the link below to print / view poster.
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Mne. Larry Brammall proves that rank is no barrier to success.
Having joined The Royal Marines at the age of 16, this has been a huge change of career direction for me when I was medically discharged after 8 years service. Hospitality Management was always something I could see myself doing, so I joined the November 2009 Course with a view to finding a job with one of the 'Big Operators', as they seem to offer the best pay and conditions. Although there are many types of Pub/Hotel/Bar available to us for the work placement part of the course, I got one of the coveted JDW slots at The Green Ayre,Lancaster.This placement, together with a reference from The Pub Manager and The Course Director, guaranteed me a place at the Management Selection Forum with JDW. A few days later I had 'the phone call' to tell me I had been successful; so, after only 3 weeks out of The Service, I have been offered a Direct Entry position as Shift Manager at The Quay, Poole, Dorset. My resettlement has been amazing, and great fun from start to finish; without the knowledge, experience and the contacts gained on this course, I could not have done it.
" Larry is one of many 'Junior Ranks' who are finding success, promotion and rewards in Our Industry. Yes, coming to us with some 'Rank' is an advantage; but we, like The Military, are also looking for Leadership Potential in those who wish to pursue a Management Career". Alan Herron FBII t.p. Course Director
JD Wetherspoon-- Announce plans to open another 250 pubs from 2010 nationwide
Don't believe all the Doom and Gloom; this operator of Managed Pubs has increased sales year on year,and are snapping up our Graduates to fill their Management vacancies.
Career Transition Partnership and Senior Resettlement Officer (rtd.) endorses Preferred Supplier-Herron House
Click on the above link to see what British Industry thinks about your Hospitality Management Resettlement Training Programme. Two years 'down the line',no other Resettlement Course has achieved this level of National Recognition.
J D WETHERSPOON -- Pub Manager Salary Range circa. £35,000---£70,000 + up to 50% of Salary as Bonus,Child Care Vouchers,Free Shares and Food. This Top Performing UK Licensed Retailer announced a £12 million bonus pool for its employees
JD Wetherspoon will guarantee all recommended Herron House Graduates an Interview for Shift Management or Kitchen Management positions with a view to Promotion to General Management fairly quickly.With the Company still expanding ,more and more opportunities are becoming available accross the UK.
Laura Purvis-JD Wetherspoon Recruitment Team
Q/: How will Recent Pub Closures affect my Career Plans. A/: They Won't!....There are Plenty of Opportunities in The Managed Sector.
Most of our Serviceleavers come into the Hospitality Industry at various levels of Supervisory Management ,which means that you are a well paid employee and involves no financial outlay. The casualties of the recession are from within the Self- Employed Sector,currently dominated by two National Pubcos(which had better remain nameless,but I think you'll know who they are!) A combination of exhorbitant rents,crippling wholesale prices,rising utility prices and underinvestment has led to these closures; these Tenant Licensees are unable to successfully compete with the Managed Sector, where there has been substantial Investment in Smoking Accommodation,Entertainment,Family Facilities and Young People's Venues.This Sector of the Industry is desperately short of Talent,as many of the 'Pubco Casualties'were poorly trained, or in many cases untrained, before putting their money into these businesses;they are,therfore,unlikely to be of any interest to The Professional Operators in terms of recruitment.Remember,your Resettlement Course is a National Training Award Winner; and is not available in civi-street, therefore The UK's biggest Employers are keen to 'snap you up'.
J.D.Wetherspoon's First Herron House Resettlement Trainees Show U.K.'s Top Pub Operator what Serviceleavers Have to Offer.
Chief Petty Officer Robert 'Arty' Shaw and Leading Hand Leighan Widdowson were the first of our Resettlement Trainees to Get the 'Wethertreatment'during their 4-week Course with us.What did they think about their 2-week secondment, and what did Wetherspoon think about them? Gill Holligswoth,General Manager,The Green Ayre,Lancaster said: "I think I've been spoilt;they can't all be this good!I was so impressed by the overall calibre of Alan's Trainees that I arranged for them to meet my Area Manager to discuss the probability-not possibility- of them both joining the Company when they are released from The Navy." Arty and Leighan said: "if you can 'follow procedure'(something that we're good at) you can't go wrong, as Training and Promotion is structured in such a way that you can move through it at your own pace.The Working Conditions with Wetherspoon are amazing; which means that you can 'Manage Your Pub' and also 'Have a Life' as they operate a 48 hr Working Week, and no more than 3'Close Downs'per Week.We were also impressed by the way that Wetherspoon rewards its employees; bonuses don't just get paid to Management-Team Leaders and Barstaff also earn generous financial incentives too".Laura Purvis,Wetherspoon's Recruitment Manager,said "this has been a great success for all concerned,as we already have several of our top-performing Managers working for us who have a military background;and most of them did Alan's course prior to joining us".
Ex.P.O. Std.George Campbell-Manager,The Royal Park, Headingley,Leeds.
MARCH 2009 UPDATE-After 2 successful years at The Royal Park,George is on the move to 'work his magic' for Mitchells and Butlers in his North East Homeland,where George will be restoring the fortunes of an underperforming pub- which must remain nameless- as the current manager is 'under notice'.
Ex.Sapper, Stuart Purdy(25), General Manager- The Cutty Sark Tavern, Greenwich,London.
Following completion of my Resettlement Training I went on 15 Job Interviews,and because of my qualifications and Knowledge of Interview Techniques, gained on the course, was offered all of them.I was offered Assistant Manager,General Manager and Bar Manager Roles. I initially chose Assistant Manager with Young's(now Wells and Young's) of The Bear Inn,Esher,Surrey;but after a couple of months felt that I could be doing a lot better for myself.I spotted a job on the internet as Bar Manager at The Cutty Sark,applied, and was offered the position immediately(they even came to see me at The Bear).The logic behind taking the job was to broaden my experience in a 'Famous Pub' and to be able to step into a General Manager's Role with confidence.Well, I was promoted to General Manager of The Cutty Sark very recently on departure of the previous incumbent. I'm still trying to 'get my head round it';me,The Manager of one of the best-if not 'The Best' pubs in London.It was featured in The New York Times,not too long ago, as one of the the top pubs in the UK.I am now 'well respected' in The Trade and one of the best qualified Managers in the area(visit some of the Pub Review Websites,and the nice things they say about me).And what about the Pay and Benefits- you may well ask? My Salary and Bonus should exceed £30000 pa plus reasonable expenses, a free flat overlooking The Thames(worth £2500 per Month, if I was paying for it) in this exclusive neighbourhood.I love my job and would recommend The Trade and the Lifestyle to anyone thinking about a Hospitality Management Career-and it all happened due to the Training I received at Herron House.Looking to the future, I intend to open my own Pub towards the end of 2009;and if you think all this is 'too good to be true ' of a 'Humble Sapper' then feel free to contact me on:020 8 858 3146 or email stuartpurdy@hotmail.co.uk...recession-what recession!!
Ex SGT Alec Beattie- General Manager and Regional Training Co-ordinator JD Wetherspoon
Since joining JD Wetherspoon as a Shift Manager, following my Resettlement Course with Herron House ,my success has been incredible.This Course provided me with the Foundation on which to build an outstanding career with this outstanding organisation.After my Promotion to General Manager of The Archibald Simpson,Aberdeen I was selected for further training to the Level 3 Qualification in Advanced Hospitality and again to achieve an Honours Degree in the subject, which involved another 12 Months Part Time Study.I am now responsible for-in addition to running my own pub-all Induction Programmes for Newly Appointed Shift Managers and General Managers in our area.The next Step- Up is Area Manager;watch this space!! I can recommend this Amazing Resettlement Course as it defineitely gave me an advantage and got me noticed-and it was great fun too.
Ex. CPO. Paul Jevons- Sirloin of Beef,Eastney,Portsmouth
I've been running The Sirloin of Beef for a few years now and have built up a good local trade.I pride myself on the quality of my 'Cask Conditioned Ales',and my Customers travel miles to enjoy it.Even though I finished the Resettlement Course- officially- 8 years ago,I'm still in contact with Alan when I need a bit of advice or a second opinion.I would highly recommend this course as it provided me with the foundations on which I have built my business.I'm Self -Employed and operate a very healthy business which will not be going the same way as many small tenanted pubs have done recently.I'll tell you how I do it:I am always looking for ways to Improve Service to my Customers,never allow myself to get complacent,introducing new products to keep their interest,organising events and activities locally thus making My Pub part of The Local Community and I have not become 'my own best punter'-I work behind my Bar- Customers like to see 'The Landlord'.Most of the pubs that have 'gone to the wall'failed to realise how important this is as they sat upstairs on their 'arses' waiting for the money.Well it doesn't work like that any more.If you're not prepared to work then don't even think about coming into Self-Employment.If you are,however,it's the most rewarding job in the world as you have 'total control of your own destiny'.As a result of this approach my 'takings are increasing year on year'. The Sirloin of Beef is in a fairly densely populated area of 'Pompey',so the smoking ban hasn't really affected my trade at all;there are plenty of non-smokers that support me and those that need to pop outside for a 'tab'don't have a problem with it.It's not all hard work though,I always make time for Holidays-as I have some really good people who can run the place for me when I'm away-and still get to see many of my 'Old Shipmates'.
Mitchells & Butlers
Over many years we have built a very close working relationship between Herron House and ourselves (Mitchells & Butlers - formerly BASS) and with over three thousand Managed Houses, successful applicants, fresh from Alan's programme, are taken on in various roles; be it as Team Leaders,Trainee Managers, Assistant Managers or Manager in Training(our Accellerated Promotion Stream). Coupled with their Herron House Resettlement Training, background and discipline, they make ideal candidates for our industry. Once on board they can develop themselves with further training and earn great rewards along the way. Many of our managers have packages of 50k or more"
Ricky Pottinger - Resources & Development Officer, Mitchells & Butlers
Ex. L/Cpl Ben Martin- Manager- The Victoria Inn, Eastbourne
The Course was well taught by a very knowlegeable,Professional but Fun Instructor.The Theory phase gave me the qualifications ,but the part that I really enjoyed was the Work Experience Placement;this provided me with the skills to run my own pub.The Accommodation was very good and the the couple running the Hotel were welcoming and helpful(he's Ex Forces-which was a bonus).I also enjoyed my Time-off during the course which was when I did my 'Homework'-well,you could call it that;or maybe just a Pub Crawl or two of all the surrounding Hostelries-and there are quite a few.Since leaving The Army I have gone into business with my Family:I an now the Manager of The Victoria Inn,Eastbourne,and am doing very well in the pub.In fact so well that we have taken a Second Pub-The Heath in Haywards Heath and that is being managed by my Sister.Not bad for an Army 'Lance Jack'-and only 6 months out.
Ex.P.O. Ian Mills- The Cross Keys, Milnthorpe, South Lakes,Cumbria.Winner,Robinson's Brewery Best Kept Cellar-2009
Having completed my Resettlement Course in the middle '90's, and having had 7 good years with Scottish and Newcastle,Alan turned up on my doorstep to enquire if I felt like 'a move' as 'Hartley's-which is part of Robinson's of Stockport-had one of their' Flagship'Pubs coming up and were looking for an 'experienced operator' to run it.Following some dicussion with Alan and Robinson's, I came to 'The Cross Keys'.The Resettlement Course's 'Career Support' facility is amazing; here I am 14 years 'down the line'- doing really well for myself-and I can still get help and advice when I need it.Winning The Award for my Cellar is 'the icing on the cake'.
Ex.S.Sgt.Rick Hodge -The Royal Oak ,Eccleshall, Staffs.
Without the 4 Week Hospitality Management Course as my Resettlement after 22 years service in the Army I wouldn't have been able to run my Pub successfully.The Fundamental Advantage is the 'Work Module' where I shadowed The Managers and if you're any good they will give you full responsibility running their establishment.This doesn't happen anywhere else and really 'opens your eyes' to the day to day running of a Business.The Teaching is 'down to earth' and put accross in such a way that everyone can understand.Alan's experience and additional tips are priceless in 'giving you the edge'over the competition.I would have been lost without it-and Alan is always on hand to advise you as 'things crop up in your pub'.A thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended course;'a must' for anyone who enjoys 'The Hospitality Industry Lifestyle.
The Bell Inn
"I gained from the course a realistic, down to earth, tell it like it is, no bull shit insight into what I was heading for. What I found most amazing was that everything happened just like you said it would. It was like the notes from the course unfolding day by day in front of my eyes, and because we had talked and learned about them I dealt with each situation with a confidence that a novice would not normally have. I recommend this course to anyone who is serious about the trade"
Ex LT. CDR Ian Carlton The Bell Inn, Evercreech, Somerset
