Compass Group’s Melanie Hayes appointed to BIS Apprenticeship Board
Melanie Hayes, Resourcing and Development Director, for Compass Group UK & Ireland, has been appointed to a new Apprenticeship Delivery Board by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
The appointment was celebrated during an apprenticeship event hosted by the Prime Minister at Downing Street on 18 January 2016.
Melanie is one of seven business leaders appointed to the new board chaired by the Prime Minister’s apprenticeship advisor Nadhim Zahawi MP, and businessman David Meller.
The board has been set up to encourage businesses to develop quality apprenticeships across various sectors.
Melanie Hayes, Resourcing and Development Director for Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “It was a great evening celebrating the employment of apprentices and the launch of the new board.
“Apprenticeships are a great career choice that genuinely offer fantastic development opportunities for those involved. I am looking forward to engaging with employers to raise awareness and to encourage businesses to boost the delivery of top quality apprenticeship programmes.
“Compass Group UK & Ireland is one of the UK’s leading apprenticeship employers, currently employing 500 apprentices a year. We are committed to further developing our apprenticeship programme with the view to significantly increasing the number of apprenticeships we offer.”
The Prime Minister hosted the reception for 150 guests which included apprentices and the companies that support them, to recognise their success.
Commenting on the government’s apprenticeship pledge, Business Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “Three million more apprenticeships by 2020 means even more life changing opportunities for our young people. More than that, apprenticeships make sense for business. That’s why some of the country’s top business leaders are coming together to bang the drum for apprenticeships.
“We are putting employers at the heart of quality apprenticeships so that young people get the skills they need to succeed. Today we are celebrating everything that apprenticeships have to offer businesses and young people.”
One of Compass’ businesses Payne and Gunter, the specialist catering wing of Levy Restaurants UK, provided catering for the event.
Altogether, six apprentices from across the company were working at the event, with four front of house and two culinary apprentices, who were able to showcase their skills through preparing canapés for guests.
Paige Cooke, 17, an academy intermediate Professional cookery apprentice, said: “It was great to take part in such an event. It is such an amazing opportunity to meet David Cameron and to be chosen from so many people to help cater for the guests.”
Shannon Loughlin, 22, a Chef Academy intermediate Professional cookery apprentice, added: “It was such an honour to meet David Cameron and to take part in the event.”
“As an apprentice, it was such an amazing opportunity to be chosen as one of two to help cater for the event.”
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For more information contact:
UK Communications Team
Compass Group UK & Ireland
Uk.communications@compass-group.co.uk
01895 554 999
