Betty Otton – Assistant Manager at The Bridge Inn

“The training has truly impacted how I motivate team members and lead by example to drive high levels of performance and commitment.”

Why an apprenticeship?

I was having lunch with my Nana in The Bridge Inn and telling her about the rota at my then-workplace when the manager of the pub came over and asked me if I wanted to work there. He handed me a business card and I thought it’s not very often that you get asked if you want a job out of the blue, so I called up the following day. I ended up working there part-time for the next few years in between au-pairing abroad. Then, when COVID hit, I started working at the pub on a full-time basis. I proved myself to be a strong leader during the Eat Out To Help Out government scheme and was then offered the role of Assistant Manager. After a year, I felt sure I wanted to pursue a career in hospitality and make a positive difference to the people living and working in our community, so I asked my boss if I could do an apprenticeship and gain a formal qualification. HIT Training was recommended, so I enrolled on the Level 3 Hospitality Supervisor apprenticeship to enrich my skills and become a better leader.

Benefitting my business

As well as the development of leadership skills, it was important for me to improve my understanding of the commercial and financial aspects of the business. With guidance from my HIT Training consultant, Naomi, I learned about the relevant legislation associated with serving alcohol, latest health and safety regulations as well as learning new management tools which transformed the way we organised shift sections. With 15 staff to manage, better organisation resulted in happier team members who were able to call on the knowledge I was gaining in my apprenticeship when needed. My learning even inspired me to take a course to gain my personal license which means I can cover the bar on my own when my manager is away.

The apprenticeship taught me a lot about managing a team, reassuring and motivating people, remaining respectful and taking ideas on board as well as introducing further structure to the business such as stock counts and cleaning checklists. The training also inspired me to take ownership of ideas such as introducing a marquee to the outdoor space at the pub which required researching and sourcing new furnishings including lighting, music, furniture, and decorations to provide a luxurious outdoor dining environment. I initiated an Italian-themed cookery demonstration for 15 secondary children to raise the profile of the pub within the community and encourage repeat business. I also organised a team-bonding event which involved trialling cocktails and analysing different price points which resulted in the launch of the pub’s first cocktail menu. Another idea which I led on was leafleting a new housing development nearby to advertise mid-week discounts on food which proved a huge success in introducing new customers to the business.

The HIT Training difference

Through the success of my learning journey, I’ve developed a passion for helping those reporting to me by engaging with their career development and hopefully inspiring them to better themselves. Having Naomi to motivate me was brilliant and I loved the Zoom calls with other learners with different job roles, backgrounds and life goals. Naomi always made sure workshops were recorded so I could fit them around my day job and access truly enlightening workshops that opened my eyes to future career possibilities. The training has truly impacted how I motivate team members and lead by example to drive high levels of performance and commitment. I really hope to continue my learning journey with a higher level apprenticeship and build on the life-changing leadership skills I’ve learned.