Investing in Your Future
How Registered Apprenticeship Programs Prove to be a Win-Win for the Industry
By: Katie Frankhart
Turning Jobs Into Careers
When the Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group began participating in the restaurant manager apprenticeship program in 2019, it was about opportunity: seizing opportunities for the future of their business and the industry while creating opportunities for those who want to be part of both.
“Providing a path to turn a job into a career is key to having a stable company and industry,” Kevin Gudejko, president and CEO of Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group, says. “Showing that we’re an industry of opportunity is critically important in an ever-changing job market.”
Gudejko says the extensive management training program keeps employees engaged through the early phases of training while allowing them to maintain their role as hourly employees and, in the long run, fosters well-rounded and capable managers for the restaurant group.
Nearly all of their apprentices were already employees and wanted to expand their skills through the apprenticeship program; since participating, the restaurant group has transitioned four people from hourly to salaried managers. Most recently, an hourly apprentice was promoted to a training coordinator position just in time to support the May grand opening of the group’s contemporary seafood restaurant, Real Seafood Co., in downtown Grand Rapids.
“Being in the restaurant business means being in the people business, and that’s not just our guests but also our employees,” Gudejko says. “Finding, training, and retaining great people make for a great company, and the apprenticeship programs help us do that.”
When the Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group began participating in the restaurant manager apprenticeship program in 2019, it was about opportunity: seizing opportunities for the future of their business and the industry while creating opportunities for those who want to be part of both.
“Providing a path to turn a job into a career is key to having a stable company and industry,” Kevin Gudejko, president and CEO of Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group, says. “Showing that we’re an industry of opportunity is critically important in an ever-changing job market.”
Gudejko says the extensive management training program keeps employees engaged through the early phases of training while allowing them to maintain their role as hourly employees and, in the long run, fosters well-rounded and capable managers for the restaurant group.
Nearly all of their apprentices were already employees and wanted to expand their skills through the apprenticeship program; since participating, the restaurant group has transitioned four people from hourly to salaried managers. Most recently, an hourly apprentice was promoted to a training coordinator position just in time to support the May grand opening of the group’s contemporary seafood restaurant, Real Seafood Co., in downtown Grand Rapids.
“Being in the restaurant business means being in the people business, and that’s not just our guests but also our employees,” Gudejko says. “Finding, training, and retaining great people make for a great company, and the apprenticeship programs help us do that.”
What sets the program apart is the employer's involvement in its implementation and their engagement with apprentices, something Gudejko says has been well worth the investment for Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group.
“It’s not a plug-and-play program, and it takes a significant amount of time and effort for both parties, but the results have been worth the investment.”
“It’s not a plug-and-play program, and it takes a significant amount of time and effort for both parties, but the results have been worth the investment.”
Investing in Registered Hospitality Apprenticeships
Registered hospitality apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity to build a skilled workforce and expand opportunities within the industry, particularly opening doors for women and minorities. And, they prove to be powerful retention tools that reduce turnover by increasing an employee’s commitment to your business through a promising hospitality career.
Bottom line: apprenticeship training is a key investment in your company's future, and MRLA is here to connect you to the resources needed to implement the programming into your operations.
With numerous funding available to support apprentices, MRLA’s VP of Education Amanda Smith encourages anyone interested in implementing the apprenticeship model into their organization to start planning now. Going Pro Talent Fund applications open this fall and numerous other funding opportunities are in the pipeline.
Interested in taking the next steps to develop a Registered Apprenticeship Program?
Please complete the Employer Resources Request form to get started.
Registered hospitality apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity to build a skilled workforce and expand opportunities within the industry, particularly opening doors for women and minorities. And, they prove to be powerful retention tools that reduce turnover by increasing an employee’s commitment to your business through a promising hospitality career.
Bottom line: apprenticeship training is a key investment in your company's future, and MRLA is here to connect you to the resources needed to implement the programming into your operations.
With numerous funding available to support apprentices, MRLA’s VP of Education Amanda Smith encourages anyone interested in implementing the apprenticeship model into their organization to start planning now. Going Pro Talent Fund applications open this fall and numerous other funding opportunities are in the pipeline.
Interested in taking the next steps to develop a Registered Apprenticeship Program?
Please complete the Employer Resources Request form to get started.