9.02.22

We spent a day with Pret to experience life as a Rising Star!

Pret Experience Day   website 520x230

Having formalised our employer partnership with The Pret Foundation we were delighted to spend some time at one of Pret’s busiest outlets in North-West London to see what life might be like for one of our clients on The Pret Foundation’s ‘Rising Stars’ training and employment programme.

Employer Engagement Manager at Twining Enterprise, recently spent a day with the Pret team at Wembley, to experience what life might be like as a new employee. She spent her day talking to employees about their personal experience of working for Pret, observing the pace of service from behind the counter, reading quality procedures and processes… and even had time to enjoy a complementary panini!

Our Employer Engagement Manager explained, “As soon as I arrived at the store, I felt instantly part of the team; everyone made me feel so welcome and couldn’t do enough to ensure my experience was useful and enjoyable.

Although I couldn’t get ‘hands-on’ with some of the jobs that require specialist training, like the role of Barista, the manager took time to show me around the store and introduce me to everyone; what struck me was how friendly and inclusive the culture felt.”

She continued, “Since the pandemic Pret staff now have to juggle in-store orders alongside takeaways. I was amazed at how everyone just stepped in to help one another without being asked.  It was teamwork at its best and I imagined how supportive it would be for a new starter, especially if it was their first job, or a return to work following an employment break.”

Twining Enterprise Chief Executive, Oliver Jacobs, explained “Experience days like this one with Pret are an excellent way for Twining Enterprise to understand first-hand what it might be like for clients to be placed in a role with that employer. It helps us to find exactly the right work placement for our clients because we can better match individual needs with the organisational environment and culture, ultimately increasing clients’ chances of sustaining new employment.”

Our partnership with The Pret Foundation will create job opportunities for Twining Enterprise clients across London, as well as providing opportunities for skills development, potential for career progression and extending clients social networks to help increase feelings of belonging and connectedness.

About Twining Enterprise

Twining Enterprise exists to improve mental wellbeing through helping people with mental health problems find and stay in work; and for over 25 years it has been changing the lives of individuals across London.  To help create the right job opportunities Twining works directly with employers, handpicked for their desire to create an inclusive and diverse workforce which values mental wellbeing, and challenges stigma and discrimination.

If you are aged 19 or over, unemployed and have mental health problems, Twining Enterprise's IPS Works programme can help you with finding work, sector-based training or help prepare you for independent job-searching.  Our IPS Works project is part funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.  You can find out more at www.twiningenterprise.org.uk.

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