Employers
Showcase

I have been working with Smart for almost one year now on two levels. The first is as a learner completing my A1 Assessors award. This presents me with an excellent opportunity to develop my career and to provide crucial support to succession planning within ARM.
 
Secondly, as an employer, the feedback I have had from our learners is always positive. We have a number of people working at different levels, and their needs have been fully supported by Smart.
 
The overall strategy to deliver the programme both as a pilot scheme and moving forward with the new learners has been very successful. There have been a number of challenges with leavers etc, but Smart have managed these circumstances well. We are also in discussion with EDI to deliver a bespoke ARM programme which will involve using our current in house training material to map across the units of the sales diploma. This will ensure that all prior learning is best utilised when our learners sign up to the diploma.
 
Finally, we are currently discussing employing apprentices directly from Smart and signing up to a three year programme. This is to be finalised over the next few weeks for commencement in March.
 
My overall experience with Smart has been excellent and we see a productive future ahead of us working in partnership.

‘I have nothing but praise for Lynda and Tania our assessors.
They are amazing and my staff have had a huge boost from them both.
We love them and have learnt a massive amount don’t know how we survived before!’
 
Sarah Arikan, General Manager, Berwick Lodge Hotel, Bristol

Smart have delivered on all promises made and tailored what they do to fit to our company perfectly. We are at the start of a wonderful journey allowing us to offer opportunities to people who might have been overlooked or not even seen.  Their work has created opportunities for others and given me some amazing challenges and some brilliant staff.  I am excited about what we are creating and see this as a commitment for the future.

Patrick Gray, General Manager, Boston Tea Party

HC3S (Hampshire County Council Catering Services) manages provision of Primary and Secondary School Meals across Hampshire and into Wiltshire.  We also manage commercial catering sites across Hampshire.  The organisation has worked closely in Partnership with SMART for approximately four years.

At Moira House Girls School, we are fully committed to supporting all our staff in their CPD and life-long learning.

We encourage our staff to develop their careers on an ongoing basis via a variety of relevant and effective events and opportunities, such as our inhouse training days, regular reviews, appropriate courses with external training providers, coaching and mentoring programmes, etc.

As a recent initiative, we have introduced an NVQ Diploma Programme for our Housekeeping staff and encouraged them to take part.

This is in addition to the introduction of our Apprenticeship Scheme.  We have employed our first Apprentice and this is proving to be extremely rewarding for the individual and the School.

Our partners, SMART Training, are working with us on these two initiatives and we hope to continue and build on the training and development we have established.

' Smart Training have worked closely with our business to establish precise needs and to ensure smooth implementation within our daily operations and with our learners. They have made it their business to understand our business and continue to provide a great service'

Hazel Penycate
Learning and Development Business Partner
The Rank Group

At Spar we recognise that skill shortages are one of the biggest threats to UK businesses and that Apprenticeships can help bridge the gap by offering a route to harness fresh talent, by having trained staff with the right skills for the job it reduces staff turnover, improves productivity which in turn improves our bottom line.

Apprenticeship programmes ensure our staff are trained to a high level which is why it is vital that you have the confidence and trust in your chosen training provider, Smart Training & Recruitment include and listen to us and are conscious about what our aims are and exude a passion and enthusiasm which is infectious.  

Simon Harrop
Operations Director
Hunnyhill Stores Group

I have been working in partnership with Smart Training for 8 years now, and have found them very responsive to my business needs.  I started my career as an Apprentice in my family business and am now able to offer young people the opportunity of learning as I did ‘on the job’.  Many of my staff have benefitted from gaining their Apprenticeships and have progressed into Management positions.  The Assessors are extremely helpful and very flexible in their approach fitting in with my busy periods and ensuring my staff have all the support they need.

David Rogers, Chef/Director

I met Smart Training and Recruitments Business Development Consultant at a local networking event held at the Grosvenor casino in Gunwharf Quays. After speaking with Smart Training and Recruitment about my needs for Gunwharf Quays and the service that could be provided. I knew that Smart Training and Recruitment were key in raising the standards across the Centre. Smart Training and Recruitment provides me with regular updates for the learners on Site and I know if there are any issues I can speak with someone directly. We now have a number of Occupiers completing various training courses due to the relationship that has been built from this first meeting. Gunwharf Quays always strives for Service  Excellence and with Smarts help we are achieving this.

Jemma Fern AlfL
Retail Liaison Manager
Gunwharf Quays Management Ltd
A Land Securities Property

“Smart Training and Recruitment work with a three-way relationship which includes the  employer, learner and provider to ensure the schools needs are identified and matched to the apprenticeship training programme, by offering a high level of teaching, training and personal support to each apprentice.

Our shared ethos and commitment to learning has produced a very successful partnership with The City of Portsmouth Girls School. The value of learning is always encouraged and supported by the management of the school. The apprentice can then earn as they learn, working within the school by gaining practical skills and experience from the workplace enabling them to achieve valuable qualifications.

This has been an on going successful programme with The City of Portsmouth Girls School for apprentices to develop their knowledge and skills and become a valued member of the team”

Lee Miller, Business Director

Betapak’s Group General Manager, Jon Carter believes that even if a young person may not have done as well as they had hoped for at school, Apprenticeship training can develop a strong career.

He explains:

‘A successful Apprenticeship Programme depends on partnership and teamwork. It requires keen apprentices, employers prepared to invest time, money and effort in training and a training provider who can advise and assist in making sure youngsters receive a complete and relevant development programme.  

At Betapak we are really proud that our apprentices, supported by the excellent work from Smart Training, are making outstanding progress and are already highly valued team members, with great prospects for progression.’

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  were looking for  a reliable provider who was proactive in supporting the organisations flexible development requirements.  By working with Smart Training & Recruitment it has opened up development chances for staff and ultimately the care and service experience provided to patients and relatives.  This will be an ongoing partnership which will be developed with our needs and those of our patients.

The Trust provides acute, specialist and community health services in Basingstoke and North Hants Hospital, Andover war Memorial Hospital and Royal County Hospital Winchester

Steve Cook, Life Long Learning Lead, Hampshire Hospitals.