SPOTLIGHT ON - Performance Learning Group

There's a whole host of brilliant business owners and leaders within our community doing great things to support their teams and the future of our industry and we want to shine a light on those people.

This month we catch up with Andrea Dodd, Managing Director of Performance Learning Group and one of their Apprentices to find out how they are utilising The Burnt Chef Project resources to support their teams.

Hi Andrea, So, tell us a little about your business- Performance learning Group are an independent training provider delivering apprenticeships and training programmes for the hospitality industry.

How do you work with The Burnt Chef Project at PLG? I saw an interview with Kris talking about The Burnt Chef Project (TBCP) when we were in lockdown #1 and loved everything he was trying to achieve in stamping out the stigma regarding mental health in hospitality. Not only is this a subject close to my heart; but we had staff and apprentices really struggling with their mental health in lockdown. At this point I wanted to help and show my support to TBCP. I became an ambassador and we rolled out TBCP training across all of our teams, apprentices and employers we work with. Kris and Adam held an incredible online training session for our apprentices, staff and employers and we’ve been helping to spread the word ever since via fundraising and business’s we work with.

Why is TBCP important to your business? TBCP plays a massive role in giving us the tools we need to support our hospitality employers and apprentices. This enables us to educate them in being able to cope more effectively with their mental health issues and also gives us a safe, trusted and reliable source to signpost them too.

You recently had an OFSTED inspection, what role did your relationship with TBCP play in your inspection? As part of our recent Ofsted inspection we were questioned heavily on how we safeguard our apprentices and look after their wellbeing. This gave us all across PLG the opportunity to talk about TBCP and how amazing it is and the incredible support it has given our learners and staff. A few of our apprentices were questioned by inspectors and they couldn’t speak highly enough about the service and how it has really helped them . Our lead inspector was very impressed that all of his team spoke independently around TBCP and how all staff, learners and employers they had spoken to mentioned TBCP.

Tell us about your work based learning programmes and how you utilise TBCP services and resources- We deliver apprenticeships from Level 2 to level 5 in the Hospitality industry and have incorporated TBCP academy resources into our programmes that we deliver.

Anything else you'd like to tell us? We are currently organising an end of year awards ceremony for our learners and employers to celebrate their success, which we have decided to use as a fundraising event for TBCP.

PLG Apprentice Paul, 36 also spoke to us about how the partnership has supported him in his role.

How do you feel TBCP has helped you in your role? After being signposted to TBCP by PLG, I have utilised the service a number of times. I enjoy TBCP very much, it has highlighted a lot regarding mental health and the people who suffer.

I think everyone should have a little knowledge regarding mental health so they can spot the signs from people who are experiencing difficulties and can offer a bit of support, which is exactly what I felt when I contacted them.

How important is it to you to have and understanding about mental health when it comes to your current learning and future career? I always enquire about everyone’s' well-being now, it takes two seconds to ask if someone is okay.

Mental health does affect my career a little because some days I am very anxious and it does put me off having more responsibility. In my last job I took on too much responsibility and ended up in St George's hospital after having a breakdown.

Now I approach tasks more cautiously and will say no if I feel I cannot handle it. I know TBCP is always there to support me if I need it.

Thanks both for your time! You can find out more about PLG here https://www.plgrp.co.uk/

If you would like to talk to us about how we can support your business get in touch today

If you would like to talk to someone about your mental health, you can reach to our support service by texting BURNTCHEF to 85258. Free and in confidence, 24/7.

We've got your back.

𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗙 𝘁𝗼 𝟴𝟱𝟮𝟱𝟴 (𝗨𝗞)

𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝟳𝟰𝟭𝟳𝟰𝟭 (𝗨𝗦𝗔 & 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔)

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟬𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟵𝟭𝟱 𝟰𝟲𝟭𝟬 (𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱)

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝟭𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟭𝟵𝟴 𝟯𝟭𝟯 (𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮)

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝟬𝟴𝟲𝟭 𝟯𝟮𝟮 𝟯𝟮𝟮 (𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮)

𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀.