Local MP Caroline Dinenage whipped up the cappuccinos as she became an apprentice at Gosport's Costa Coffee this week.
Caroline joined the Costa team this Monday to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week. She tried her hand at making drinks, serving customers and keeping the place in order, as she experienced apprenticeship training at the Gosport store.
Speaking before her apprenticeship, Caroline said:
"I am hugely excited about joining Gosport's Costa Coffee team for my apprenticeship experience. The Gosport store has already seen staff retention rates dramatically improve since the start of their apprenticeship programme, and I'm looking forward to learning what makes it such a successful scheme – while picking up a few coffee-making skills along the way!"
The apprenticeship scheme is run in conjunction with Fareport Training, an independent training organisation based in Gosport. Their Managing Director, Mike Rees MBE said:
"It is a real pleasure to welcome Caroline to visit our apprentices and our valued employer partner Costa Coffee. The Gosport shop is a wonderful example of working with Government training to develop small and medium businesses. Caroline is a regular visitor and the time she takes to understand the needs and experiences of young people and adults undertaking apprenticeships and other training is greatly valued by the learners, employers and us as a provider".
The Gosport store has achieved significant successes in the apprenticeship scheme, with shop Manager Reinis Niedritis undertaking a Management Apprenticeship and assistant manager Ben initially starting as a team member apprentice before progressing up the ladder.
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 6th-10th February to promote and celebrate the benefits of apprenticeships scheme. It reflects the Government's ongoing support for apprenticeships, which saw the number of apprentices increase last year by 58%.
