Mitchells & Butlers' Retail Business Managers graduate from Birmingham City University
Thirteen Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) retail business managers (RBMs) and thirty three retail managers have this week graduated from the Company's pioneering Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate in Multi-Unit Leadership & Strategy, developed in partnership with Birmingham City University.
The students, who started the courses throughout 2009 and June 2010 respectively, graduated simultaneously from Birmingham City University on 13 February 2012. Of these, 14 retail business manager candidates have progressed to start a Masters degree in Multi Site Leadership & Strategy with three also having achieved internal promotion to retail director level.
At launch, the courses were a first for the pub industry. They were designed after a team from Birmingham City University shadowed M&B retail business managers and met with senior M&B management to identify areas that would support the development of these important positions. The courses aim to build upon the existing knowledge of retail managers and RBMs whilst providing them with additional skills to make their retail businesses a greater success.
Each individual graduating has completed two years of learning, with 13 days classroom based. The course covers four modules, each taking three days to complete and culminating with a 5,000 word study, with topics including brand-cycle analysis, segment economics and service leadership, amongst others.
Liz Phillips, Director of HR & Organisational Development at Mitchells & Butlers, commented: "Mitchells & Butlers was the first pub company in the UK to identify the need for this type of qualification for its retail business managers and retail managers. At that time multi-unit leadership was not well understood, but just two years on we have seen the course come to fruition and it is now an established learning pathway within the organisation.
"The course also acts as a retention device for us - a portable qualification, making the trade more professional. All of our retail managers have seen a positive influence on overall business performance as a result of the increased confidence retail business managers have gained from the programme."
"Ultimately and most importantly, it is helping Mitchells & Butlers to run better restaurants and pubs for the benefit of our guests."
Chris Edger, Professor of Multi-Unit Leadership at Birmingham City University, added: "We are delighted with the performance-enhancing results of our Postgraduate Multi-Unit Leadership programmes with Mitchells & Butlers, the leading casual dining operator in the UK."
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The programmes cost around £10,000 to develop
- It costs approximately £3,000 per candidate
- Candidates take 13 days out of the business to complete the course
About Mitchells & Butlers:
- Mitchells & Butlers is the leading operator of restaurants and pubs in the UK. Its leading portfolio of brands includes Harvester, Toby Carvery, Vintage Inns, Premium Country Dining Group, Crown Carveries, Sizzling Pubs, Browns, Miller & Carter, Metro Professionals, All Bar One, Nicholson's, O'Neill's and Ember Inns.
- Mitchells & Butlers' continuing business serves around 125 million meals and 425 million drinks each year and is one of the largest operators within the UK's £70 billion eating and drinking-out market.
- Further details available at www.mbplc.com and images as www.mbplc.com/imagelibrary
About Birmingham City University:
With 25,000 students from 80 different countries, Birmingham City University is one of the largest universities in the UK. We provide practical solutions for business through research and consultancy for the likes of Apple, Microsoft, CISCO, Rolls-Royce, Morgan Motor Company, Cartier, Mitchells & Butlers, and Jewsons. These excellent industry links influence the teaching of our courses, giving our students the skills and experience employers want - 87% secure jobs or go on to further study. Our popularity is increasing and between 2008 and 2010, we had the highest rise in UCAS applications of all East and West Midlands' universities.