Stonegate Pub Company has appointed former Area Manager Jon Perkins as their first Success Coach. Jon’s role will be to provide tailored support, development and personal coaching to Stonegate’s high performing deputy managers on the new Accelerate Leadership programme.

Candidates are selected following a rigorous assessment and they then follow a six month programme which includes residential workshops, business building projects, coaching sessions and one-to-one mentoring. Upon appointment to their own pub they will have the support of a business mentor for a six-month period. “We will be selecting our best deputy managers and equipping them with the skills and support to enable them to be great general managers”, said Jon.

Stonegate have put significant investment into their new training programmes. The recently launched ‘Albert’s’ e-learning programme has seen 70,000 modules undertaken within a matter of months. “We have designed bespoke programmes across the business for our operators and the Accelerate Leadership programme is specifically designed for deputy managers” said Lee Woolley, Head of Learning and Development. “We have a huge amount of talented people within the company and combining that aptitude with expert tutors and mentors, both internal and external, will enable rapid career progression for those on the programme.”

Stonegate have a policy of promoting from within, where possible, with around 70% of their appointments being made this way.

HR Director Tim Painter said “We are dedicated to developing and growing our own talent from within the business. The significant investment that has been made to date signals the determination and commitment we have to achieve that.”