Apprenticeships, local recruitment & inclusive growth at the heart of new workforce strategy
BGL (Burhill Group Limited) is placing people at the centre of its growth plans, having fully invested its apprenticeship levy for several years into current and future employees across the organisation. From upskilling greenkeepers to building inclusive management programmes, the group’s comprehensive campaign is taking bold steps to drive diversity and offer opportunities to local communities.
Janice Moore, BGL’s Learning and Development Manager, commented: “The apprenticeship levy continues to be a helpful resource for colleague development, with 38 completed apprenticeships to-date, and 31 colleagues currently part-way through their studies. The majority of these have been in greenkeeping and food and beverage, but it is exciting that we also have colleagues doing qualifications in subjects such as payroll, marketing, and hospitality management.”
The investment in apprenticeships reflects BGL’s growing focus on career pathways for young people in their early careers entering the workforce, as well as upskilling existing colleagues to grow into new areas of responsibility. 115 colleagues have been promoted at BGL since June 2024.
Moore continued: “In spring we launched a new development initiative called ‘Step-up to General Manager’, and each participant is doing a management apprenticeship qualification as part of that. The Step-up to General Manager Programme itself provides learning across seven areas: People, Administration, Commercial Operations, Customer Service, Finance, Health & Safety, and Personal Development. We look forward to our pilot cohort graduating in 2026!”
In May, BGL launched a new centralised careers page, allowing all divisions – including Ninja Leisure and Adventure Leisure – to advertise vacancies across the group in an engaging and user-friendly way. Beyond digital reach, the team is broadening their recruitment presence to local communities, schools, gyms, places of worship, and other key venues where potential talent lives and gathers.
Simon Thompson, CEO of BGL, added: “As the CEO of BGL, I am committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that truly reflects the vibrant communities we serve. By enhancing the diversity of our teams, we aim to create an environment where every customer feels a sense of belonging in our venues.”
Emma Camp, Head of People at BGL, said “Alongside the new careers page, we have launched new recruitment tools for managers and are creating recruitment specific training programmes to ensure managers are advertising vacancies in an inclusive way, attracting a wide range of candidates, and selecting candidates fairly.”
This outreach aligns with BGL’s broader diversity and inclusion strategy, which includes enhanced manager training programmes and a strong commitment to recruiting from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The new campaign also highlights BGL’s culture and colleague benefits, aiming to attract candidates who share the group’s passion for hospitality, leisure, and community engagement.
As Hospitality Apprenticeship Week 2025 runs from Monday 29th September to Sunday 5th October, BGL’s investment comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. The week shines a spotlight on the value of apprenticeships in hospitality, celebrating the talent pipeline and the diverse career opportunities available. BGL’s commitment aligns perfectly with this nationwide focus on nurturing the next generation of hospitality professionals.
BGL’s new careers page can be accessed here: Burhill Golf & Leisure | Home | Vacancies · Burhill Group Limited