5 things you must know about RFG’s training academy
They're expecting a boost in recruits this coming year.
Retail Food Group continues to further their brand’s growth with a goal to open 110 stores in coming year.
With this strategy well underway, the company is also expecting a rise in the number of recruits that will be attending RFG’s training academy.
Read the full report here.
Below is a Q&A with Melanie McCammond, Retail Food Group’s National Training Manager.
QSR Media: How has RFG’s training academy developed since its establishment in 2011?
McCammond: Since its establishment in 2011, the RFG Training Academy has developed to be able to accommodate RFG’s growing brand portfolio and increases in new franchisees requiring training.
New equipment has been integrated into the Academy to cater for the pizza brands RFG has acquired and additional roles in the training department have been created over time to ensure our trainees receive world class training and support.
QSR Media: You mentioned before that the majority of the recruits are new franchisees; tell us about the kind of recruits that have recently been coming in for training. Has this changed through the years?
McCammond: Every new franchisee comes into the RFG Training Academy to complete their training, and often they will bring their business partner or nominated Store Manager with them to complete courses relevant to their franchise.
From the beginning the Training Academy has been run to support our new franchisees and give them the best possible start to their careers with RFG.
QSR Media: How well has the recently added pizza brands integrated with the company’s training program?
McCammond: Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar and Pizza Capers have both now integrated into RFG’s training program, and both brands are experiencing the benefits of experienced trainers, world class resources and leading industry support.
A dedicated Pizza Trainer has been appointed, who was actually promoted from a management position in the Pizza Capers brand system, and this has allowed for the development of specific training modules for all of our new franchisees.
QSR Media: What are some of the trends you are noticing in training?
McCammond: In the current retail environment, people are recognising that when they decide to start their own business a franchise can provide invaluable support systems and advice to give a new business the best chance of success.
We’ve found this translate into training, with franchisees eager to take in all of the information they can. Our new franchisees come from a wide variety of backgrounds and working environments, and through our holistic training program we are able to develop a trainee in the areas where they are inexperienced while building on their strengths.
There has recently been a large shift in training with online training becoming increasingly popular and this is used to supplement the face-to-face training our Franchisees receive at the Academy.
QSR Media: What sets the RFG training centre apart?
McCammond: The RFG Training Academy is unique in that it supports the training of a wide variety of disciplines, from coffee making and cold drink preparation to baking and pizza making.
The Academy houses nine coffee machine stations set up as they would be in a store, shop front cabinets for merchandising for all brands, two Brumby’s industrial ovens and a dough proofer and two Donut King donut decorating stations, as well as three dedicated training rooms for theory units.
