The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 5: Autumn 2017 | Page 33

Combe Grove Hotel transformed into
work-based learning centre
By Nick Batten
The Elmhurst Foundation recently announced its purchase of
Bath hotel, Combe Grove, with the intention of creating more
local apprenticeships. We caught up with Sharon Love, general
manager of Combe Grove, to find out more.
The Combe Grove team
Can you tell us about your plans to create
apprenticeships at Combe Grove?
The Elmhurst Foundation’s long-term vision for Combe
Grove is to transform it into a centre for work-based
learning opportunities. A hotel is a perfect business for this
because it offers such varied training across a variety of
departments, from marketing and administration to listed
building crafts and conservation.
Is this the first project of its kind in the UK?
As far as we know there isn’t a project we would directly
compare with, but we have drawn inspiration from Jamie
Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall. Their apprenticeship
programme is now in its 11th year and provides experience
for a number of budding chefs every year. How will the direction of Combe Grove be changing?
Combe Grove will continue to operate as a hotel, but we’re
expanding further into holistic wellness. So there will be
more residential courses available with a focus on health
and well-being alongside a programme of more practical
courses.
Which apprentice training provider are you
working with?
We’re working with Bath College, who offer level 2,3
and 4 training for apprentices in a variety of fields.
The assessors offer brilliant onsite support and training
throughout the apprenticeships. How keen are you to engage with the local
community?
Working with local charities is one of our core purposes as
a charitable organisation and once our team of apprentices
is established, they’ll help to lead our efforts to benefit the
local community.
Working with local suppliers wherever possible is also a
key part of our ethos, and if we can work with suppliers
who also offer apprenticeships, even better!
How many of your employees are apprentices?
We currently employ around 90 members of staff and are
recruiting nine apprentices to join our team this year. But
we currently have apprenticeships available in a variety of
departments including personnel, building maintenance,
marketing, horticulture, fitness and well-being and catering.
@CombeGroveBath
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commercial space
available now
Less than 30 minutes from Bath
Providing a range of quality commercial space
for businesses throughout the region
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