J D Wetherspoon PLC

J D Wetherspoon is a leading pub operator in the UK and Ireland. Back in 1979, founder chairman Tim Martin opened the very first Wetherspoon – in Muswell Hill, north London. Today, Tim and the company run over 850 pubs and hotels, spread right across the UK and, more recently, Ireland. During its history of over 40 years, Wetherspoon has repeatedly led the way with ground-breaking initiatives, picked up hundreds of awards (covering all aspects of pub life) and grown from a handful of staff to over 40,000 employees. The company seeks to develop its staff through effective and award-winning training and development, through a positive working environment and, of course, by means of a competitive pay packet. Every year, thousands of staff complete one or more of our award-winning training courses, not only preparing them to work safely and to the best of their ability, but also inspiring them to pursue positive career development. The company prides itself in offering, at all levels, excellent training and support.

Mission: Our aims are to have by far the best CQSMA* standards in the pub world, to be the best company to work for and, by doing these things, to be the most profitable.
*Cleanliness, quality, service, maintenance and atmosphere

We offer competitive hourly rates for all of our team members. As well as those, you can also expect:

• a free meal and drink, when working a four-hour shift.
• a 50% discount on food and soft drinks, when working; a 20% discount on all food, drinks and hotel accommodation (for you and up to three guests), when not working.
• a bonus scheme – earn up to 19% of your pay (in the 2019 financial year, Wetherspoon paid £46 million in bonuses and free shares to employees).
• full availability of guaranteed-hours contracts and variable-hours contracts.
• paid holiday.
• free shares (after a qualifying period).
• £1 extra per hour, for hours worked between midnight and 5.59am.
• a loyalty reward scheme – additional paid leave is awarded to employees on completion of five, 10, 15 and 20 years’ continuous service; additional shares and company pension contributions are awarded to employees reaching 25 years’ service and every five years after that.
• a dedicated employee website/app.

As at the end of our financial year 2019/20, we employed over 30,000 people in our pubs and hotels, in regional roles and at our head office in Watford (Hertfordshire).

In the Republic of Ireland, over 500 people are employed.

For many of our staff, this is their first experience of working. We provide all of the training and skills you need to succeed and develop within your role, as well as offering opportunities to gain nationally recognised qualifications with our apprenticeship programme.

The company does not employ anyone below either 16 years of age or the recognised school-leaving age.

Of our hourly paid staff, 96% are employed on a guaranteed-hours contract. A minority of employees prefers the flexibility of a contract with no minimum hours. Where these contracts are used, employees receive exactly the same benefits as those on a guaranteed-hours contract, plus there is no sole-employer restriction and no obligation on employees to accept the hours offered.

Our range of training courses motivates our employees and provides them with the necessary skills to carry out their job confidently to a consistently high standard.

We offer our employees learning and development opportunities throughout their career with us. Internal progression is our main source of appointing job roles throughout the company. All pub-manager and area-manager vacancies and most head-office roles are filled by internal applicants.

In 2018/19, we promoted over 600 hourly paid staff to management positions.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships provide exciting development opportunities to all of our bar, kitchen and hotel teams. Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to learn while you earn – from associates right through to management. Whether you’re new to your role or looking to progress to the next level, we have the perfect training opportunity for you.

Apprenticeships are available to all of our pub-based teams (government eligibility requirements apply) from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) right up to level 6 – our degree apprenticeship offered in partnership with Leeds Beckett University.

Of our 2020 apprenticeship achievers, over 70% received a promotion during or shortly after completing their programme.

Wetherspoon is committed to equality of opportunity. We want to create and promote a diverse and inclusive working environment and eliminate any direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation of our employees, job applicants, customers and contractors. We strive to maintain a working environment, terms and conditions of employment and personnel and management practices which ensure that no individual receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of his/her/their age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.

Network groups

Our network groups give employees the opportunity to come together in a safe space to discuss current topics and tackle challenges which they may be facing, along with a great way to socialise with colleagues.

The LGBTQIA+, Race and Ethnic Diversity and Women’s Network Groups are up and running.

All groups are aimed at promoting discussion around inclusion and generating ideas on how to provide additional support to those individuals applying to, or developing their careers at, Wetherspoon.

We encourage participation from employees at all levels to allow conversations around issues such as career progression and support in the workplace.

We believe that some of the very best ideas and feedback come from our employees, especially those serving our customers every day.

All employees are encouraged to participate actively in the business strategy, including:

• a ‘Tell Tim’ suggestion scheme for all employees; this generates over 200 ideas a week, all of which are reviewed and responded to by directors; some of the suggestions received are for new products, while others are for small (or sometimes big) improvements in our ways of working.
• a selection of pub managers, area managers and other pub employees being invited to attend and contribute to weekly head-office operations meetings, hosted by the chairman or chief executive, the minutes of which are sent to all pubs, with employees encouraged to add their comments to the discussions and debates.
• regular liaison meetings with employees, at all levels, to gain feedback on aspects of the business and ideas for improvement.
• directors and senior management completing regular pub visits – and pub employees visiting head office.
• directors, senior management and area managers regularly working in all areas of pubs’ operations, including the kitchen, bar and hotels.
• a weekly e-mail from the chief executive to all employees.
• a dedicated employee app: myJDW.co.uk

We support the well-being of our employees on a wide range of physical and mental health issues, including those raised at the recruitment stage. Wetherspoon seeks to make those necessary adjustments reasonably required to help our employees to maintain employment and to ensure that they are not harmed by their work.

The company is committed, at all times, to supporting positive mental health in the workplace and assisting our employees, wherever possible, with mental health issues. Our aim is always to encourage positive mental well-being and health in the workplace (and outside of work) – an important part of the company’s commitment to being a ‘Top Employer United Kingdom’.