Training Manager – Food & Beverage

Oak View Group (OVG) is the world’s leading arena development, management, and hospitality company founded in 2015 by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff to positively disrupt business as usual. As the largest developer of sports and entertainment facilities in the world, OVG prioritises the way we do business focusing on making long-term investments in our people and our planet.

OVG have completed seven arenas, with many more in development, including Co-op Live, with more to be announced in the future.

Co-op Live is in a joint venture partnership with City Football Group and we are proud to work with Co-op as our Naming Rights Partner.

For more information – Oak View Group

We’re on a mission to create the best live music experience in the UK.

Co-op Live will offer a food and beverage hospitality service that will put us head and shoulders above the crowd, as we welcome over 23,500 fans and amazing artists to taste the delicious food and drinks unique to the space in Manchester.

With 32 amazing bars and restaurants and 12 premium lounges and clubs – we’re going to be delivering an exceptional hospitality service for the people of Manchester and beyond. On the menu will be great food, seasoned with world class service and all with a planet friendly vibe in the heart of our vibrant community.

For more information – Co-op Live

As we gear up to opening our doors, we’re looking for a Training Manager. To lead on the planning, development, co-ordination, and delivery of training for our talented food & beverage team. You will deliver training which energises our people and drives an exceptional fan experience and paves the way for the team to develop at Co-op Live.

This is a two-phase role: the first year will be focused on developing training structures, creating Co-op Live Training Academy, and mobilizing the UK’s most exciting entertainment venue, ensuring all new staff are trained and ready before opening. Once opened, the focus switches to leading day-to-day training, succession planning, continued compliance, improving skills and knowledge, reducing turnover and embedding the service culture.

• Work in partnership with the senior food & beverage team to design and deliver training for the managers, supervisors, and team members.
• Lead from the front with Coop Live’s unique energising people-focused approach.
• Bring the Co-op Live vision to create a Training Academy to life, including the incorporation of the provision of specialist training courses from external suppliers, such as Seven Brothers and Diageo Training.
• Lead on the design and delivery of the Co-op Live induction for all event teams with exceptional customer service underpinning everything we do.
• You’ll develop a portfolio of training including eLearning, face to face, external specialist, and formal qualification training for opening and then develop annual training schedules.
• To manage the implementation of the Learning Management System to drive automation.
• Co-ordinate all team training requirements in readiness for opening to ensure that each team member has the relevant training to work an event.
• Proactively schedule and manage all annual training renewal requirements with the F&B team using appropriate Learning Management Systems.
• To proactively engage with all venue teams, driving continuous improvement in training delivery, reviewing training effectiveness, seeking out opportunities to improve customer service.
• To inspire the F&B teams to deliver exceptional fan experiences in everything that they do.
• Work in partnership with our Venue training team to share best practice and drive consistency of training for both F&B and venue teams.
• Support the training and development of our graduate and apprenticeship programs to support grassroots talent into the music, entertainment, and hospitality industry.
• Develop a train the trainer program to upskill supervisors and managers in the delivery of core training to our teams.
• Supports F&B Managers to coach and mentor their team members, providing the necessary systems and processes, ensuring they fulfil their potential and are part of our internal succession strategy.
• Ensure team members are trained in accordance with legislative requirements and operational standards.
• Support the recruitment team on F&B recruitment including assessment centres and interview processes. 

What Co-op Live will give to you

Alongside the benefit of working with an awesome team of talented people, we want to help you get the best out of your work and have a work life balance.

• Provide you with development opportunities and regular one to ones
• Key objectives for you to succeed in your role
• Your general wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds, we understand the importance of balancing work and personal commitments
• This is an office base role, it’s really important we work together to mobilise the biggest music and live entertainment arena in the UK
• Working 5 out of 7 days – this may include evenings and weekends

Salary: £35,000 – £40,000

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Employer pension scheme
• Private Health Care scheme – Vitality
• Life Assurance 4 x basic salary
• Eyecare vouchers
• WeCare Employee Assistance Programme to support you and your family 24hrs, 7 days per week when you need the service
• Company sick pay scheme
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• Office fruit & snacks
• Team social events

Essential:

• Experience delivering volume F&B training.
• Experience in delivering compliant training.
• Experience of creating volume induction onboarding programmes for hospitality staff.
• Experience of creating and implementing succession planning strategies.
• Solid working knowledge of computer applications: eg. Microsoft office, Training systems and digital tools.
• Ability to help build and develop a service culture which is focused on delivering the very highest standards of customer service. 
• Passion for F&B and for delivering great food and service.
• Awareness and understanding of different learning styles.
• Extensive experience designing and delivering training.
• You will have a passion for inspiring others. 
• You’ll be an excellent communicator, with a passion for inspiring those around you. 
• You will have great customer service experience. 
• An infectious can-do approach to training and customer service. 
• Great knowledge of training techniques.  
• Thrive when it’s buzzing, taking control and delivering awesome results.
• A team player who enjoys working in a high achieving, fast paced environment.
• Flexible approach, able to flex and adapt as and when needed.
• Not afraid to think outside the box, be bold and champion creativity.

Desirable:

• Experience in events, stadium, or arena hospitality.
• Training qualifications is an advantage.
• Understanding of current NVQ funding routes.
• Knowledge of venue F&B management and service skills training requirements.

Closing date for applications: 22 June 2023

Our venue is for the fans, the artists, everyone! Attracting a diverse workforce which reflects our local community is what will make our venue the best music venue in the UK!

We understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence.

We are committed to creating a great place to work amplifying voices from all different backgrounds. There is something for everyone at Co-op Live, come and get involved.

If you do require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to support your application, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need.We will consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the required skills necessary to fulfil the role.