SS&L Employer of the Month – March 2026

“Working on apprenticeships enables us to take the talent already on our books and develop it for our own benefit. The apprentices get the skills and qualifications out of it as well, so it’s win, win, win, whichever way you look at it.”

This month it’s all things Somerset Larder, as they’re named SS&L’s Employer of the Month for March 2026! SS&L Account Manager Tracey chose them for their commitment to apprenticeships, and dedication to getting the best out of their staff.

We spoke with Learning and Development Manager Phil Trevett to find out what apprenticeships mean for him…

Developing existing talent

“We’ve already got an excellent bunch of people on our books,” Phil explains. “We wanted to take these top performing supervisors and invest in them – not just money, but time – in helping them grow and develop their skills. By combining all of that with SS&L has given us the opportunity to develop some really key members of our team.”

Finding the right learning provider was a really important decision for Phil. Apprenticeships are a big part of Somerset Larder, not just for supervisors, but across their whole business.

“We chose SS&L because we really like the way that the Level 3 Team Leader course is developed. The principles behind it really fitted with our requirements. We’re seeing amazing results already with the current cohort, and they seem to be really enjoying it too.”

Flexible learning, flexible growth

With eight managers at Somerset Larder currently studying with SS&L, trying to find a study schedule that works for everyone has been a team effort.

“We initially tried meeting every two weeks but that didn’t work with our shift patterns, so we went back to the drawing board and they developed a new way for us to continue,” explains Apprentice of the Month Alisha. “Our tutor has been great at offering online learning for when we aren’t able to make it to physical meetings. It feels like no matter what obstacle we put in the way, there’s always a way around it!”

SS&L Account Manager Tracey agrees. “Despite staff working a variety of shift patterns, Somerset Larder always look for flexible and creative ways to make the apprenticeship work. Their commitment to supporting learning and development shows how much they value their apprentices and want them to succeed! That’s why we chose them as our Employer of the Month.”

Win-win-win!

One thing which is clear with Somerset Larder, is their dedication to developing their staff and offering them opportunities to grow and develop. With apprentices across all areas of their business, from catering, hospitality, and management, getting the best out of their team is a passion.

“Working on apprenticeships enables us to take the talent already on our books, and develop it for our own benefit,” Phil says. “The apprentices get the skills and qualifications out of it as well, so it’s win, win, win, whichever way you look at it!”

To find out how our Team Leader apprenticeship can help support your business, give our team a call today on 0330 332 9779 for a no-obligation conversation, or contact us here.