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An inclusive environment in which diversity is celebrated is a key pillar of our work culture: Scoffs Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

Training Academies

The aim of our Training Academies is to arm our employees with the knowledge and skills they need to help them excel in whichever job role they may hold within the group. We currently have three academies at the following locations:

• Southampton Academy (7 High Street, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 2DH)
• Tiverton Academy (15A Bampton Street, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6AA)
• Walthamstow Academy (5 Station Approach, Walthamstow, London, E17 9QF)

The spacious and inviting rooms are also available for hire to external visitors and businesses, and refreshments can be provided at preferential rates.

Scoffs Group Vocational Training Provision – Yuzu Training

Since 2010, Yuzu Training has been delivering training exclusively to the Costa Coffee franchise, Premier Coffee, now within Scoffs Group. A UK government-approved independent training provider, Yuzu Training provides Apprenticeship provision, apprentice recruitment and vocational qualification delivery. The programmes were developed to drive staff training at all levels of the business – from baristas to operations managers to head office staff. All delivery models have been designed in line with Costa’s brand mission and working practices. With the acquisition of Premier Coffee by Scoffs Group, the vocational training has grown to accommodate the increased number of employees and continues to do so.

The current offer includes:

• Level 2 Apprenticeship in Retailer (Barista)
• Level 3 Apprenticeship Retail Team Leader (Barista Maestro)
• Level 4 Apprenticeship Retail Manager (Assistant Store Manager / Store Manager)
• Level 5 Apprenticeship in Operations/Departmental Management (Ops Manager)
• Level 3 Apprenticeship in Business Administration (Administration Head Office)
• Level 3 in AAT Accountancy (Head Office accounts team)

New apprenticeships to be added in 2022.

Yuzu Training employs a team of staff across a broad geographical area, including Costa Trainers, quality & compliance as well as administration staff. With a head office in the heart of Southampton, Trainers delivering the courses travel across all sites to ensure all staff – no matter where the location – have the opportunity to learn and train within the business.

Originally working with a variety of colleges to access government funding, Yuzu Training now delivers directly to staff on site under the Apprenticeship Levy. Only government-approved providers can do this, and Yuzu Training achieved this status in September 2014. The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced from April 2017 and applies to companies with a payroll bill of £3m a year. The Levy is set at a rate of 0.5% of the total payroll and is collected and managed via PAYE.

Yuzu Training has recruited over 50 apprentices into stores who started at the barista level and who have moved up to become store managers. Apprentices are trained, coached and mentored by the Trainers and also complete maths and English functional skills while on the programme (a legal entitlement and requirement if the staff member is under 19), which is equivalent to a GCSE. Trainers also include additional support areas within the delivery, such as time keeping, money management, housing & accommodation advice, health & wellbeing, substance & alcohol misuse support, personal hygiene and sexual health information. All these areas are covered by Yuzu Training’s safeguard commitment to apprentices and staff on training courses.

All training takes place within the stores and no staff are day released, nor are they required to attend college or night school. Training takes place either within the store or online. This delivery model has proven very popular with staff as it enables them to learn while they earn.

An additional route to employment within Scoffs that Yuzu Training facilitate is through our Traineeship program, whereby prospective candidates are able to gain paid experience before progressing on their journey with Costa. The partnership with Yuzu Training, and the associated opportunities for development, is part of Scoffs commitment to improving our employee’s wellbeing. Both Yuzu and Scoffs Group recognise the importance of safeguarding staff and learners We work with many organisations to ensure our teams are safe and can obtain advice and support when needed.

For resources and more information, please visit Yuzu Training Support Organisations

To date, over 2,500 staff have taken advantage of a qualification while employed within the franchise and as of September 2021 Yuzu Training has a 96% success rate.

All qualifications are nationally recognised and training is scrutinised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate, OFSTED. Yuzu Training had their monitoring OFSTED visit in March 2021. During the inspection, Yuzu Training received the highest possible rating in two out of three of the assessment categories, with high praise from the inspectors regarding the unique offering.

The inspectors commented that Yuzu Training's provision was of the “highest quality with fantastic outcomes” and it was a “pleasure to inspect.” Learners from all over Scoffs contributed, including Devon, Hampshire, Essex and Norfolk. Store and Operations Managers reported that the training provision from Yuzu creates leaders and that the training contributes to staff development, ultimately increasing success in stores.

The lead inspector also commented to say he felt that Yuzu Training's apprenticeship provision at Scoffs was very “unique and special” and that it was a pleasure to speak to so many that had been positively impacted by it.

Read more here

In 2021, Yuzu Training, with the support of Scoffs Group,s was the proud recipient of The NCFE Centre of the Year Award in recognition of being a “centre that has gone over and above to help its learners.”

Read more here

Costa Coffee has impressive sustainability credentials. Synergy between the brand motivation and our own is a key driver in our success: at Scoffs Group, we believe sustainability must be at the heart of any successful business.

Some of the notable initiatives attributable to Costa Coffee include:

• Committed to reaching Net-Zero by 2040.
• Halving the carbon emissions associated with each cup of coffee by 2030.
• Signing up to The Courtauld Commitment 2030 and agreeing to work collaboratively to reduce food waste, greenhouse gas emissions and water stress in the UK food chain.
• Powering its roastery with 100% renewable energy,
• Removing 45 million plastic straws from its 2,600-plus stores,
• Spearheading an industry-leading recycling initiative that compensates waste management companies to recover and recycle takeaway cups, with over 155 million cups recycled since its launch
• Selling 100% Rainforest Alliance-Certified coffee

As part of our strategy to tackle food waste, Scoffs Group became the first Costa franchisee to partner with Too Good To Go, a social impact company driving a movement against food waste. Their app is the world’s largest business-to-consumer marketplace for surplus food. In our first year of this partnership, Scoff Group alone diverted 55.5 tonnes of food away from waste.

Sustainability alone is not enough and in 2012, the Costa Foundation, a registered charity, was borne with a vision to relieve poverty and improve the lives of children in coffee-growing communities by providing access to quality education. To date, the Costa Foundation has funded over 90 school projects and changed the lives of more than 90,000 children.

Scoffs Group is aligned with and firmly committed to Costa’s goals: we were the proud recipients of Costa Foundation Fundraiser of the Year in 2012–2013 and the Costa Foundation Award in 2021, and, to date, our contributions to the Foundation sit in excess of £200,000. From raising money through the sales of staff-knitted decorations, to in-store raffles to sponsored bicycle rides across Europe, we are constantly looking for ways to affect change through this important charity. We are extremely proud of our contributions to date, yet we are always striving to improve.

At Scoffs Group, we are proud to be considered a prominent part of the communities in which our stores reside.

From supporting and hosting local groups and events, to promoting other local business, we work hard to give back to the communities we love.

We always welcome working with other local businesses synergistically and are pleased to co-promote external events in the local area through our own marketing channels.

If you would like to discuss a collaboration, or would like to use one of our stores to host your event, please get in touch: marketing@scoffs-group.co.uk