Meet the Apprenticeship Employer – Good Food

Who are you?

I founded Good Food in 2015. We are a modern grocery store and social enterprise prioritising local, organic and artisan foods with shops in Catford and Sydenham. We aim

to inspire healthier communities by connecting people to real local food. We employ responsibly by paying the London Living Wage; we engage with the local area positively and consider the environmental impact of everything we do.

It started back in 2015 following a crowdfunding effort by 350 local residents and businesses who wanted to be a force for good, to do something and make a difference. At both shops we aim to employ local people with a passion for food and their community. And we give back through our organic fruit and veg bag scheme which supports local food banks rather than making a profit.

Why have you decided to become an apprenticeship employer?

We think it is important for our business to positively contribute to the area and our community. We’ve always had an ambition to recruit apprentices however, up till now we’ve been focused on growing the business. With the second shop opening we are now in a position to recruit an apprentice for each shop which we are excited about. We want an apprentice to to bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to our business and hope they will identify areas for improvement.

What apprenticeships are you offering?

We are offering two customer service apprentice roles. The roles will be customer facing and focus on tasks including cash handling, merchandising, and stock control. They will have the chance to get to know the whole business from visiting our local suppliers, to making a delicious cup of coffee and they’ll have the chance to be involved in a project that fits with their passions. In a small business like ours you get a lot more freedom and opportunity to do different things.

How can someone progress after the apprenticeship is over?

We are a business you can have a career with. We are proud that staff who join us tend to stay for many years. We’d very much hope to offer an ongoing position once the apprenticeship is over. We want them to develop as we develop.

What attracted you to work with Lewisham Council and the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Programme?

We want to recruit local people and Lewisham Council are able to support us to do that and reach a lot more people in the local area. As well as that, we want to ensure the apprentices learn skills that employers actually want and they have been supportive with that too. They have also helped us to access grants and incentives to recruit apprentices which made a difference.

What would you expect from the ideal apprentice?

We want someone local who cares about food and their local community. We want someone with enthusiasm, who wants to get stuck in and who has a willingness to learn. We hire for personality and we will offer them training in the skills they need to be a success.

If that sounds like you, then please find out more about Lewisham Apprenticeships and apply for one of our roles! 

If you are a business or organisation then you can also find out more about the support available to help you become an apprenticeship employer.