Prezzo to offer 300 apprenticeships in the next year: Restaurant group Prezzo is aiming to take on more than 300 new apprentices in the next 12 months. The 12 month apprenticeship programme is aimed at people who wish to progress in different roles within the company’s restaurants. This includes roles for waiting staff, chefs, supervisors and assistant managers, as well as area and general managers. Since September 2014 the company has offered apprenticeships to 377 people who have gone on to full time employment within the company’s restaurants across the UK. The 12 month apprenticeship programme is open to people of all ages. They are paid during the full apprenticeship. All those undertaking an apprenticeship are guaranteed a job with Prezzo at the end of the 12 months. Prezzo’s HR director Janene Pretorius said: “We are proud of our apprentices who are now working for the company and are very keen to bring more apprentices into full time positions with us. Apprentices are excellent for our business. We wish to train and retain the best staff and apprenticeships enable us to do this, whilst at the same time we can offer an entry point to those looking for a career in the restaurant industry. We are committed to the ongoing development of the Prezzo apprenticeship programme and are proud to be contributing towards the Government’s goal of three million new apprentices by 2020.” In recognition of Prezzo’s work with apprentices, Janene, together with HR manager Louise Hill and apprentice Judit Magyar met with Prime Minister David Cameron and Business Secretary Sajid Javid at Downing Street, who congratulated Prezzo on its impressive apprenticeship programme.

 Showcase Cinemas accounts show lacklustre year: The company that operates Showcase Cinemas, which has 20 sites across the UK, has reported a drop in sales during a year when cinema releases failed to have the same appeal as the year prior. Companies House accounts for NATL Amusements show a turnover of £81.8m in the year to 1 January 2015 compared to a restated figure of £85.1m a year earlier. Pre-tax profit also decreased to £1.4m from £1.5m. The previous year’s accounts were restated to reflect the impact of an impairment on 3 January 2013. The company said films screened throughout 2014 did not have the same “appeal” to customers compared to the previous year, but that the results are “satisfactory compared to the performance of the total market”. It added that the group will reinvest in its cinemas and has become the first operator in the UK market to introduce reclined seating. Showcase Cinemas has sites in Bristol, Coventry, Kent, Derby, Cardiff, Dudley, Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, Newham, Nottingham, Manchester, Peterborough, Teesside, Reading, Glasgow and Paisley.