At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a flagship learning programme in a world-class hospitality environment.
- Company: Join Sodexo Live! at the iconic Ascot Racecourse.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, and excellent health and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of hospitality training and make a real impact on guest experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in designing large-scale learning programmes and a passion for hospitality.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 47000 £ per year.
Ascot Racecourse, Ascot High Street, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JX
c£47,000pa + Bonus and excellent benefits
40hrs pw Monday - Friday, flexibility essential for Events and Racedays
Job Introduction
At Sodexo Live!, we create extraordinary moments at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and few are more iconic than Ascot Racecourse. We are now seeking an ambitious and innovative Hospitality Academy Learning & Development Manager to lead the next evolution of the Ascot Academy, our flagship learning and capability programme supporting both permanent and casual teams across this world-class hospitality environment. This is a unique opportunity to build and shape a market-leading academy that drives service excellence, develops future talent, and directly impacts guest experience and commercial performance at one of the UK’s most celebrated sporting and events venues. You’ll thrive on working across a fast-paced operation. We’re looking for someone who combines creativity, operational understanding and people leadership with a genuine passion for hospitality and learning.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the continued development and delivery of the Ascot Academy, creating engaging and innovative learning experiences across all hospitality functions.
- Design and implement structured training programmes for both permanent and casual teams, ensuring consistent service excellence across the venue.
- Develop impactful blended learning content using modern digital learning platforms, including e-learning and facilitator-led sessions.
- Partner closely with Operations, HR, Culinary and staffing teams to align training initiatives with business goals and guest experience expectations.
- Drive engagement, participation and completion rates across all academy learning programmes and development pathways.
- Support operational delivery during racedays and events through observations, coaching, briefings and service feedback.
- Analyse guest feedback, service trends and operational performance data to continuously improve training effectiveness and standards.
- Build a strong culture of learning, capability and internal progression while ensuring all training supports compliance, operational consistency and commercial performance.
What You Bring:
Essential:
- Proven experience designing and delivering large-scale learning or academy programmes.
- Background within hospitality, events, retail or another high-volume service environment.
- Experience creating engaging training content and facilitating learning programmes.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Commercial awareness with the ability to measure training impact and ROI.
- A proactive, hands‑on approach and the ability to thrive in fast‑paced environment.
Desirable:
- Experience building or leading an academy or structured training function.
- Experience working with large casual or seasonal workforces.
- Knowledge of premium guest experience strategy.
- Familiarity with blended and modern learning methodologies.
What we offer:
- Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
- Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
- Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
- The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
- Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
- Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan.
- A Death‑in‑Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo.
- Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
- Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
- Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
- Flexible and dynamic work environment.
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.
About Sodexo Live!
At Sodexo Live!, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‑Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins. We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.
Hospitality Academy Learning and Development Manager employer: Sodexo Group
At Sodexo Live!, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the iconic Ascot Racecourse. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our comprehensive learning and development programmes, alongside a robust benefits package that includes mental health support, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for community engagement. Join us to be part of a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and service excellence in the heart of one of the UK's most celebrated hospitality venues.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hospitality Academy Learning and Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the hospitality industry, especially those connected to Ascot Racecourse. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for hospitality! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and ideas about creating exceptional guest experiences. Let them see your enthusiasm for learning and development in this fast-paced environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest trends in hospitality training and development. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to the Ascot Academy’s mission of service excellence. Tailor your examples to show how your skills align with their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Sodexo Live! and contributing to an amazing hospitality experience.
We think you need these skills to ace Hospitality Academy Learning and Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Hospitality:When writing your application, let your love for hospitality shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your enthusiasm and how you've contributed to creating memorable guest experiences.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to align with the job description. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the requirements of the Hospitality Academy Learning and Development Manager role.
Be Creative in Your Approach:Don’t be afraid to showcase your creativity! Whether it’s in your cover letter or CV, think outside the box and present your ideas on how you can enhance learning experiences at the Ascot Academy.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo Group
✨Know Your Academy Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Ascot Academy's current offerings and any recent developments. Familiarise yourself with their training programmes and think about how you can enhance them. This shows your genuine interest and readiness to contribute.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare examples of innovative training methods you've implemented in the past. Whether it's through digital platforms or engaging workshops, be ready to discuss how your creative approach has led to improved learning outcomes.
✨Understand Stakeholder Dynamics
Brush up on your stakeholder management skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with various teams in previous roles. Highlight specific instances where your influence led to positive changes in training initiatives.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be ready to talk about how you measure the impact of training on business goals. Discuss any metrics or ROI you've tracked in past roles, as this will show that you understand the importance of aligning training with commercial performance.
