AN APPRENTICESHIP at Nando’s left a bad taste in people’s mouths as the restaurant chain appeared to offer a less-than-£12,000 salary for an “average customer service” role.
The vacancy at the popular chain’s restaurant in Clink Street in Southwark, central London was posted on the government’s listing of available apprenticeships on Friday.
Eagle-eyed Brits were vocal in sharing their disgust at the role though, accusing the South African company of deliberately listing a basic customer service job as an apprenticeship to justify paying employees less.
Nando’s has since clarified that it was accidentally posted with incorrect pay details and has since been amended.
The role was advertised as an “Apprentice Nandoca” – which is how the company refers to its restaurant staff members.
Following the 15-month contract, the successful candidate will have completed a level two course as a hospitality team member in food and beverage service.
The post-holder would have been expected to work 25 hours a week for an annual pay of £11,687.
At least 20% of working hours would be devoted to training and studying.
However, although the hourly rate worked out at around £9 per hour, any apprentices under the age of 19 or in the first year of an apprenticeship would get the government’s apprentice rate of £6.40 per hour.
Anybody older or who has completed the first year would be entitled to the minimum wage for their age.
Many people hit out, also claiming jobs like these take a very short time to learn with minimal training and no career at the end.
The company’s description of the role reads: “As an Apprentice Nandoca (aka Team Member) at Nando’s, you will be working towards a level 2 Hospitality Team Member apprenticeship over the duration of 15 months, learning and growing in your role.
“We’ll give you on the job training and development, off the job support, coaching and help you build your own unique learning plan.
“We believe growth is about more than just helping you to perform in your job, it’s about becoming a better person inside and outside of work.
“You will make our customers feel valued as part of our family by creating a fun environment for them to enjoy.
“It’s up to us to make sure our customers leave feeling happy, having had a really positive experience.”
The apprentice’s duties appear to be what would be expected of a staff member in any restaurant.
These include: “Giving a warm welcome to our customers and make them feel at home.
“Serve customers efficiently at the till – understanding their needs.
“Serve amazing food to Nando’s high standards that make customers feel ‘Fired up’, ‘Wowed by the experience’ and ‘Hooked for the next taste’.
“Bring amazing food and drink to the table and make sure our customers have everything they need.
“Manage takeaway customer experience.
“Set up, maintain, hand over and close down a clean, safe, and fully operational workstation.
“Handle deep cleaning to Nando’s high standards.
“Follow all fire safety, health and safety, food hygiene and restaurant security measures.”
A screenshot of the listing was shared to social media on Friday with the caption: “Nando’s put [out] an apprenticeship as a ‘Nandoca’ aka average customer service but doesn’t want to pay minimum wage so instead puts it out as an apprenticeship to pay apprentice wage, which is like £7-8
“Disgusting.”
The post has since received over 1,400 likes and more than 350 comments from Brits fuming at the role in question.
One agreed: “That is disgusting. How do they expect someone to survive on that pay? In London of all places.
“I’m not particularly a fan of Nando’s food but no chance I’m ever eating at Nando’s again.”
Another replied: “Half or more of your daily wage will end up going on transport. It’s insane, this wage is basically nothing at that point f***ing insane.
“I’ve seen these type of ‘apprenticeships’ everywhere. In direct line they had customer service ‘apprenticeships’, they did same job as all call agents but got paid f**k all.”
A third said: “Apprentice bar staff and retail staff around as well. Despicable, should be illegal, and yet they advertise on the government job site.”
Another wrote: “Former apprentice here.
“They usually send someone with a clipboard and a worksheet about your progress and ‘mark’ how you’re improving, then take the credit for you getting better at a mundane, dead-end job.
“I genuinely worked harder than anyone else because I thought it mattered and I was getting graded, but in the end, it was all for nothing.
“A piece of paper that I never used again.”
A fifth commented: “Apparently in this role you work 25 hours a week.
“Serve amazing food to Nando’s high standards that make customers feel ‘Fired up’, ‘Wowed by the experience’ and ‘Hooked for the next taste’
“I’m sure you’ll feel fired up when you’re earning slave wages slugging in it a restaurant for eight hours getting shouted at by Barry and his kids for putting the spiciness flag in the wrong way in a chicken wing.”
Another added: “The reason why things like this exist is due to the apprenticeship levy.
“Employers like Nando’s have to pay a levy on their wage bill to go towards apprenticeships. If you hire an apprentice, you can use the funds, if not it goes to the government.”
“It’s a shame this is what it’s used for, a job but not a career with no clear plan for afterwards.”
Speaking today, a spokesperson for Nando’s UK said: “This job listing was accidentally posted with the wrong pay details and has since been amended.
“All our apprentices are paid at least National Minimum Wage and over the Apprenticeship Wage, regardless of age or when they started.”
