Washington, DC, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chili’s® Grill & Bar heats up Veterans Day and National Apprenticeship Week by offering eligible members of the U.S. Armed Forces direct pathways to jobs and careers in restaurants and foodservice management through apprenticeship.
The restaurant management apprenticeship program was developed for the U.S. Department of Labor by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Now in its third year, the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship program is the industry’s first earn-while-you-learn training program designed to provide the specific skills and training required to advance into restaurant and hotel management positions.
Brinker International, Inc., one of the world’s leading restaurant brands and owner of Chili’s® Grill & Bar signed onto the apprenticeship program earlier this year with a goal to train 250 apprentices, the largest commitment to date. Chili’s is offering its “Team Members” training that will advance their careers and increase their incomes.
Chili’s seeks to do the same for members of the military by directly hiring, supporting and advancing transitioning active duty and recently separated military men and women of the National Guard and Reserves. Chili’s is leading the way in directly connecting eligible members of the U.S. Armed Forces to the restaurant manager apprenticeship program.
“We are increasingly looking for ways to empower military servicemen and women to join our industry and place them on a path towards advancement,” said Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF. “We truly want these honorable men and women to see the restaurant and foodservice industry as a top option for a fulfilling and rewarding careers.”
“At Chili’s, our purpose is to connect, serve and give, but it’s our military servicemen and women who truly define what serving others means. This is why we’re committed to creating a pathway for them into management in our restaurants,” said Rick Badgley, senior vice president and chief people officer at Brinker International, Inc. “Our goal is to prepare our Team Members for their ‘next’ and by partnering with the NRAEF, we are able to take our current internal apprenticeship program, couple it with official industry credentials, which are transferrable, and create a rewarding and clear career path.”
To learn more about how you can get involved in the Foundation’s apprenticeship and military programs and initiatives, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and, the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Project – a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
About Brinker International, Inc.
Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, as of the fiscal first quarter ended September 26, 2018, Brinker owned, operated or franchised 1,686 restaurants under the names Chili's® Grill & Bar (1,634 restaurants) and Maggiano's Little Italy® (52 restaurants).
CONTACT:
Jasmine Jones
202-315-4101
Aisha Fletcher
Brinker International, Inc.
(800) 775-7290