TESTIMONIALS Meet Megan Goodes – Training Manager at Bakers Delight

We recently caught up with Megan to hear about her journey with Bakers Delight and what Trainees can expect when undertaking the 16 week Franchisee Training Program.

I started with Bakers Delight in 2002 as a Training Consultant working with Franchisees who were completing their training. I then spent some time in the Operations team as an Area Manager before taking on the Training Manager role in 2017.

Over the past 19 years, I have gained valuable experience within an operational capacity which I now apply to developing resources and training programs to guide new and existing Franchisees through the training process as well as supporting the wider business with training solutions for new business initiatives. I now manage a team of training consultants and predominantly work with trainee Franchisees who are joining the Bakers Delight network.

When trainee Franchisees commence training, they will be partnered up with a host trainer, an existing Franchisee who will support them along their journey. Detailed webinars and modules accompany in-house bakery training with your host trainer, and cover everything from learning how to bake and production management, to industrial relations and business administration.

The first three weeks of training are considered to be the orientation phase, where trainees are exposed to all bakery operations tasks. Typically, trainees should take around 16 weeks to complete all necessary training, although this may be longer as our training is competency based.

As well as your host trainer, our team of Training Consultants

are there to help guide you through each step and we will share

our ‘best practice’ tips and tricks to set you up for success.

 

Our Training Consultants also work closely with host trainers to ensure each individual trainee is given the most beneficial training experience. There is no one size fits all approach as trainees come from a variety of industries with different skill sets.

Over the years, I have found that there is not one component of training that is more challenging than another, because each new Franchisee has their own unique skills and strengths. However, changes to your body clock when working production shifts coupled with the amount of physical work can be quite difficult, particularly when you are also keeping up with the module work.

While in training, a new Franchisee can expect to be in contact with their Training Consultant anywhere from one to two times per week, depending on the trainee’s needs. Support however continues throughout the trainee’s journey. There are 30, 60, 90 and 120 day reviews where Training Consultants are able to provide further support if required in consultation with the Operations team.

Throughout the course of the training, trainees will be exposed to and deemed competent in all aspects of operating a Bakers Delight bakery. There is however, always a learning period when you step into your own bakery for the first time and our Training Consultants as well as the Operations team are certainly able to help make this transition as smooth as possible.

The best advice I could give a trainee Franchisee is to be committed to your training and ask lots of questions. The trainees who have the most success drive their own training plan and really take advantage of the resources and support available to them, making sure they are learning as much as they can in readiness to run their own successful business.