Building an award-winning apprenticeship programme with Anna Ferrari of SO/ Vienna

Nurturing young talent has always been a focus for the team at SO/ Vienna, so it comes as no surprise that the team received recognition from the Viennese Chamber of Commerce with the prestigious Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award.

Opening in 2010, SO/ Vienna made a stylish statement in the city. From the elegant rooms and suites with striking views over Vienna’s rooftops, the fine-dining restaurant to the indulgent spa, the team at SO/ Vienna aim to deliver a glittering hospitality experience.

Behind their exceptional service, the team at SO/ Vienna maintain that the key to their success is to build it together. “We aim to foster courage, inspire creativity, and encourage fresh perspectives,” says Anna Ferrari, Director of People & Culture at SO/ Vienna. “It’s from this principle that we saw an opportunity to invest in the future. Young talent in the business brings a fresh perspective to the teams and encourages us to innovate.”

In Austria, apprenticeships are a common form of initial vocational training, offering young people the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience in industry. “Today, we have the allowance to train apprentices in three job functions at SO/ Vienna,” Anna tells us, “The first one is a restaurant specialist. The second is a chef. And the third is a hotel and hospitality assistant.”

Designed to give young talents a 360 view of their chosen speciality, the apprenticeship programme balances set hours of theoretical training at a school with practical experiences on-site, in line with the framework set by the Austrian government. Anna explains, “With the on-site programme, it’s up to us to create our structure for the programme. Our managers proudly take on the role of mentors to the young talents joining us for their apprenticeships. Through regular team meetings, we ensure they stay on track and experience all facets of their training.”

“Each apprenticeship is unique,” says Anna, “In the hotel and hospitality pathway, apprentices rotate through all departments of the hotel — food & beverages, front office, back office, housekeeping, finance, sales, and event marketing — essentially every area the property offers. The more departments they experience, the better prepared they are. By the time they graduate, you have a fully trained team member, who’s ready to step into roles like receptionist without hesitation.”

Speaking to Lavinia Bauer, a 16-year-old in the second year of her apprenticeship, she tells us, “With an apprenticeship, you have the chance to take over responsibility at a young age and gain experience quickly. At the same time, you can connect practical knowledge with theoretical knowledge, which is a perfect education.”