Greene King launches "Expensable Lunches" - productive power hour training sessions for central London workers

• Leading pub chain announces lunchtime training sessions in Zone 1 pubs
• Meaningful business-based modules will be hosted by Enterprise Nation from 13^th July
• Sessions cover a range of topics from creating a social media plan to building a growth mindset
• Tickets cost £25 via Eventbrite and include a main course and drink of choice

LONDON, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greene King has announced the launch of "Expensable Lunches" - a new programme providing city workers with the ultimate pub lunch break… with a productive twist. In partnership with small business support platform, Enterprise Nation, the pub chain is giving central London workers access to a variety of meaningful training modules during their weekday lunch hour, for a lunch break that swaps office desks for pub stools.

The new launch comes as recent changes in ways of working have led to a more flexible approach to office life, but one where the lunchtime pub trip still can, and should, play a part. 

Launching on 13th July, the 'Expensable Lunches' training sessions will run every Wednesday for four weeks at select central London locations, from Liverpool Street to Bishops Gate, Fitzrovia to Mayfair. At £25 each, tickets include entry to the training session – hosted by an accredited trainer - along with a main course and drink of choice. The menu on offer includes a range of options from Fish and Chips to Vegan Burgers coupled with a cheeky pint or refreshing soft drink. 

The 45-minute lunchtime learning modules are designed to encourage city workers to take time away from their desks to acquire new skills, with sessions covering five key topics – creating a social media plan, building your personal brand, mastering the art of public speaking, becoming a better leader, and building a growth mindset. Upon completion of the module and a tasty pub lunch, Zone 1 workers will leave the upskilling session with a formal certificate, as well as a VAT receipt, allowing them to expense lunch back to their employers.

Alex Dawson, Business Unit Director at Greene King Urban Pubs commented:

"It goes without saying that the working week is looking a little different these days. With people spending fewer days in the office, lunch times are often rushed with many central London workers opting to eat al desko. We feel it's important people take a proper lunch break and we're excited to be offering these meaningful lunchtime workshops in partnership with Enterprise Nation to encourage people to take a break from the workplace. Our Expensable Lunches allow people to learn new skills over a delicious pub lunch, to help them refresh and refuel for an afternoon in the office."

Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation commented:

"We're delighted to be working with Greene King pubs to give Londoners a reason to step away from their desks and take a break from the daily grind. Bringing productive lunch sessions to local pubs in Central London will give city workers and small business owners an opportunity to learn something new that may help their own personal development. In this new post-pandemic world, self-development and training has become more important than ever, and we are thrilled to be able to offer these bite-sized training sessions for anyone looking to spice up their working day."

Those after a guilt-free lunchtime getaway can snap up tickets for the power hour sessions via Eventbrite.

Notes to editors:

Training sessions to include:

• How to Build Your Personal Brand - Learn how to raise your profile and build your personal brand to be seen as credible, knowledgeable, and authoritative.
• Master The Art of Public Speaking - Learn the practical skills and knowledge to help you express yourself clearly
• How to Become A Better Leader - Understand the key principles for effective leadership and get guidance on how to enhance leadership competencies.
• How to Build A Growth Mindset - Discover how to develop a healthy growth mindset to sustainably empower your business and life without suffering from burnout, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome

Event Schedule:
Wednesday 13th July – The Railway, Liverpool Street 
Wednesday 20th July – The Kings Arms, Bishops Gate 
Wednesday 27th July – The Finery, Fitzrovia 
Wednesday 3rd August – Rose & Crown, Mayfair 

Menu options:

The Kings Arms 

Food:
Fish & Chips
Beer-battered Atlantic cod, crushed peas, tartare sauce, triple-cooked chips

Bacon & Cheese Burger
6oz* shin and rib beef burger with smoked streaky bacon, Cheddar cheese and mayo

Scampi & Chips
Whitby Scampi, garden peas, tartare sauce, triple-cooked chips

Beyond Meat Burger (Vegan)
Plant-based patty, poppy seed bun, melting vegan slice, vegan mayo, BBQ roasted red onion, baby gem, tomato, red onion, rosemary-salted fries

Supergreen Salad & Topper (Vegan) 
Grains, cucumber, carrot, roasted red onion, avocado, minted lemon oil 
Add sweet potato & red pepper koftas (ve) grilled halloumi or grilled chicken

Drinks: 

• Flint Eye Lager
• Level Head IPA
• Amstel Draught
• Aspalls 4.5% Cyder
• 175ml Chardonnay, Zinfandel Rose or Shiraz
• Heineken 0.0
• Large Diet Coke or Coca-Cola, of Schweppes Lemonade

Railway and Rose & Crown 

Fish & Chips
Beer-battered Atlantic cod, crushed peas, tartare sauce, triple-cooked chips

Beef Burger
6oz* aged shin and rib beef burger, Ayrshire dry-cured bacon, Cheddar

Scampi & Chips
Whitby Scampi, garden peas, tartare stauce, triple-cooked chips

Beyond Meat Burger (Vegan)
Plant-based patty, poppy seed bun, melting vegan slice, vegan mayo, BBQ roasted red onion, baby gem, tomato, red onion, rosemary-salted fries

Supergreen Salad & Topper (Vegan) 
Grains, cucumber, carrot, roasted red onion, avocado, minted lemon oil 
Add sweet potato & red pepper koftas (ve) grilled halloumi or grilled chicken

Drinks

• Amstel Draught
• Green King IPA
• Aspalls 4.5% Cyder
• 175ml Chardonnay, Zinfandel Rose or Shiraz
• Heineken 0.0
• Large Diet Coke of Schweppes Lemonade

The Finery 

Food:
Classic Beef Burger
6oz* aged shin + rib beef burger, Ayrshire dry-cured bacon, Cheddar

Fish & Chips
Beer-battered Atlantic cod, crushed peas, tartare sauce, triple-cooked chips

Scampi & Chips
Whitby scampi, garden peas, tartare sauce, triple-cooked chips

Beyond Meat Burger (Vegan)
Beyond Meat® burger, guacamole, charred onion, red pepper houmous, seeds, Ezme dressing, poppy seed bun, rosemary-salted fries

Mac & Cheese (Vegetarian) 
Crispy onions, spinach, garlic ciabatta

Drinks:

• Estrella
• Ice Breaker Pale Ale
• Orchard Thieves Cider
• 175ml Chardonnay, Zinfandel Rose or Shiraz
• Heineken 0.0
• Large Diet Coke or Coca-Cola, of Schweppes Lemonade

About Greene King:

Greene King was founded in 1799 and is headquartered in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. It currently employs around 40,000 people across its five divisions: Local Pubs; Destination Food Brands; Premium, Urban and Venture Brands; Pub Partners; and Brewing & Brands. 

It operates c.2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, of which c.1,700 are retail pubs, restaurants and hotels in the Locals, Destination and Premium, Urban and Venture divisions, and c.1,000 are tenanted and leased pubs in its Pub Partners division. Its leading retail brands and formats include Hungry Horse, Farmhouse Inns and Chef & Brewer. 

The Brewing & Brands division covers the brewing sides of the business, with quality ale brands brewed at the Greene King brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. The industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best.

About Enterprise Nation:

Enterprise Nation is a business support platform and provider delivering support to more than 50,000 small businesses every month. Its aim is to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses – through expert advice (including a comprehensive resources library), events, acceleration support and networking. 

Enterprise Nation was founded in 2005 by British entrepreneur Emma Jones CBE, also co-founder of national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain. She is author of best-selling business books including Spare Room Startup, Working 5 to 9, Go Global, Start a Business for £99 and the StartUp Kit, Going for Growth. She is a frequently called-on and regular media commentator on a range of issues which affect the UK's growing number of SMEs. https://www.enterprisenation.com/

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