"We're proud to give colleagues the platform to navigate the career path that's right for them"
Investing in People at Every Stage
Jonathan:
I’m Jonathan Barker, HR Business Partner at Avis Budget Group.
We’re a leading global mobility provider, best known for our Avis and Budget brands, operating in more than 180 countries. We’re focused on delivering flexible, reliable and innovative vehicle rental solutions, while continually investing in technology and empowering our people to deliver exceptional service.
In my role, I work closely with our operational leaders to understand their goals and challenges, helping translate those into practical people strategies. Whether that’s talent development, employee engagement, workforce planning or supporting change initiatives, it’s all centred around one principle:
When our teams succeed, the business succeeds.
We have a driven, hardworking and loyal workforce, and our aim is to give every colleague, regardless of role or experience, the opportunity to develop themselves and their career. Whether those skills are used within Avis Budget Group or support someone’s career elsewhere, we’re proud to give colleagues the platform to navigate the path that’s right for them.
Building Future Leaders from Within
One of the biggest successes Jonathan has seen is the long-term progression of colleagues who have completed apprenticeships.
Jonathan:
We’re proud that colleagues who undertake an apprenticeship have a high success rate. We’ve seen people gain the confidence to progress within their current role, move into more senior positions and even transition into completely new specialisms.
Some colleagues have progressed from managing a single operational site to becoming Project Managers, while others have gone on to lead operations at some of our largest airport locations.
It’s fantastic to see that growth.
Learning That Delivers Real Business Impact
For Avis Budget Group, apprenticeships aren’t simply about gaining qualifications – they’re about creating lasting improvements across the organisation.
Jonathan:
Our apprentices have made a significant contribution since completing their programmes. They’ve taken the knowledge they’ve gained and applied it directly to real business challenges, improving day-to-day operations and helping us work more efficiently.
Many have identified opportunities to improve processes, embrace new technologies and introduce smarter ways of working.
Perhaps just as importantly, they’ve brought a real growth mindset into the business. Their willingness to learn, ask questions and take on new responsibilities has helped strengthen our learning culture and our internal talent pipeline.
Overall, they’ve grown into confident, capable professionals while helping move the organisation forward.
Growing Confidence, Capability and Leadership
Jonathan has also seen apprenticeships influence how colleagues think, contribute and lead.
Jonathan:
The feedback we receive consistently highlights increased confidence.
People feel more empowered to take ownership of their development, contribute ideas and step forward when opportunities arise. We’ve also seen colleagues shape and develop their roles, bringing fresh thinking into the business and contributing more strategically within their teams.
Even during the programme, we’ve noticed stronger leadership behaviours emerging – greater ownership, better communication and a more proactive approach to problem solving.
Learners also develop greater self-awareness, helping them reflect on their strengths, recognise development areas and build stronger working relationships.
A Learning Experience That Supports Success
Current learners continue to report positive experiences throughout their programmes.
Jonathan:
The feedback has been extremely positive, particularly from colleagues undertaking management and project management programmes. They’re finding the learning engaging, relevant and directly applicable to their day-to-day roles.
The structure of the programmes helps people build confidence and capability at a manageable pace, while the coaching and support give learners reassurance and help them stay on track. Many colleagues have already noticed improvements in their leadership, communication and project management skills.
Overall, the programmes are enjoyable, genuinely empowering and help colleagues contribute more strategically while preparing for the next stage of their careers.
Why We’d Recommend KnowledgeBrief
Jonathan believes the partnership has delivered value for both learners and the organisation.
Jonathan:
We would certainly recommend KnowledgeBrief to other organisations.
From a learner perspective, the support throughout the programmes is consistently highlighted as one of the biggest strengths. Colleagues feel guided, encouraged and well equipped, leaving with increased knowledge and noticeably greater confidence.
From an organisational perspective, the impact has been equally valuable. The apprenticeships generate genuine interest internally and help colleagues feel valued, strengthening both engagement and retention. We’ve seen clear improvements in capability, communication and leadership, with colleagues progressing into more senior roles where the learning they’ve gained through KnowledgeBrief has played an important part in their success.
Looking Ahead
Jonathan:
We’re incredibly proud of every colleague who’s taken part in these programmes and the progress they’ve made.
Their commitment to learning, combined with the support provided by KnowledgeBrief, has created real momentum across the business. It’s inspiring to see people grow in confidence, capability and ambition, and it reinforces just how valuable these development opportunities are.
We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting even more colleagues to build their skills, shape their careers and contribute to the future success of the business.
Interested in developing your people or supporting the growth of your organisation?
Discover how KnowledgeBrief’s Apprenticeships help organisations build confident, capable professionals who drive meaningful business impact.