• Pub chain Greene King has responded to the skills crisis by launching ‘Expensable Lunches’, a new programme providing city workers with the ultimate pub lunch break but 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 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.

The ‘Expensable Lunches’ training sessions will run every Wednesday for five weeks at select Central London locations. At £25 each, tickets include entry to the training session – hosted by an accredited trainer – along with a main course and drink of choice.