Four-star training hotel planned for Inverness
The project, which will be run on social enterprise principles, is being undertaken by the housing association Albyn Housing Society, together with the charity Calman Trust.
Its primary goal is to give youngsters an education and training alternative, although it will also help boost the skilled workforce in hospitality in the region, explained a spokesperson from Albyn.
Staff model
The hotel, which is due to open in 2014, will have 120 rooms, 40 of which will be self-contained apartments.
Due to be built on Inverness Campus, an education, business and research hub currently under development, the hotel will employ 30 per cent more staff than a standard model hotel. This will allow for ongoing training without impacting on the services offered by the hotel.
Just under 60 jobs will be available to young starters and trainees in the sector, who will also have the opportunity to work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). The aim will be to have trainees occupy 50 per cent of frontline positions.
Training café
A similar model is being tested by the Calman Trust and Albyn Housing Society in a café, which is due to open in the next few days.
Artysans café in Inverness will be like any modern café front of house, but will include specially designed training kitchens and workshops to provide training for young people.
The café aims to employ 4 full-time staff and training for up to 42 young people in 2011, and hopes to grow to 106 places by 2013.
Dr Isobel Grigor, Chief Executive of the Calman Trust, said the social enterprise hospitality model provides a good alternative for youngsters who may not have other opportunities after leaving school.
Hospitality opportunities
“Those of us behind the hotel strongly believe a number of youngsters become disengaged or fall into a cycle of lifelong unemployment because the current offering of school, education or work isn’t suited to them, which has a profound impact on their expectations of the future,” she said.
“By offering training within a work environment, individuals will be able to develop skills for the workplace in a meaningful way and successfully integrate into their communities in the long term.
“A hotel offers many opportunities for training. Young people will work alongside professionals in all areas, including reception, maintenance, housekeeping, the kitchen and food service. The hope is that, as well as leaving with skills and a desire for further training and employment, individuals will have also learnt important skills for independent living.”
