The Higher Apprenticeship in Hospitality Management provides industry-relevant management training to learners who are looking at further developing their career in hospitality. It also challenges the idea that apprenticeships are only available to young people.
“We’ve worked closely with learners, employers, mentors and assessors from across the hospitality industry to make sure that this new framework will deliver practical but rigorous training that has been designed specifically for the hospitality industry,” said Ruth Asker-Browne, who leads the People 1st apprenticeship work.
“Training staff and supporting the development of the next generation of leaders is extremely important for the hospitality industry if businesses are going to both survive and thrive.
“Whereas intermediate and advanced apprenticeships focus on developing the front line and supervisory skills employers need within their organisation, the new framework will provide a clear career development path into management for learners.”
Bridging the gap
Recent research by People 1st has shown that, of businesses with skills gaps, 39 per cent believe that management skills need to be improved amongst their workforce.
Yolande Edwards, qualifications manager at JD Wetherspoon, believes the Higher Apprenticeship in Hospitality Management offers an opportunity to show employees the real, sustainable opportunities that the industry offers.
“We really welcome the development of the Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Hospitality Management and have already started to look at the new framework and how we can use it within the business,” said Edwards.
“We will be able to offer it to our existing staff and use it to attract kitchen, shift and hotel managers into our business with the ability to complete a higher apprenticeship programme within their chosen field of work.”
The average cost of investing in apprenticeship training in the hospitality industry is £4,240, which employers are likely to recoup within one year. Suzy Jackson, executive director for the Hospitality Guild, is encouraging organisations to provide staff members with the further career development opportunities that are now available through this new framework.
Great career opportunities
“Apprenticeships offer businesses a great opportunity to attract and retain staff through offering relevant on the job training that employers can tailor to their needs,” said Jackson. “Having a level 4 standard qualification specifically tailored for hospitality proves that we are serious about promoting Hospitality as a great place to work with great career opportunities.”
The Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Hospitality Management was developed by People 1st in partnership with UH Ventures and University College Birmingham, with funding from the National Apprenticeship Service to set up the delivery infrastructure.
To view a copy of the framework, visit www.people1st.co.uk/apprenticeships/frameworks-and-guidance/england
Earlier this month, The Business Bootcamp at The Restaurant Show played host to BigHospitality’s panel discussion, which focused on how to attract the next generation of talent to hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK. Read a full report of that discussion here.
And just last week People 1st launched Apprentice 1st,an online portal which allows employers, learners and training providers to access all aspects of an apprenticeship, including coursework, assessments and practical training material, from a single screen online.