The Q&A session, being carried out as part of the Act NOW! on apprenticeships campaign, will run from 10am to 11am on Thursday 27 June and will focus on four main questions following the Government’s consultation on how to implement the Richard Review’s recommendations on the future of apprenticeships.
Areas of debate will include who would make a good apprentice, whether apprenticeships can deliver the right skills and more specific questions over what academic qualifications should be included for apprentices and whether they should complete a final test or be graded throughout.
Hospitality Guild executive director Suzy Jackson said that as apprenticeships were playing such a 'vital role' in the industry it was important that a debate was had on how best to implement them.
“We know that there are strong apprenticeship frameworks in the hospitality industry and that they deliver the skills that employers need, but there’s always room for improvement,” she said.
Apprenticeship uptake
Research by sector skills council People 1st last month found that the number of apprenticeships being taken up in the industry had more than doubled over the last three years as employers saw the benefits of recruiting in this way.
However, the Hospitality Guild believes that more apprenticeships could be offered and is promoting their uptake through the Act NOW! campaign.
It is hoped that Thursday's Twitter debate, which has already gained the support of key organisations, will help shape the future of apprenticeships in hospitality.
“We’ve had a number of requests to run more Twitter debates, so we’re absolutely thrilled that organisations like the BII and People 1st, which have real expertise in apprenticeships and their delivery, will be taking part in the debate," added Jackson.
The debate will be led on Twitter by @OneVoiceHG and anyone wanting to take part, either to ask questions or comment should include the hashtag #qactnow to their post.
Further debates are planned for September and December 2013, and March 2014, with proposed topics including the introduction of the Government’s new traineeship scheme,