Scotland announces new job initiative for young people
Representatives from more than 75 businesses will attend the event at Glasgow’s Marriott Hotel on 22 October to pledge job opportunities, apprenticeships and work placements for young job-seekers and the long-term unemployed.
Currently hospitality and tourism makes up 15 per cent of the Scottish workforce and this has been predicted to rise significantly over the next five years.
Head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays Mike Saul said: “With recent Barclays research showing that domestic tourists will contribute over £13bn to the Scottish economy by 2017, and that foreign tourism spend is set to increase in Scotland by 40 per cent over the same period, this initiative couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.
“One key sector that will benefit extensively from this rise in tourism is hospitality and as part of the Big Hospitality Conversation, we are working together to demonstrate to young job seekers that not only is this sector an exciting place to work but it is also full of opportunity and reward.”
The Big Hospitality Conversation events have created 34,000 jobs since the initiative’s inception, and the aim is to create a total of 60,000 jobs by 2016.
Heightened interest in Scotland
Chief executive of the British Hospitality Association Ufi Ibrahim said: “Scotland has enjoyed great exposure to the international media in recent months, not just in the run-up to the Referendum but through coverage of the Commonwealth Games, the forthcoming Ryder Cup and the Year of Homecoming events.
“This is likely to stimulate heightened interest in visiting the country for leisure or business purposes. Now is the time to capitalize on this interest and use it as a base to encourage young people to join our industry.”
The Big Hospitality Conversation comes shortly after First Minister Alex Salmond’s announcement on the launch of a new hospitality apprenticeship scheme in the country. In partnership with five hotels, the scheme will create 36 apprenticeships in three years, training young people in aspects of the modern luxury hotel industry.
