Three new hospitality apprenticeship standards in development
Having already approved two standards for chef apprenticeships this past August, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has now announced that the hospitality trailblazer, led by Hilton Worldwide and managed by People 1st, will continue to be involved in the apprenticeship reform.
Companies like Spirit Pub Company, Compass Group, McDonald's UK, Lancaster London, Whitbread, Mitchells and Butlers, KFC UKI, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, have already contributed to the effort, and more have been encouraged to get involved.
Chair of the hospitality trailblazer Kathryn Porter, divisional resourcing director, Hilton Worldwide, said: “The trailblazer work is important to all employers as we are defining a standard for job roles and agreeing what great performance looks like. It’s essential that the standards and the apprenticeship assessment meet the needs of all types and sizes of employers.”
Employer-driven
Annette Allmark, director of strategic policy at People 1st, added: “The standards are employer driven and provide the industry with a fantastic opportunity to engage, train and develop highly skilled apprentices. With industry turnover of staff currently standing at 20% and costing the industry £274 million it is vital that we address this issue, so the trailblazer’s work is invaluable to the industry.”
Among the companies that want to increase their apprenticeship intake under the new system is Lancaster Hotel. The firm is leading an SME consortium that is looking to ensure the new programme fits into their business models and can be managed without resources dedicated solely to apprenticeships.
Lancaster Hotel general manager Sally Beck said: “Our group of employers is determined to make apprenticeships an effective tool to recruit and train staff, so we are fully committed to the work of the trailblazer.”
Sandra Warren, head of education at Compass Group, added: “Developing talent through apprenticeships has already achieved great results for Compass, so it’s essential to our business that we input into the new standards so they are firmly based on developing the skills and knowledge which will enable apprentices to prosper in the industry.”
