MPs launch inquiry in to hospitality apprenticeships
It follows the publication of a critical Ofsted report today which argues that apprenticeships in ‘low skilled’ areas such as making coffee provide little real training and are a waste taxpayers' money.
The Government has committed to creating three million apprenticeships over the next five years, but Ofsted’s report found that the number of 16 to 18 year-olds entering the schemes has not increased in a decade.
Only five per cent of 16 year-olds are becoming apprentices, the report found.
Now the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Visitor Economy (APPG) is calling on hospitality businesses to submit evidence and advice on how the Government can attract more young people to take up apprenticeships in the industry.
It will consider the potential affects of the Government’s forthcoming apprenticeship levy and how issues such as staff retention can be addressed.
Apprenticeship levy could lower quality of training, employers warn
The group - co-chaired by Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire, and Margaret Ritchie, MP for South Down – is backed by the British Hospitality Association (BHA).
Huddlestone said: “Job creation is crucial to improving the UK’s economy and the potential within the hospitality and tourism industry is enormous.
“The call for written evidence is an exciting opportunity for businesses to have their say on how the Government can improve skill development and attract more apprenticeships to industry.”
The BHA said it welcomed the group’s inquiry.
“As the organization representing the UK’s 4th largest employer - 14 per cent of the total employment – we look to this inquiry and the APPG to influence the policy reforms needed to upskill Britain through hospitality and tourism,” said Ufi Ibrahim, BHA chief executive.
Hospitality businesses have until 13 November to submit responses. The full call for evidence can be read here.
