Industry given green light to press ahead for extra training funds

Licensees and pub operators have reached a crucial stage in their campaign for improved training.

The industry has been given the green light to press ahead with proposals to develop its own Sector Skills Council (SSC) which will be given public funding to finance initiatives aimed at improving training within the industry.

The good news follows a vigorous campaign by members of the hospitality, tourism and leisure industries who clubbed together to fight for a dedicated SSC.

UK industries are competing against each other to be awarded their own SSC, which will allow them a powerful voice when lobbying government and will also enable them to influence the allocation of resources for training.

Declan Swan from the Hospitality Training Foundation said: "This is an opportunity for employers to drive forward skills development of their staff in this industry. This stage is the green light to press ahead, the next step is to develop a blueprint on how to operate a skills council.

"This news is incredibly important. If we hadn't been given the go ahead we would have no council and would have no identity within government and wouldn't be able to encourage people to come and work within the industry."

A steering committee, which includes representatives from the Hospitality Foundation, the British Hospitality Association, trade associations and pub operators, worked with members from the tourism and gambling sectors to put their case forward. The industry will learn if it has been successful in the early part of next year.