Drive for pubs to take on apprentices
Pubs and bars are being urged to take on apprentices to secure the long term success of their businesses.
The message was delivered at a Parliamentary reception for the hospitality sector skills council People 1st yesterday.
The body said that the move was essential as over the next six years more young people will be needed to fill over one million vacancies.
Speaking yesterday to around 200 people - including MPs, peers and industry leaders - People 1st chairman David Fairhurst revealed that the body wants to see 30,000 apprentices in training by 2020. The current figure stands at around 22,000.
He said: "By 2017 the sector will have grown into one which employs 2.4 million people, so we'll need to continue to grow our people and as a means of growing our people, apprenticeships will continue to perform an important role in maintaining the highest standards of training and development."
The reception was also used to launch People 1st's new apprenticeship strategy and the website uksp.co.uk/apprentice which gives details of apprenticeships and qualifications available throughout the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.
The event was also attended by companies that already run apprenticeship schemes, such as Punch Taverns. The pubco currently has around 200 apprentices working in its managed pubs.
Trade body the BII is also encouraging its members to take on apprentices.
Speaking at the event tourism minister John Penrose said he recognised the "great importance" of apprenticeships.
He went on to encourage the hospitality sector to improve the welcome it gives to guests.
Penrose, whose portfolio includes licensing, said it is vital standards are driven up to ensure the future success of the sector.
He said: "The British welcome is in some ways better than foreign visitors expect when they visit our pubs and tourist destinations.
"We are more friendly than our public image suggests. We have to drive our professional welcome up to the same standard."
Penrose said doing so was vital for a "healthy sector".
