Apprenticeships offer an easy opportunity for a well-skilled pub workforce

A frequent complaint from employers to Government was that the apprenticeships system was too complex, the funding schemes too difficult to navigate and the plethora of providers too bewildering.

Now the Government is attempting to simplify the system with the Richard Review examining the future of apprenticeships in England, and it’s vital the trade gets its voice heard.

Apprenticeships are of growing value to the hospitality sector. According to People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, between the 2009-10 financial year and 2010-11 financial year, apprenticeships increased by almost 40%, from 21,500 to 29,800, with the number continuing to rise.  

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) held its first ever apprenticeship summit in June, supported by the main trade associations and leading pubcos, underscoring the importance of encouraging young people to build their careers in hospitality.

The pub trade offers so much more of a career than the widely-held perception of pulling pints behind a bar.

This review offers a genuine opportunity for employers in the sector to shape the framework that will help deliver a skilled workforce capable of driving continued success in coming years.

People 1st is coordinating the sector’s response and wants to hear your views. Visit www.people1st.co.uk​ for more details.

"I agree with Pete"​

During the televised leaders’ debates held as part of the 2010 General Election campaign, the phrase “I agree with Nick” was uttered by both David Cameron and Gordon Brown as they sought to curry favour with potential kingmaker Nick Clegg.

To stretch the analogy, and at the risk of upsetting the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s celebrated columnist Pete Brown by mentioning him in the same article as the much-maligned Liberal Democrat leader, I increasingly find myself thinking — after reading his columns — “I agree with Pete”.

Be it on the topic of noisy pubs, social media, broadening the appeal of beer or the campaign to scrap the beer-duty escalator,
Pete always seems to hit the nail on the head.

This week’s column is no exception. In it he tackles the Government’s minimum-pricing plans and urges the drinks industry to produce research aimed at finding alternative measures that won’t punish responsible drinkers. I’d encourage you to take time to read his article.

You can read all of Pete’s columns online at www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/brown​