Hospitality qualifications to be included in Lifetime Skills Guarantee
This enables adults without an A level or the equivalent to participate in a free, fully-funded further education course.
This followed campaigning by industry organisations when the Lifetime Skills Guarantee was first announced.
The British Beer & Pub Association was one of the bodies that campaigned for the inclusion and chief executive Emma McClarkin said it will also mean workers currently in the trade can also pursue career development.
Vital role
She added: “Having campaigned hard for it, we are delighted to see the inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
“As restrictions are removed on pubs and they begin their road to recovery, we know they have a vital role to play in helping the communities they serve build back better. The inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is a great first step for this.
“Our pubs are on the search for new talent to nurture and develop. People using the Lifetime Skills Guarantee for a hospitality or catering qualification will have the opportunity to work in a sunrise industry and begin a rewarding and fulfilling career that can see them rise very quickly to running their own pub!
“For existing talent in our pubs, the inclusion of these new qualifications will help enable them to upskill as part of their career development.”
Fellow trade body, UKHospitality (UKH), which also campaigned for the qualifications to be featured, boss Kate Nicholls described the move as “hugely positive”.
Fantastic industry reflection
She said: “Following recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Education, at which he committed to review and consider UKH recommendations, today’s announcement is a fantastic reflection of industry and Government working collaboratively to deliver workable employment and skills solutions.
“The addition of hospitality and catering qualifications to the Free Courses for Jobs as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is a hugely positive and timely development for hospitality, and something for which UKH has lobbied for some time.
“Despite being the nations’ third highest pre-Covid employer, our sector currently faces an acute skills and staff shortage.
“Hopefully today’s announcement, hot on the heels of a bespoke Hospitality Strategy, can be one of many steps towards upskilling our workforce and allowing people to experience the wonderful, fulfilling roles that hospitality has to offer.
“Our sector will be at the forefront of the skills and job-led recovery that this nation needs and this initiative will help people transition into our sector.”
