Sector unites for Hospitality Apprenticeships Week
The week, which runs from Monday 3 October to Sunday 9 October aims to showcase the varied career pathways the trade provides at a time when there are record vacancies across the board.
It also tries to challenge the misconceptions that can be associated with careers in hospitality, showcasing the careers prospects available and to demonstrate how working in the sector is #MoreThanAJob.
Furthermore, the week will celebrate apprentices working the industry alongside those who have completed their apprenticeships and progressed within their businesses.
Career opportunities
UKH chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Initiatives such as this are incredibly important in shifting the level of understanding around what working in our amazing sector actually means and to show people the career opportunities it presents.
“Ours is a creative, vibrant and fun sector in which people are go from bar to boardroom in a very short timeframe.
“If the industry gets behind the week, we can educate, engage and employ people of all levels of experience across the UK, not only helping to solve the current staff shortages but futureproofing the industry by attracting the brightest and best.”
The week is an opportunity to celebrate apprentices and showcase how apprenticeships can change the live of its people, according to Compass Group UK and Ireland head of apprenticeships and early careers Jonathan Foot.
He added: “We’re on a mission to provide support to 1m people by 2030 and education and development forms a big part of this commitment.
“We always see an increase in apprenticeship applications during these focus weeks and would encourage all businesses to get onboard.”
Instrumental to business
Pub company Mitchells & Butlers is another business that is supporting the week, aiming to promote opportunities to thousands of people and championing a tailored and comprehensive approach to learning.
Group HR director Susan Martindale said: “Apprenticeships have been instrumental in growing our own talent and reducing turnover, yet there still remains some common misconceptions about our sector among key influencers that need to be addressed – this is the perfect platform for our sector to work collaboratively to share our success stories and help educate young people to make more informed choices about their future career.”
Hospitality Apprenticeships Week is a key date in foodservices and facilities management business Sodexo’s apprenticeship calendar.
“We have more than 900 apprentices across our organisation with many working in hospitality so we understand the vital work they do and take great pride in their achievements.
“Hospitality is a special industry that has been hit hard over the past few years so we are delighted to participate in this celebratory week to show our support and raise awareness of the great work apprentices undertake every day and we hope to inspire more young talents to commit to this sector,” head of apprenticeships and early careers Sue Davison said.
