The new programme sees jobseekers trained with hospitality skills in a working environment to provide them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview with a choice of employers.
Successful participants will also receive a Hospitality Skills Passport, which is a digital transferable award demonstrating competence and qualifications that has been certified by OCN London.
Exciting programme
Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has been at the vanguard of the expansion, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The areas set to benefit from the hospitality SWAP programme are:
- East: Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Skegness, Suffolk.
- Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry.
- North: Blackpool, Cumbria, Liverpool, Manchester, Scarborough.
- South East: Banbury, Bournemouth, East Kent, Guildford, Gravesham, London, Mid Kent, Milton Keynes, North Kent, Reading, Worthing.
- South West: Exeter, Solent, Torbay, Truro & Penwith.
UKH chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “This is an incredibly exciting programme and it is proven to deliver tangible benefits for both jobseekers and hospitality businesses.
“Our hospitality SWAP programme will operate right across England, demonstrating hospitality’s ability to help people into employment in every part of the country.
“The programme’s delivery of a Hospitality Skills Passport is critical in providing recruits with a way to demonstrate their qualifications and avoid duplication of training for employers.”
Proven success
Hospitality businesses operating in any of the areas listed are able to get involved by registering on the UKH website.
Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP added: “SWAPs are a key part of our mission to keep people in better paid jobs for longer, putting more money in their pockets – and are a proven success in transforming people’s lives.
“I am therefore delighted that we have partnered with UKH so more people across England will be able to access the lifechanging training needed to boost their skills.
“Alongside this, we have committed to delivering 100,000 new SWAP places next year, as we Get Britain Working as part of our Plan for Change.”
