Hospitality industry to share apprentices

AN exciting partnership approach to delivering apprenticeships in the hospitality industry was heralded at a launch event at the Senedd.
People 1st Cymru is piloting a shared apprenticeship programme, which is tailor-made to meet the specific needs of the industry and comprises a partnership with employers, learning providers, learners and the Welsh Government.
Up to 24 apprentices recruited for the programme range from school and college leavers to young people under the age of 24 who are returning to work in the hospitality industry.
The apprentices are being given a chance to complete their apprenticeship by rotating between three high quality employers over 18 months. They will be supported, mentored and trained in three different brands across different working cultures, thereby extending their knowledge, skills and experience.
The programme is being delivered in three regions, with an average of six apprentices and at least three employers in each. The lead regional training providers are Babcock (South East), Gr?p NPTC Group (Powys) and Coleg Sir Gar (South West).
The project is supported by the Welsh Government’s Sector Priorities Fund Pilot Programme and the European Social Fund.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates praised the partnership approach to delivering the pilot programme. “This is an adventurous and innovative model for delivering apprenticeships that is unique across the UK,” he said.
“Shared apprenticeship programmes are a creative means of supporting apprentices during challenging economic times. The Welsh Government warmly supports this kind of work and we are happy to invest in these developments, supporting partnerships, which nurture young people as they develop new skills.”
Phil Raynsford, director of People 1st Cymru, said research had identified a need for the new shared apprenticeship within the Welsh hospitality industry, which had continued to grow during the recession and was set for another decade of growth.
The programme would give apprentices the foundation of skills to become hospitality professionals and to go on to build exciting and rewarding careers. Following the pilot, he hoped the programme would be rolled out across the UK.
Employers and learners wishing to receive more detailed information about the project are asked to contact Clara Weekley, project manager, on Tel: 07919 624 708.