Hospitality is an exciting sector to work in, but retaining young talent remains an on-going challenge for employers. Young people starting their professional career in hospitality need to be reassured that they will be able to gain valuable qualifications that will help them progress. Apprenticeships do just this: they offer young people the opportunity to gain qualifications while learning practical skills and earning money.
So, why is it that only 5% of businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector employ apprentices? Probably because many employers do not understand how apprenticeships can benefit their business and are not aware of the Government funding and grants available to them.
So, here are a few facts about apprenticeship programmes:
- Not only can you hire a new apprentice but you can also offer existing staff the chance to enrol on an apprenticeship scheme
- 92% of employers say that apprentices lead to a more satisfied team and an increase in staff retention*
- Hospitality apprentices pay for themselves in little over 12 months, with a third of employers* confirming they recovered their costs of employing an apprentice within a year and a further 20% within 18 months
- Since 10 June 2013 and until 31 December 2013, if you’re an employer with a London borough postcode, you could be eligible to receive the enhanced Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 Year Olds (AGE 16 to 24). You can review the eligibility criteria here
- The value of the existing AGE 16 to 24 grant has been increased from £1,500 to £3,000
- Up to 1,000 grants are available, and any one eligible employer can claim up to 10 grants – but they are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so don’t miss out on the opportunity!
- This grant can be claimed through a training provider
If you’re an eligible London-based employer and would be interested in recruiting an apprentice in any of the following areas:
- Professional Cookery
- Food and Beverage Service
- Food Production and Cooking
- Hospitality Supervision and Leadership
- Hospitality Management
- Leadership and Management
…then the People 1st Training Company can give you advice and support on how to gain funding, recruit an apprentice, and get started using the innovative, flexible and convenient Apprentice 1st e-learning programme.
For more information, contact Andrew Wallbank on 01895 817009, email: andrew.wallbank@people1st.co.uk
* State of the Nation Report 2013, People 1st
