Kickstart schemes: injecting fresh talent into hospitality

Why is any talent scheme advantageous to a firm in the sector? Programmes such as the Kickstart scheme allow businesses to take on young, adaptable and enthusiastic talent who are willing to learn and progress. Taking on young people can breathe new life into a business, and they can bring with them skills and outlooks that those already in the business may not have. We currently have 550 vacancies available at Parkdean Resorts as part of the Kickstart scheme, and we know that the young people we take on will hugely benefit our business. Any firm in the sector looking to progress can benefit from a talent scheme, and these young people are ambitious and want to grow. Nurturing the skills needed to succeed in hospitality through programmes such as the Kickstart scheme is a great way to attract fantastic trainees who can be of real value. Who is the scheme aimed at? The scheme is aimed at 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment who are looking to build their skills and learn all about working in hospitality. We have guest experience trainee roles available at Parkdean Resorts in Accommodation, Food and Beverage, Reception, Sport and Leisure, and Entertainment, so there is something for everyone. From experience, does the scheme increase the amount of talent retained in the industry? Last year we recruited 375 trainees through the Kickstart scheme at Parkdean Resorts, and we achieved a 100% employment rate which is outstanding. We also currently have 31 Kickstarters working at our central Contact Centre, and eight of these young people have now been offered full-time permanent positions with us. We provide all trainees with an ongoing development plan, we treat them well and we want them to feel valued, and this has gone a long way in helping us retain this talent. We want them to continue to grow with us and the Kickstart scheme allows these young people to develop the skills they’ll need to continue to progress in the company. What essential aspects does the scheme teach? Every guest experience trainee at Parkdean will learn the vital skills needed to succeed in a customer-facing role, including customer service and communication skills, organisation, problem-solving skills and professionalism. Each trainee will also learn the fundamentals of their chosen area of work, including learning to use any software needed in their role, such as POS systems. We work with every Kickstarter on their development plan to ensure they’re getting the support they need in their learning, and we’re happy to adapt to their needs. Is the scheme a large investment? The Kickstart scheme is Government-funded, and this funding covers six months of employment for each trainee. The package we have in place offers each trainee £9 an hour for their work, and they also receive uniform and an Alcatel tablet to support their training. Our teams put in a huge amount of work in order to give the Kickstarters the support they need, and we view the time invested into the scheme as completely worthwhile. Why may it be more beneficial than simply training staff? This scheme aims to nurture young trainees to give them the chance to develop and move into sustained employment, and we also give them the chance for future progression at Parkdean. By giving each trainee a thorough training plan and dedicated support, we’re able to give them the best possible chance at learning all the skills they need to succeed. Bringing young people out of unemployment is another huge benefit of the scheme. It has been a hard few years for many people, and as a major employer in the communities we operate in, taking part in the Kickstart scheme means we’re able to give back to our local communities by providing great training and career progression opportunities. What mishaps do some people have about working in the industry? Hospitality is often misunderstood as an industry with limited opportunities for progression, but we’re hoping to change that misconception with the Kickstart scheme. The aim of the programme is to train young talent so that they can go on to have fantastic careers, and we’re already seeing some of our 2021 Kickstarters begin to progress and climb the ladder at Parkdean. Hospitality is a really rewarding industry to work in, and with hard work, the sky is the limit. How does the scheme aid the sector as a whole? The hospitality sector has been struggling with recruiting and retaining staff for a while, and the Kickstart scheme teaches young people the skills that are so desperately needed by many businesses. Getting young people into employment is also extremely important, and whilst we of course hope that all of our Kickstarters would like to stay with us at Parkdean Resorts, they may eventually like to venture to other parts of the sector, and they will have the skills needed to succeed through taking part in this scheme. What success stories do you have from the training last year? We have some fantastic success stories from last year’s cohort that demonstrate how rewarding this scheme can be. One of our Kickstarters, Adam Lee, joined Crimdon Dene Holiday Park as a guest experience trainee in June last year, and was promoted to administrative assistant within a matter of months. He valued the varied and exciting nature of his role, and joining Parkdean Resorts as part of the Kickstart scheme gave him a huge boost in confidence and a drive to succeed. We also took on a number of Kickstarters at our Gosforth head office last year, who were able to learn all about what goes on behind the scenes of such a large business. One of these trainees, Nicole White, attended the biggest jobs fair in the North East after just a few weeks on the job, and even managed to help other young people into the Kickstart scheme and into jobs with Parkdean Resorts through the relationships she built in her role.