Post-18 education support ‘must target’ hospitality

UKHospitality “welcomed” the government’s plan to expand post-18 education and training, but has urged it to focus the scheme on aiding the hospitality sector.

The new scheme will offer adults who do not have A-level (or equivalent) qualifications entitlement to free college courses “valued” by employers, aiming to “boost” opportunities and help the country “build back better” from coronavirus.

The government said apprenticeship opportunities will also be increased.

Boris Johnson said: “As the chancellor has said, we cannot, alas, save every job. What we can do is give people the skills to find and create new and better jobs.”

The Shortage Occupation List, as it currently stands for September this year, lists seven roles in the hospitality industry, including hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors and restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to provide some support for hospitality. Sector-specific training programmes can be a real boost for businesses and employees in our sector.

“We are facing a bleak 6 months with restrictions on trading and low consumer confidence. Government-backed training schemes can reduce the burden on hard-pressed businesses and give employees a chance to develop during a quiet winter.”

She added: “If the Government supports training in our sector, it will keep more jobs open and put it in a much stronger position to begin rebuilding next year.”