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06 September 2012 10:42
The Hospitality Guild is launching a new apprenticeship awards programme, which recognises and celebrates the achievements of apprentices working in hospitality and also emphasises the role that employers, providers and mentors play in the delivery of apprenticeships.
Suzy Jackson, executive director of the Hospitality Guild, explains that without the commitment of businesses and their teams, apprenticeships simply could not be offered to those seeking to build their careers on the job. "It's high time that the role of organisations that fund, train and employ apprentices is recognised for their contribution to growing a new generation of hospitality professionals."
Following the structure of current apprenticeship programmes, the awards, which are being held in partnership with sector skills council People 1st, identify the hospitality industry's potential stars at different levels of their career journey. Award categories have also been created for companies.
The awards are free to enter, with nominations closing on October 12th.
Ms Jackson continued: "We're witnessing a huge growth in the numbers of people completing apprenticeships. In the last year alone nearly 15% more people completed an apprenticeship with a hospitality employer. Over 26,000 people dedicated themselves to a programme of training while at work and tens of hundreds of companies have made these opportunities possible.
"Apprenticeships are a valuable business tool that enable employers to create a precisely skilled workforce and a talent pipeline for the future. We are working with increasing numbers of hospitality employers to make sure that everyone can see how apprenticeships can benefit their business. At the same time we're working to try to broaden the appeal of offering apprenticeships."
The winners of the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards will be announced in December at an event to be held at the House of Commons, alongside the Hospitality Guild's Young Hall of Fame which collectively showcases the initiatives and awards of the Guild's partner organisations.
